the number of juvenile anadromous fish that migrate 
past the rotary screw trap located at Caswell; 
(3) among other methods, use wire fyke trapping, 
portable 
resistance 
board 
weirs, 
and 
boat 
electrofishing; and 
(4) be implemented as quickly as possible fol-
lowing the issuance of all necessary scientific re-
search. 
(b) MANAGEMENT.—The management of the program 
shall be the joint responsibility of the Secretary and the dis-
tricts. Such parties shall work collaboratively to ensure the 
performance of the program, and shall discuss and agree 
upon, among other things, changes in the structure, man-
agement, personnel, techniques, strategy, data collection, re-
porting, and conduct of the program. 
(c) CONDUCT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—By agreement between the 
Secretary and the districts, the program may be con-
ducted by their own personnel, qualified private con-
tractors hired by the districts, personnel of, on loan 
to, or otherwise assigned to the National Marine Fish-
eries Service, or a combination thereof. 
(2) PARTICIPATION BY THE NATIONAL MARINE 
FISHERIES SERVICE.—If the districts elect to conduct 
the program using their own personnel or qualified 
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private contractors hired by them in accordance with 
paragraph (1), the Secretary may assign an employee 
of, on loan to, or otherwise assigned to the National 
Marine Fisheries Service, to be present for all activi-
ties performed in the field. Such presence shall ensure 
compliance with the agreed-upon elements specified in 
subsection (b). The districts shall pay the cost of such 
participation in accordance with subsection (d). 
(3) TIMING OF ELECTION.—The districts shall 
notify the Secretary of their election on or before Oc-
tober 15 of each calendar year of the program. Such 
an election shall apply to the work performed in the 
subsequent calendar year. 
(d) FUNDING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The districts shall be respon-
sible for 100 percent of the cost of the program. 
(2) CONTRIBUTED FUNDS.—The Secretary may 
accept and use contributions of funds from the dis-
tricts to carry out activities under the program. 
(3) ESTIMATION OF COST.—On or before Decem-
ber 1 of each year of the program, the Secretary shall 
submit to the districts an estimate of the cost to be 
incurred by the National Marine Fisheries Service for 
the program in the following calendar year, if any, 
including the cost of any data collection and posting 
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under subsection (e). If an amount equal to the esti-
mate is not provided through contributions pursuant 
to paragraph (2) before December 31 of that year— 
(A) the Secretary shall have no obligation to 
conduct the program activities otherwise sched-
uled for such following calendar year until such 
amount is contributed by the districts; and 
(B) the districts may not conduct any as-
pect of the program until such amount is con-
tributed by the districts. 
(4) ACCOUNTING.—On or before September 1 of 
each year, the Secretary shall provide to the districts 
an accounting of the costs incurred by the Secretary 
for the program in the preceding calendar year. If the 
amount contributed by the districts pursuant to para-
graph (2) for that year was greater than the costs in-
curred by the Secretary, the Secretary shall— 
(A) apply the excess contributions to costs of 
activities to be performed by the Secretary under 
the program, if any, in the next calendar year; 
or 
(B) if no such activities are to be per-
formed, repay the excess contribution to the dis-
tricts. 
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(e) POSTING AND EVALUATION.—On or before the 15th 
day of each month, the Secretary shall post on the Internet 
website of the National Marine Fisheries Service a tabular 
summary of the raw data collected under the program in 
the preceding month. 
(f) IMPLEMENTATION.—The program is hereby found 
to be consistent with the requirements of the Central Valley 
Project Improvement Act (Public Law 102–575). No provi-
sion, plan or definition established or required by the Cen-
tral Valley Project Improvement Act (Public Law 102–575) 
shall be used to prohibit the imposition of the program, or 
to prevent the accomplishment of its goals. 
(g) TREATMENT OF STRIPED BASS.—For purposes of 
the application of the Central Valley Project Improvement 
Act (title XXXIV of Public Law 102–575) with respect to 
the program, striped bass shall not be treated as anad-
romous fish. 
(h) DEFINITION.—For the purposes of this section, the 
term ‘‘districts’’ means the Oakdale Irrigation District and 
the South San Joaquin Irrigation District, California. 
SEC. 
204. 
PILOT 
PROJECTS 
TO 
IMPLEMENT 
CALFED 
INVASIVE SPECIES PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than January 1, 2017, 
the Secretary of the Interior, in collaboration with the Sec-
retary of Commerce, the Director of the California Depart-
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ment of Fish and Wildlife, and other relevant agencies and 
interested parties, shall begin pilot projects to implement 
the invasive species control program authorized pursuant 
to section 103(d)(6)(A)(iv) of Public Law 108–361 (118 
Stat. 1690). 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—The pilot projects shall— 
(1) seek to reduce invasive aquatic vegetation, 
predators, and other competitors which contribute to 
the decline of native listed pelagic and anadromous 
species that occupy the Sacramento and San Joaquin 
Rivers and their tributaries and the Sacramento-San 
Joaquin Bay-Delta; and 
(2) remove, reduce, or control the effects of spe-
cies, including Asiatic clams, silversides, gobies, Bra-
zilian water weed, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, 
striped bass, crappie, bluegill, white and channel cat-
fish, and brown bullheads. 
(c) SUNSET.—The authorities provided under this sub-
section shall expire seven years after the Secretaries com-
mence implementation of the pilot projects pursuant to sub-
section (a). 
(d) EMERGENCY ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS.—To ex-
pedite the environmentally beneficial programs for the con-
servation of threatened and endangered species, the Secre-
taries shall consult with the Council on Environmental 
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Quality in accordance with section 1506.11 of title 40, Code 
of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations), to develop 
alternative arrangements to comply with the National En-
vironmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) 
for the projects pursuant to subsection (a). 
TITLE III—OPERATIONAL FLEXI-
BILITY AND DROUGHT RELIEF 
SEC. 301. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
(1) CENTRAL VALLEY PROJECT.—The term ‘‘Cen-
tral Valley Project’’ has the meaning given the term 
in section 3403 of the Central Valley Project Improve-
ment Act (Public Law 102–575; 106 Stat. 4707). 
(2) RECLAMATION
PROJECT.—The term ‘‘Rec-
lamation Project’’ means a project constructed pursu-
ant to the authorities of the reclamation laws and 
whose facilities are wholly or partially located in the 
State. 
(3) 
SECRETARIES.—The 
term 
‘‘Secretaries’’ 
means— 
(A) the Secretary of Agriculture; 
(B) the Secretary of Commerce; and 
(C) the Secretary of the Interior. 
(4) STATE WATER PROJECT.—The term ‘‘State 
Water Project’’ means the water project described by 
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California Water Code section 11550 et seq. and oper-
ated by the California Department of Water Re-
sources. 
(5) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State 
of California. 
SEC. 
302. 
OPERATIONAL 
FLEXIBILITY 
IN 
TIMES 
OF 
DROUGHT. 
(a) WATER SUPPLIES.—For the period of time such 
that in any year that the Sacramento Valley Index is 6.5 
or lower, or at the request of the State of California, and 
until two succeeding years following either of those events 
have been completed where the final Sacramento Valley 
Index is 7.8 or greater, the Secretaries shall provide the 
maximum quantity of water supplies practicable to all in-
dividuals or district who receive Central Valley Project 
water under water service or repayments contracts, water 
rights settlement contracts, exchange contracts, or refuge 
contracts or agreements entered into prior to or after the 
date of enactment of this title; State Water Project contrac-
tors, and any other tribe, locality, water agency, or munici-
pality in the State, by approving, consistent with applica-
ble laws (including regulations), projects and operations to 
provide additional water supplies as quickly as practicable 
based on available information to address the emergency 
conditions. 
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(b) ADMINISTRATION.—In carrying out subsection (a), 
the Secretaries shall, consistent with applicable laws (in-
cluding regulations)— 
(1) issue all necessary permit decisions under the 
authority of the Secretaries not later than 30 days 
after the date on which the Secretaries receive a com-
pleted application from the State to place and use 
temporary barriers or operable gates in Delta chan-
nels to improve water quantity and quality for the 
State Water Project and the Central Valley Project 
south of Delta water contractors and other water 
users, on the condition that the barriers or operable 
gates— 
(A) do not result in a significant negative 
impact on the long-term survival of listed species 
within the Delta and provide benefits or have a 
neutral impact on in-Delta water user water 
quality; and 
(B) are designed so that formal consulta-
tions under section 7 of the Endangered Species 
Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536) are not necessary; 
(2) require the Director of the United States Fish 
and Wildlife Service and the Commissioner of Rec-
lamation— 
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(A) to complete, not later than 30 days after 
the date on which the Director or the Commis-
sioner receives a complete written request for 
water transfer, all requirements under the Na-
tional Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and the Endangered Species 
Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) necessary to 
make final permit decisions on the request; and 
(B) to approve any water transfer request 
described in subparagraph (A) to maximize the 
quantity of water supplies available for non-
habitat uses, on the condition that actions associ-
ated with the water transfer comply with appli-
cable Federal laws (including regulations); 
(3) adopt a 1:1 inflow to export ratio, as meas-
ured as a 3-day running average at Vernalis during 
the period beginning on April 1, and ending on May 
31, absent a determination in writing that a more re-
strictive inflow to export ratio is required to avoid a 
significant negative impact on the long-term survival 
of a listed salmonid species under the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); provided 
that the 1:1 inflow to export ratio shall apply for the 
increment of increased flow of the San Joaquin River 
resulting from the voluntary sale, transfers, or ex-
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changes of water from agencies with rights to divert 
water from the San Joaquin River or its tributaries 
and provided that the movement of the acquired, 
transferred, or exchanged water through the Delta 
consistent with the Central Valley Project’s and the 
State Water Project’s permitted water rights and pro-
vided that movement of the Central Valley Project 
water is consistent with the requirements of section 
3405(a)(1)(H) of the Central Valley Project Improve-
ment Act; and 
(4) allow and facilitate, consistent with existing 
priorities, water transfers through the C.W. ‘‘Bill’’ 
Jones Pumping Plant or the Harvey O. Banks Pump-
ing Plant from April 1 to November 30 provided 
water transfers comply with State law, including the 
California Environmental Quality Act. 
(c) ACCELERATED PROJECT DECISION
AND ELE-
VATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—On request by the Governor of 
the State, the Secretaries shall use the expedited pro-
cedures under this subsection to make final decisions 
relating to a Federal project or operation, or to local 
or State projects or operations that require decisions 
by the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of 
Commerce to provide additional water supplies if the 
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project’s or operation’s purpose is to provide relief for 
emergency drought conditions pursuant to subsections 
(a) and (b). 
(2) REQUEST FOR RESOLUTION.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—On request by the Gov-
ernor of the State, the Secretaries referenced in 
paragraph (1), or the head of another Federal 
agency responsible for carrying out a review of 
a project, as applicable, the Secretary of the In-
terior shall convene a final project decision meet-
ing with the heads of all relevant Federal agen-
cies to decide whether to approve a project to 
provide relief for emergency drought conditions. 
(B) MEETING.—The Secretary of the Inte-
rior shall convene a meeting requested under sub-
paragraph (A) not later than 7 days after the 
date on which the meeting request is received. 
(3) NOTIFICATION.—On receipt of a request for 
a meeting under paragraph (2), the Secretary of the 
Interior shall notify the heads of all relevant Federal 
agencies of the request, including information on the 
project to be reviewed and the date of the meeting. 
(4) DECISION.—Not later than 10 days after the 
date on which a meeting is requested under para-
graph (2), the head of the relevant Federal agency 
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shall issue a final decision on the project, subject to 
subsection (e)(2). 
(5) MEETING
CONVENED
BY
SECRETARY.—The 
Secretary of the Interior may convene a final project 
decision meeting under this subsection at any time, at 
the discretion of the Secretary, regardless of whether 
a meeting is requested under paragraph (2). 
(d) APPLICATION.—To the extent that a Federal agen-
cy, other than the agencies headed by the Secretaries, has 
a role in approving projects described in subsections (a) and 
(b), this section shall apply to those Federal agencies. 
(e) LIMITATION.—Nothing in this section authorizes 
the Secretaries to approve projects— 
(1) that would otherwise require congressional 
authorization; or 
(2) without following procedures required by ap-
plicable law. 
(f) DROUGHT PLAN.—For the period of time such that 
in any year that the Sacramento Valley index is 6.5 or 
lower, or at the request of the State of California, and until 
two succeeding years following either of those events have 
been completed where the final Sacramento Valley Index is 
7.8 or greater, the Secretaries of Commerce and the Interior, 
in consultation with appropriate State officials, shall de-
velop a drought operations plan that is consistent with the 
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provisions of this Act including the provisions that are in-
tended to provide additional water supplies that could be 
of assistance during the current drought. 
SEC. 303. OPERATION OF CROSS-CHANNEL GATES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Commerce and the 
Secretary of the Interior shall jointly— 
(1) authorize and implement activities to ensure 
that the Delta Cross Channel Gates remain open to 
the maximum extent practicable using findings from 
the United States Geological Survey on diurnal be-
havior of juvenile salmonids, timed to maximize the 
peak flood tide period and provide water supply and 
water quality benefits for the duration of the drought 
emergency declaration of the State, and for the period 
of time such that in any year that the Sacramento 
Valley index is 6.5 or lower, or at the request of the 
State of California, and until two succeeding years 
following either of those events have been completed 
where the final Sacramento Valley Index is 7.8 or 
greater, consistent with operational criteria and mon-
itoring criteria set forth into the Order Approving a 
Temporary Urgency Change in License and Permit 
Terms in Response to Drought Conditions of the Cali-
fornia State Water Resources Control Board, effective 
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January 31, 2014 (or a successor order) and other 
authorizations associated with it; 
(2) with respect to the operation of the Delta 
Cross Channel Gates described in paragraph (1), col-
lect data on the impact of that operation on— 
(A) species listed as threatened or endan-
gered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 
(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); 
(B) water quality; and 
(C) water supply; 
(3) collaborate with the California Department 
of Water Resources to install a deflection barrier at 
Georgiana Slough in coordination with Delta Cross 
Channel Gate diurnal operations to protect migrating 
salmonids, consistent with knowledge gained from ac-
tivities carried out during 2014 and 2015; 
(4) evaluate the combined salmonid survival in 
light of activities carried out pursuant to paragraphs 
(1) through (3) in deciding how to operate the Delta 
Cross Channel gates to enhance salmonid survival 
and water supply benefits; and 
(5) not later than May 15, 2016, submit to the 
appropriate committees of the House of Representa-
tives and the Senate a notice and explanation on the 
extent to which the gates are able to remain open. 
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(b) RECOMMENDATIONS.—After assessing the informa-
tion collected under subsection (a), the Secretary of the Inte-
rior shall recommend revisions to the operation of the Delta 
Cross-Channel Gates, to the Central Valley Project, and to 
the State Water Project, including, if appropriate, any rea-
sonable and prudent alternative contained in the biological 
opinion issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service on 
June 4, 2009, that are likely to produce water supply bene-
fits without causing a significant negative impact on the 
long-term survival of the listed fish species within the Delta 
or on water quality. 
SEC. 304. FLEXIBILITY FOR EXPORT/INFLOW RATIO. 
For the period of time such that in any year that the 
Sacramento Valley index is 6.5 or lower, or at the request 
of the State of California, and until two succeeding years 
following either of those events have been completed where 
the final Sacramento Valley Index is 7.8 or greater, the 
Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation shall continue 
to vary the averaging period of the Delta Export/Inflow 
ratio pursuant to the California State Water Resources 
Control Board decision D1641— 
(1) to operate to a 35-percent Export/Inflow 
ratio with a 3-day averaging period on the rising 
limb of a Delta inflow hydrograph; and 
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(2) to operate to a 14-day averaging period on 
the falling limb of the Delta inflow hydrograph. 
SEC. 305. EMERGENCY ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS. 
(a) NEPA COMPLIANCE.—To minimize the time spent 
carrying out environmental reviews and to deliver water 
quickly that is needed to address emergency drought condi-
tions in the State during the duration of an emergency 
drought declaration, the Secretaries shall, in carrying out 
this Act, consult with the Council on Environmental Qual-
ity in accordance with section 1506.11 of title 40, Code of 
Federal Regulations (including successor regulations), to 
develop alternative arrangements to comply with the Na-
tional Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 
et seq.) during the emergency. 
(b) DETERMINATIONS.—For the purposes of this sec-
tion, a Secretary may deem a project to be in compliance 
with all necessary environmental regulations and reviews 
if the Secretary determines that the immediate implementa-
tion of the project is necessary to address— 
(1) human health and safety; or 
(2) a specific and imminent loss of agriculture 
production upon which an identifiable region depends 
for 25 percent or more of its tax revenue used to sup-
port public services including schools, fire or police 
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services, city or county health facilities, unemploy-
ment services or other associated social services. 
SEC. 306. INCREASED FLEXIBILITY FOR REGULAR PROJECT 
OPERATIONS. 
The Secretaries shall, consistent with applicable laws 
(including regulations)— 
(1) in coordination with the California Depart-
ment of Water Resources and the California Depart-
ment of Fish and Wildlife, implement offsite up-
stream projects in the Delta and upstream of the Sac-
ramento River and San Joaquin basins that offset the 
effects on species listed as threatened or endangered 
under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 
1531 et seq.) due to activities carried out pursuant 
this Act, as determined by the Secretaries; 
(2) manage reverse flow in the Old and Middle 
Rivers at ¥6,100 cubic feet per second if real-time 
monitoring indicates that flows of ¥6,100 cubic feet 
per second or more negative can be established for 
specific periods without causing a significant negative 
impact on the long-term survival of the Delta smelt, 
or if real-time monitoring does not support flows of 
¥6,100 cubic feet per second than manage OMR 
flows at ¥5,000 cubic feet per second subject to sec-
tion 103(e) (3) and (4); and 
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(3) use all available scientific tools to identify 
any changes to real-time operations of the Bureau of 
Reclamation, State, and local water projects that 
could result in the availability of additional water 
supplies. 
SEC. 307. TEMPORARY OPERATIONAL FLEXIBILITY FOR 
FIRST FEW STORMS OF THE WATER YEAR. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Consistent with avoiding a signifi-
cant negative impact on the long-term survival in the short 
term upon listed fish species beyond the range of those au-
thorized under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 and 
other environmental protections under subsection (e), the 
Secretaries shall authorize the Central Valley Project and 
the State Water Project, combined, to operate at levels that 
result in negative OMR flows at ¥7,500 cubic feet per sec-
ond (based on United States Geological Survey gauges on 
Old and Middle Rivers) daily average for 56 cumulative 
days after October 1 as described in subsection (c). 
(b) DAYS
OF
TEMPORARY
OPERATIONAL
FLEXI-
BILITY.—The temporary operational flexibility described in 
subsection (a) shall be authorized on days that the Cali-
fornia Department of Water Resources determines the daily 
average river flow of the Sacramento River is at, or above, 
17,000 cubic feet per second as measured at the Sacramento 
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River at Freeport gauge maintained by the United States 
Geologic Survey. 
(c) COMPLIANCE WITH ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT 
AUTHORIZATIONS.—In carrying out this section, the Secre-
taries may continue to impose any requirements under the 
smelt and salmonid biological opinions during any period 
of temporary operational flexibility as they determine are 
reasonably necessary to avoid an additional significant 
negative impacts on the long-term survival of a listed fish 
species beyond the range of those authorized under the En-
dangered Species Act of 1973, provided that the require-
ments imposed do not reduce water supplies available for 
the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project. 
(d) OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS.— 
(1) STATE LAW.—The Secretaries’ actions under 
this section shall be consistent with applicable regu-
latory requirements under State law. 
(2) FIRST SEDIMENT FLUSH.—During the first 
flush of sediment out of the Delta in each water year, 
and provided that such determination is based upon 
objective evidence, OMR flow may be managed at 
rates less negative than ¥5,000 cubic feet per second 
for a minimum duration to avoid movement of adult 
Delta smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus) to areas in 
the southern Delta that would be likely to increase en-
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trainment at Central Valley Project and State Water 
Project pumping plants. 
(3) APPLICABILITY
OF
OPINION.—This section 
shall not affect the application of the salmonid bio-
logical opinion from April 1 to May 31, unless the 
Secretary of Commerce finds that some or all of such 
applicable requirements may be adjusted during this 
time period to provide emergency water supply relief 
without resulting in additional adverse effects beyond 
those authorized under the Endangered Species Act of 
1973. In addition to any other actions to benefit 
water supply, the Secretary of the Interior and the 
Secretary of Commerce shall consider allowing 
through-Delta water transfers to occur during this pe-
riod if they can be accomplished consistent with sec-
tion 3405(a)(1)(H) of the Central Valley Project Im-
provement Act. Water transfers solely or exclusively 
through the State Water Project are not required to 
be consistent with section 3405(a)(1)(H) of the Cen-
tral Valley Project Improvement Act. 
(4) MONITORING.—During operations under this 
section, the Commissioner of Reclamation, in coordi-
nation with the Fish and Wildlife Service, National 
Marine Fisheries Service, and California Department 
of Fish and Wildlife, shall undertake a monitoring 
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program and other data gathering to ensure inci-
dental take levels are not exceeded, and to identify po-
tential negative impacts and actions, if any, nec-
essary to mitigate impacts of the temporary oper-
ational flexibility to species listed under the Endan-
gered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). 
(e) TECHNICAL ADJUSTMENTS TO TARGET PERIOD.— 
If, before temporary operational flexibility has been imple-
mented on 56 cumulative days, the Secretaries operate the 
Central Valley Project and the State Water Project com-
bined at levels that result in OMR flows less negative than 
¥7,500 cubic feet per second during days of temporary 
operational flexibility as defined in subsection (c), the dura-
tion of such operation shall not be counted toward the 56 
cumulative days specified in subsection (a). 
(f) EMERGENCY CONSULTATION; EFFECT ON RUNNING 
AVERAGES.— 
(1) If necessary to implement the provisions of 
this section, the Commissioner is authorized to take 
any action necessary to implement this section for up 
to 56 cumulative days. If during the 56 cumulative 
days the Commissioner determines that actions nec-
essary to implement this section will exceed 56 days, 
the Commissioner shall use the emergency consulta-
tion procedures under the Endangered Species Act of 
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1973 and its implementing regulation at section 
402.05 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations, to 
temporarily adjust the operating criteria under the 
biological opinions— 
(A) solely for extending beyond the 56 cu-
mulative days for additional days of temporary 
operational flexibility— 
(i) no more than necessary to achieve 
the purposes of this section consistent with 
the environmental protections in subsections 
(d) and (e); and 
(ii) including, as appropriate, adjust-
ments to ensure that the actual flow rates 
during the periods of temporary operational 
flexibility do not count toward the 5-day 
and 14-day running averages of tidally fil-
tered daily OMR flow requirements under 
the biological opinions, or 
(B) for other adjustments to operating cri-
teria or to take other urgent actions to address 
water supply shortages for the least amount of 
time or volume of diversion necessary as deter-
mined by the Commissioner. 
(2) Following the conclusion of the 56 cumu-
lative days of temporary operational flexibility, or the 
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extended number of days covered by the emergency 
consultation procedures, the Commissioner shall not 
reinitiate consultation on these adjusted operations, 
and no mitigation shall be required, if the effects on 
listed fish species of these operations under this sec-
tion remain within the range of those authorized 
under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 
1531 et seq.). If the Commissioner reinitiates con-
sultation, no mitigation measures shall be required. 
(g) LEVEL OF DETAIL REQUIRED FOR ANALYSIS.—In 
articulating the determinations required under this section, 
the Secretaries shall fully satisfy the requirements herein 
but shall not be expected to provide a greater level of sup-
porting detail for the analysis than feasible to provide with-
in the short timeframe permitted for timely decisionmaking 
in response to changing conditions in the Delta. 
SEC. 308. EXPEDITING WATER TRANSFERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3405(a) of the Central Val-
ley Project Improvement Act (Public Law 102–575; 106 
Stat. 4709(a)) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (3) 
as paragraphs (4) through (6), respectively; 
(2) in the matter preceding paragraph (4) (as so 
designated)— 
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(A) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘In 
order to’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In order to’’; and 
(B) in the second sentence, by striking ‘‘Ex-
cept as provided herein’’ and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(3) TERMS.—Except as otherwise provided in 
this section’’; 
(3) by inserting before paragraph (3) (as so des-
ignated) the following: 
‘‘(2) EXPEDITED
TRANSFER
OF
WATER.—The 
Secretary shall take all necessary actions to facilitate 
and expedite transfers of Central Valley Project water 
in accordance with— 
‘‘(A) this Act; 
‘‘(B) any other applicable provision of the 
reclamation laws; and 
‘‘(C) the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).’’; 
(4) in paragraph (4) (as so designated)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘to 
combination’’ and inserting ‘‘or combination’’; 
and 
(B) by striking ‘‘3405(a)(2) of this title’’ 
each place it appears and inserting ‘‘(5)’’; 
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(5) in paragraph (5) (as so designated), by add-
ing at the end the following: 
‘‘(E) The contracting district from which 
the water is coming, the agency, or the Secretary 
shall determine if a written transfer proposal is 
complete within 45 days after the date of submis-
sion of the proposal. If the contracting district or 
agency or the Secretary determines that the pro-
posal is incomplete, the district or agency or the 
Secretary shall state with specificity what must 
be added to or revised for the proposal to be com-
plete.’’; and 
(6) in paragraph (6) (as so designated), by strik-
ing ‘‘3405(a)(1)(A)–(C), (E), (G), (H), (I), (L), and 
(M) of this title’’ and inserting ‘‘(A) through (C), (E), 
(G), (H), (I), (L), and (M) of paragraph (4)’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—The Central Valley 
Project Improvement Act (Public Law 102–575) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in section 3407(c)(1) (106 Stat. 4726), by 
striking 
‘‘3405(a)(1)(C)’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘3405(a)(4)(C)’’; and 
(2) in section 3408(i)(1) (106 Stat. 4729), by 
striking ‘‘3405(a)(1) (A) and (J) of this title’’ and in-
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serting ‘‘subparagraphs (A) and (J) of section 
3405(a)(4)’’. 
SEC. 309. ADDITIONAL EMERGENCY CONSULTATION. 
For adjustments to operating criteria other than under 
section 308 of this Act or to take urgent actions to address 
water supply shortages for the least amount of time or vol-
ume of diversion necessary as determined by the Commis-
sioner of Reclamation, no mitigation measures shall be re-
quired during any year that the Sacramento Valley index 
is 6.5 or lower, or at the request of the State of California, 
and until two succeeding years following either of those 
events have been completed where the final Sacramento Val-
ley Index is 7.8 or greater, and any mitigation measures 
imposed must be based on quantitative data and required 
only to the extent that such data demonstrates actual harm 
to species. 
SEC. 310. ADDITIONAL STORAGE AT NEW MELONES. 
The Commissioner of Reclamation is directed to work 
with local water and irrigation districts in the Stanislaus 
River Basin to ascertain the water storage made available 
by the Draft Plan of Operations in New Melones Reservoir 
(DRPO) for water conservation programs, conjunctive use 
projects, water transfers, rescheduled project water and 
other projects to maximize water storage and ensure the 
beneficial use of the water resources in the Stanislaus River 
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Basin. All such programs and projects shall be implemented 
according to all applicable laws and regulations. The source 
of water for any such storage program at New Melones Res-
ervoir shall be made available under a valid water right, 
consistent with the State of California water transfer guide-
lines and any other applicable State water law. The Com-
missioner shall inform the Congress within 18 months set-
ting forth the amount of storage made available by the 
DRPO that has been put to use under this program, includ-
ing proposals received by the Commissioner from interested 
parties for the purpose of this section. 
SEC. 311. REGARDING THE OPERATION OF FOLSOM RES-
ERVOIR. 
The Secretary of the Interior, in collaboration with the 
Sacramento Water Forum, shall expedite evaluation, com-
pletion and implementation of the Modified Lower Amer-
ican River Flow Management Standard developed by the 
Water Forum in 2015 to improve water supply reliability 
for Central Valley Project American River water contrac-
tors and resource protection in the lower American River 
during consecutive dry-years under current and future de-
mand and climate change conditions. 
SEC. 312. APPLICANTS. 
In the event that the Bureau of Reclamation or another 
Federal agency initiates or reinitiates consultation with the 
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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or the National Marine 
Fisheries Service under section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(2)), with respect 
to construction or operation of the Central Valley Project 
and State Water Project, or any part thereof, the State 
Water Project contractors and the Central Valley Project 
contractors will be accorded all the rights and responsibil-
ities extended to applicants in the consultation process. 
SEC. 313. SAN JOAQUIN RIVER SETTLEMENT. 
(a) CALIFORNIA STATE LAW SATISFIED BY WARM 
WATER FISHERY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Sections 5930 through 5948 of 
the California Fish and Game Code, and all applica-
ble Federal laws, including the San Joaquin River 
Restoration Settlement Act (Public Law 111–11) and 
the Stipulation of Settlement (Natural Resources De-
fense Council, et al. v. Kirk Rodgers, et al., Eastern 
District of California, No. Civ. S–88–1658–LKK/ 
GGH), shall be satisfied by the existence of a warm 
water fishery in the San Joaquin River below Friant 
Dam, but upstream of Gravelly Ford. 
(2) DEFINITION OF WARM WATER FISHERY.—For 
the purposes of this section, the term ‘‘warm water 
fishery’’ means a water system that has an environ-
ment suitable for species of fish other than salmon 
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(including all subspecies) and trout (including all 
subspecies). 
(b) REPEAL OF THE SAN JOAQUIN RIVER SETTLE-
MENT.—As of the date of enactment of this section, the Sec-
retary of the Interior shall cease any action to implement 
the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act (subtitle 
A of title X of Public Law 111–11) and the Stipulation 
of Settlement (Natural Resources Defense Council, et al. v. 
Kirk Rodgers, et al., Eastern District of California, No. Civ. 
S–88–1658 LKK/GGH). 
SEC. 314. PROGRAM FOR WATER RESCHEDULING. 
By December 31, 2015, the Secretary of the Interior 
shall develop and implement a program, including resched-
uling guidelines for Shasta and Folsom Reservoirs, to allow 
existing Central Valley Project agricultural water service 
contractors within the Sacramento River Watershed, and 
refuge service and municipal and industrial water service 
contractors within the Sacramento River Watershed and the 
American River Watershed to reschedule water, provided for 
under their Central Valley Project contracts, from one year 
to the next; provided, that the program is consistent with 
existing rescheduling guidelines as utilized by the Bureau 
of Reclamation for rescheduling water for Central Valley 
Project water service contractors that are located South of 
the Delta. 
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TITLE IV—CALFED STORAGE 
FEASIBILITY STUDIES 
SEC. 401. STUDIES. 
The Secretary of the Interior, through the Commis-
sioner of Reclamation, shall— 
(1) complete the feasibility studies described in 
clauses (i)(I) and (ii)(II) of section 103(d)(1)(A) of 
Public Law 108–361 (118 Stat. 1684) and submit 
such studies to the appropriate committees of the 
House of Representatives and the Senate not later 
than December 31, 2015; 
(2) complete the feasibility studies described in 
clauses (i)(II) and (ii)(I) of section 103(d)(1)(A) of 
Public Law 108–361 and submit such studies to the 
appropriate committees of the House of Representa-
tives and the Senate not later than November 30, 
2016; 
(3) complete the feasibility study described in 
section 103(f)(1)(A) of Public Law 108–361 (118 
Stat. 1694) and submit such study to the appropriate 
Committees of the House of Representatives and the 
Senate not later than December 31, 2017; 
(4) provide a progress report on the status of the 
feasibility studies referred to in paragraphs (1) 
through (3) to the appropriate committees of the 
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House of Representatives and the Senate not later 
than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act and each 180 days thereafter until December 31, 
2017, as applicable. The report shall include timelines 
for study completion, draft environmental impact 
statements, final environmental impact statements, 
and Records of Decision; 
(5) in conducting any feasibility study under 
this Act, the reclamation laws, the Central Valley 
Project Improvement Act (title XXXIV of Public Law 
102–575; 106 Stat. 4706), the Fish and Wildlife Co-
ordination Act (16 U.S.C. 661 et seq.), the Endan-
gered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), 
and other applicable law, for the purposes of deter-
mining feasibility the Secretary shall document, de-
lineate, and publish costs directly relating to the engi-
neering and construction of a water storage project 
separately from the costs resulting from regulatory 
compliance or the construction of auxiliary facilities 
necessary to achieve regulatory compliance; and 
(6) communicate, coordinate and cooperate with 
public water agencies that contract with the United 
States for Central Valley Project water and that are 
expected to participate in the cost pools that will be 
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of ownership, control, and operation of the New 
Melones Unit, Central Valley Project to interested 
local water and power providers; 
(3) of all unresolved issues that are preventing 
execution of an agreement for the transfer of owner-
ship, control, and operation of the New Melones Unit, 
Central Valley Project to interested local water and 
power providers; 
(4) on analysis and review of studies, reports, 
discussions, hearing transcripts, negotiations, and 
other information about past and present formal dis-
cussions that— 
(A) have a serious impact on the progress of 
the formal discussions; 
(B) explain or provide information about 
the issues that prevent progress or finalization of 
formal discussions; or 
(C) are, in whole or in part, preventing exe-
cution of an agreement for the transfer; and 
(5) of any actions the Secretary recommends that 
the United States should take to finalize an agreement 
for that transfer. 
SEC. 607. BASIN STUDIES. 
(a) AUTHORIZED STUDIES.—The Secretary of the In-
terior is authorized and directed to expand opportunities 
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