Conservation groups tell State Water Board Reclamation's draft Sacramento River plan risks winter‑run Chinook

Conservation and fishing groups told the State Water Resources Control Board on May 5 that the Bureau of Reclamation's draft 2026 Sacramento River temperature management plan risks harming endangered winter‑run Chinook and the broader salmon fishery unless it is revised.

"We urge the board to take swift, early, and decisive action to protect fisheries resources in the Sacramento River in 2026," said Ashley Overhalser, water policy advisor for Defenders of Wildlife, citing a preliminary review that the draft plan appears to undercut requirements in the 2024 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) biological opinion and Water Rights Order 90‑5.

Friends of the River lead scientist Devin Pierces told the board that recent scientific work shows more stringent temperature targets are needed for egg survival. He cited research indicating approximately 53.5°F (12°C) is required to protect salmon eggs in the wild and warned that juveniles also require continuous access to cold‑water habitat.

Speakers said the Bureau's draft treats this year as a lower‑priority "bin two" operational year even though end‑of‑April storage at Shasta Reservoir exceeded the bin‑one threshold. Eric Buescher of San Francisco Baykeeper said Reclamation's plan to target end‑of‑September storage around 2.205 million acre‑feet—below the 2.4 million acre‑feet bin‑one target—could reduce cold‑water habitat and limit the agency's ability to protect fall‑run Chinook later in the year.

Chief Counsel Michael Lauffer told the board he would review public‑forum materials but reminded speakers that federal regulations assign the duty to reapply to permittees in some contexts; he also noted chapter 4.5 of the Administrative Procedure Act governs ex parte communications for pending proceedings. Board staff confirmed they requested additional modeling from Reclamation on April 29 and were reviewing the draft.

Board members said they were following the issue closely. "Order 90‑5 has shortcomings and needs an update," Board Member Laurel Firestone said, but she and other members said staff briefings and additional technical information are needed before the board takes a formal action.

Why it matters: winter‑run Chinook occupy their sole remaining habitat below Keswick Dam, and speakers warned that inadequate cold‑water management contributed to population declines and fishery closures in prior drought years. The board's response so far has been to request more modeling and analysis from Reclamation; advocates asked the board to require buffers and legally compliant plans to reduce the risk of high temperature‑dependent mortality.

What's next: Board staff said they would continue to review the draft plan, evaluate the modeling requested from Reclamation, and hold briefings for board members. No formal board decision was recorded at the May 5 meeting.