delta performance metrics memo to record - 1 · 2020-04-06 · mr. allen lindauer mr. yow-min tsao...

Delta Performance Metrics Memo to Record - 1

2

Data sources:

Raw data for unclipped winter-run-sized Chinook salmon came from ICF in an e-mail from

Mike Tillotson to Barb Byrne on December 13, 2018. Data included salmonid loss from

October 1, 2004 to December 10, 2018. Filename: 2019.12.13_Daily Salmonid Loss_from

ICF.xls

o Unclipped winter-run-sized Chinook salmon loss for all of WY 2018 was

downloaded from the SacPAS website:

http://www.cbr.washington.edu/sacramento/data/delta_loss.html

Data for hatchery winter-run Chinook salmon came from the Annual Incidental Take Reports

issued by DWR (with one exception -- the WY 2018 loss of hatchery winter-run came from

the loss table in the WY 2018 DOSS Annual Report).

Raw data for unclipped steelhead came from Reclamation in an e-mail from David Mooney

to Barbara Byrne on May 18, 2018. Filename: 2018.05.18_ROC Delta Salvage Analysis

20190517 DRAFT_from Reclamation.xls (data from Steelhead Salvage.DAT tab)

Data Integrity Concerns:In June 2019, NMFS was notified (see full details in letter from CDFW to Reclamation provided

in Attachment 4) that

“CDFW has been made aware that, at least since April 8, 2019, some of the fish data

collected at the TFCF has been falsified. Specifically, we received notice that at least one

operator has failed to record presence of Chinook salmon after refusing to process

salmonids (Table 1). Table 1 shows a clear and consistent pattern of zero catch for

Chinook salmon from the operator in question after April 7, 2019, despite other operators

recording detections of that species regularly. This raises concerns about data quality for

all species, especially when no supervisor or other employee was present to verify

records.”


http://www.cbr.washington.edu/sacramento/data/delta_loss.html

3

Attachment 1: 2019.05.23_Delta measures_NMFS working

draft.pdf


5/23/19 NMFS DRAFT – SUBJECT TO REVISION

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Delta Performance Metrics Memo to Record - 1 1


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Attachment 2: 2019.05.23_Delta measures_NMFSvsRec

comparison.pdf



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2


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Attachment 3: 2019.06.05_Summary of Rec and NMFS Delta

performance measures_revised.pdf


DRAFT DELTA PERFORMANCE MEASURES -- SUBJECT TO REVISION

Summary drafted by NMFS on 6.5.19

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Attachment 4: Data Integrity of Fish Salvage Ops at TFCF-

Lindauer Tsao USBR-STARR061719.pdf


Barbara Byrne - NOAA Federal <[email protected]>

Fwd: Data Integrity of Fish Salvage Ops at TFCF-Lindauer Tsao USBR-STARR0617191 message

Garwin Yip - NOAA Federal <[email protected]> Thu, Jun 27, 2019 at 11 :01 AMTo: "'[email protected]" <[email protected]>, Barbara Byrne <[email protected]>, Brittany Cunningham -NOAA Affiliate <[email protected]>, Doug Hampton <[email protected]>, Jeff Stuart<[email protected]>, Sarah Gallagher - NOAA Federal <[email protected]>, Kristin Begun<[email protected]>, Shelly Hatleberg - NOAA Federal <[email protected]>, Kimberly Clements - NOAAFederal <[email protected]>, Howard Brown <[email protected]>

FYI

-Garwin- _____________Garwin YipWater Operations and Delta Consultations Branch ChiefNOAA Fisheries West Coast RegionU.S. Department of CommerceCalifornia Central Valley Office650 Capitol Mall, Suite 5-100Sacramento, CA 95814Office: 916-930-3611Cell: 916-716-6558FAX: 916-930-3629www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov

---------- Forwarded message ---------From: Hultman, Debbie@Wildlife <[email protected]>Date: Thu, Jun 27, 2019 at 9:59 AMSubject: Data Integrity of Fish Salvage Ops at TFCF-Lindauer Tsao USBR-STARR061719To: [email protected] <[email protected]>, [email protected] <[email protected]>Cc: Dibble, Chad@Wildlife <[email protected]>, Grover, Joshua@Wildlife <[email protected]>,Wilcox, Carl@Wildlife <[email protected]>, Damon, Lauren@Wildlife <[email protected]>,[email protected] <[email protected]>, [email protected] <[email protected]>, [email protected]<[email protected]>, [email protected] <[email protected]>, [email protected] <[email protected]>,[email protected] <[email protected]>, Starr, Jim@Wildlife <[email protected]>, Erickson,Gregg@Wildlife <[email protected]>

Mr. Lindauer and Mr. Tsao,

Please see the attached letter. Original to follow.

Thank you,

Debbie Hultman | Assistant to the Regional ManagerDelta Performance Metrics Memo to Record - 32

https://www.google.com/maps/search/650+Capitol+Mall,+Suite+5-100+Sacramento,+CA%C2%A0+95814+Office:%C2%A0+916?entry=gmail&source=g



http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/

mailto:[email protected]























http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov

California Department of Fish and Wildlife – Bay Delta Region

2825 Cordelia Road, Ste. 100, Fairfield, CA 94534

707.428.2037 | [email protected]

Data Integrity of Fish Salvage Ops at TFCF-Lindauer Tsao USBR-STARR061719.pdf1232K


https://www.google.com/maps/search/2825+Cordelia+Road,+Ste.+100,+Fairfield,+CA+94534?entry=gmail&source=g


https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=5334e99c73&view=att&th=16b9a19912193b17&attid=0.1&disp=attd&realattid=16b9a185620d00729a1&safe=1&zw

State of California - Natural Resources Aqency

DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE

Bay Delta Region

2825 Cordelia Road, Suite 100

Faifield, CA 94534

(707) 428-2002

www.wildlife.ca.qov

GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor

CHARLTON H. BONHAM, Director

June 25, 2019

Mr. Allen Lindauer

Chief Operations and Maintenance Division

u.s. Bureau or Reclamation

16650 Kelso Road

Byron, CA 94514-1909

Mr. Yow-min Tsao

Fish Facility Branch Chief

u.s. Bureau of Reclamation

16650 Kelso Road

Byron, CA 94514-1909

Subject: Data Integrity of Fish Salvage Operations at Tracy Fish Collection Facility

Dear Mr. Lindauer and Mr. Tsao:

This letter is intended to highlight California Department of Fish and Wildlife's (CDFW) concerns

regarding maintaining the integrity of fish salvage data collected at u.s. Bureau of Reclamation

(USBR) facilities, specifically stemming from a recent report of missing or incorrect data

collection at the Tracy Fish Collection Facility (TFCF). Reliable data is crucial to CDFW's

understanding and conservation, protection and management of public trust resources within

California. CDFW urges USBR to take immediate measures to investigate and document the

extent of data that may have been compromised and implement measures to avoid such

situations going forward.

USBR currently operates the TFCF as mitigation for fisheries impacts related to water exports at

the Tracy Pumping Plant [TPP, a portion or the Central Valley Project (CVP)]. The purpose of

the TFCF is to divert and salvage fish that would otherwise be directly entrained at the TPP. A

variety of species listed under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) and/or federal

Endangered Species Act (ESA) are vulnerable to entrainment at the TPP. Data collected at the

TFCF is used in combination with other data collection efforts to make water operations

decisions implementing ESA authorizations for CVP and State Water Project operations, and

CESA authorizations issued by CDFW to the Department of Water Resources. Reasonable and

Prudent Alternative Action 1V.4.3 of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) 2009

Biological Opinion and Conference Opinion on the Long-term Operations of the Central Valley

Project and the State Water Project, addressing marine species including winter-run and spring-

run Chinook salmon, requires publication of salvage data to a public webpage. Water Rights

Decision 1485 (and subsequent decisions) requires that specific information about fish salvaged

at the TFCF be collected and maintained, and this information has been used in scientific

studies to further our understanding of Delta species and project impacts.

Conserv% California's Wi[dlifeSince 1870


http://www.wildlife.ca.qov

Mr. Allen Lindauer

Mr. Yow-Min Tsao


June 25, 2019

Page 2

In order to comply with the above requirements, USBR entered into a contract with CDFW on

September 23, 2015 to enable USBR "to obtain, in a timely manner, to monitor, assemble,

analyze and evaluate fish monitoring and reporting at the Tracy Fish Collection Facility," per

contract number R15PCOO121.

Specific tasks and deliverables assigned to CDFW under this agreement include maintaining

salvage records, making these data publicly available, and providing technical oversight and

conducting quality assurance and quality control of the data. In order to complete these tasks,

CDFW depends on fish salvage records gathered by USBR staff at the TCFC. CDFW takes its

tasks under the contract seriously. Providing high-quality, accurate, and precise data to

stakeholders and the public is a high priority for CDFW, as is collaborating with other agencies,

including USBR, and stakeholders to manage California's fish and wildfire resources.

CDFW has been made aware that, at least since April 8, 2019, some of the fish data collected

at the TFCF has been falsified. Specifically, we received notice that at least one operator has

failed to record presence of Chinook salmon affer refusing to process salmonids (Table 1 ).

Table 1 shows a clear and consistent pattern of zero catch for Chinook salmon from the

operator in question after April 7, 2019, despite other operators recording detections of that

species regularly. This raises concerns about data quality for all species, especially when no

supervisor or other employee was present to verify records.

Because there is no practical method of recovering data gathered improperly or not gathered at

all, CDFW must nullify numerous data records to avoid Further dissemination or unreliable data

and report it to both the regulatory agencies and those groups that rely on this data to make

water operation decisions. Publication of unreliable information can damage the scientific

reputation of agencies and could have larger negative impacts on public trust in government

data. Additionally, since it is likely that listed species and other species of concern were taken

and not recorded, resource managers do not have the data they need to make informed

decisions for the protection of our natural resources, pursuant to existing authorizations.

This is a situation of high concern. We request that USBR take immediate action to remedy this

situation and take further steps to ensure data integrity now and into the future. CDFW is willing

to consult with and advise USBR as needed to facilitate the gathering or reliable and useful data

for the benefit or our Fish and wildliTe natural resources

If you have any questions regarding the content of this letter, please feel free to contact

Mr. James Starr, Environmenta ram Manager, at (209) 234-3440 or via email at

[email protected] .

Sincerely,

Gregg Erickson

Regional Manager

Bay Delta Region


Mr. Allen Lindauer

Mr. Yow-Min Tsao


June 25, 2019

Page 3

ec: Chad Dibble, Deputy Director, Ecosystem Conservation Division

CA Department of Fish and Wildlife

Chad. [email protected]

Josh Grover, Chief, Water Branch


[email protected]

Carl Wilcox, Advisor to the Director on Delta Issues


[email protected]

Lauren Damon, Senior Environmental Scientist, Supervisor


Lauren. Damon(Qwildlife.ca.qov

Mario Manzo, Deputy Manager, Bay Delta Office


[email protected]

David Mooney, Area Manager


Dmooney@,usbr.CIOV

Michael Jackson, Area Manager


[email protected]

Duane Stroup, Deputy Area Manager


[email protected]

Garwin Yip, Branch Chief

National Marine Fisheries Service

Garwin.Yip(Qnoaa.qov

Jana Affonso, Deputy Division Chief

u.s. Fish and Wildlife Service

Jana [email protected]


Mr. Allen Lindauer

Mr. Yow-Min Tsao


June 25, 2019

Page 4

Table 1. Number of Chinook salmon (daily sum) recorded in 2019 by the operator who has

admitted to not recording salmon (Operator in Question) and recorded by all other operators

(Other Operators). A null indicates operator was not working on a specific day, whereas a zero

indicates no Chinook were recorded.

Date

Number of Chinook Salmon

Reccrded

Date


Reccrded

Date


Recc rded

2019

Other Operators

Operator in

Question

1-Jan 1

2-Jan 2

3-Jan 1

4-Jan 1

5-Jan o

6-Jan 1

o

7-Jan 1

o

8-Jan

o

2

9-Jan o

1

10-Jan 1

1 1-Jan

o

12-Jan o

13-Jan

o

14-Jan o

15-Jan

o

16-Jan o

17-Jan 2

< 8-Jan

3

1 9-Jan 4

20-Jan 3

21 -Jan 1

22-Jan 1

o

23-Jan 1

1

24-Jan O"

25-Jan 2

1

26-Jan o

o

27-Jan o

o

28-Jan o

1

29-Jan

o

1

30-Jan o

31-Jan o

I-Feb o

2-Feb o

3-Feb 2

4-Feb

o

o

5-Feb o

o

a-reb 7

4

7-Feb

14

B-Feb

16

9-Feb TO

1 0-Feb 11

11 -Feb 10

1 2-Feb 12

13-Feb i

3

14-Feb 2

1 5-Feb 9

1 6-Feb 3

1 7-Feb g

1 8-Feb 8

< 9-Feb 9

4

20-Feb 10 2

21-Feb 12

2019 Other Operators

Operator in

Question

. 22-Fet

11

23-Feb 2

24-Fek

7

o

25-Fek

5

o

26-Fek

5

o

27-Feb

10

28-Feb

9

1 -Mar

10

2-Mar

7

3-Mar

7

4-Mar

9

5-Mar

7

4

6-Mar

8

4

7-Mar

10

8-Mar

9

9-Mar

4

1 0-Mai

6

11 -Mar

4

1 2-Mai

4

1 3-Mai

1

1 4-Mar

2

1 5-Mar

4

16-Mar

1

1 7-Mat

o

1 8:Mat

o

1 9-Mar

1

20-Mar

2

21 -Mar

6

22-Mar

2

23-Mar

1

24-Mar

1

25-Mar

2

26-Mar

o

27-Mar

o

28-Mar

3

29-Mar

1

o

30-Mar

2

o

31 -Mar

1

o

1 -Apr

o

o

2-Apr

5

3

3-Apr

2

4-Apr

o

o

5-Apr

2

'3

6-Apr ',

2

3

7-Apr

2

2

8-Apr

2

o

9-Apr

4

1 0-Apr

5

11 -Apr

1

4 2-Apr

2

o

1 3-Apr

o

o

14-Apt

o

o

15-Apr

o

o

2019 Other Operators

Operator in

Question

4 6-Apr

4

o

4 7-Apr 2

1 8-Apr 5

o

1 9-Apr 2

o

20-Apr 3

o

21-Apr

o

o

22-Apr 3

0.

23-Apr 5

24-Apr

5

25-Apr 6

26-Apr

11

o

27-Apr 1

o

28-Apr 2

o

29-Apr o

o

30-Apr

2

o

1-May

5

2-May 2

o

3-May

o

o

4-May o

5-May

o

6-May 2

7-May

5

8-May 6

9-May 8

1 0-May

7

o

11 -May 4

o

1 2-May

1

o

1 3-May 8

iO

1 4-May 7

o

1 5-May

15

1 6-May 12

o

1 7-May 7

o

1 8-May

2

o

1 9-May

6

20-May

7

21-May 12

22-May 8

23-May 15

24-May

13

25-May 12

o

26-May g

o

27-May 10

o

28-May 2

o

29-May 7

30-May

10

o

31-May 4

o

1-Jun 9

o

2-Jun

7

o

3-Jun 10

o

4-J un 12

5-J un

5

6-Jun

9


delta performance metrics memo to record - 1 · 2020-04-06 · mr. allen lindauer mr. yow-min tsao...

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