Decision support to meet objectives for water and fisheries management in large river and estuarine systems.project period: 09 22 2025 09 30 2029 description award purpose - the bureau of reclamation,…

The U.S. Geological Survey Office of Acquisitions and Grants awarded a cooperative agreement totaling $313,074.12 to Utah State University on September 22, 2025, under the Cooperative Research Units program (CFDA 15.812) to provide decision support for water and fisheries management in large river and estuarine systems.

The award funds technical analysis and decision-support tools for the Bureau of Reclamation's Central Valley Project and Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program. Deliverables include understanding population dynamics of fishes as they relate to water operations, identifying and ranking critical uncertainties that hinder Delta Smelt supplementation success in the Central Valley, and providing sound technical information and operational criteria recommendations for long-term reservoir management along both the Central Valley and Colorado River systems. Performance occurs in Utah from September 22, 2025, through September 30, 2029.

The Cooperative Research Units program supports research, technical assistance, and graduate education conducted through partnerships between the USGS, states, and universities to address fish, wildlife, and natural resource management information needs of federal, state, tribal, and local agencies. Utah State University, a land-grant research institution headquartered in Logan, pursues research and extension delivery across agriculture, environmental sciences, and natural resource management, with prior USGS awards and an active BLM Aquatic Resources Program indefinite delivery vehicle.

Decision support to meet objectives for water and fisheries management in large river and estuarine systems.project period: 09 22 2025 09 30 2029 description award purpose - the bureau of reclamation, in collaboration and consultation with other federal, state, tribal, and local agencies, manages water resources and related activities as part of the central valley project, for the purposes of conveyance, storage, water quality, and environmental benefits in the central valley of california. Reclamation also manages the glen canyon DAM adaptive management program, which is a federal advisory committee associated with glen canyon DAM on the colorado river that makes recommendations to manage water and hydropower while improving conditions of resources for which grand canyon national park and glen canyon national recreation area were established. Both work to maximize water deliveries (e.g., executive order 14181), while complying with multiple federal laws. Decisions involve the magnitude and timing of reservoir releases as well as non-flow actions to meet downstream objectives. Decision making related to water-resource management in these two programs is complex because water needs for human consumption, irrigation for agriculture, recreation, and the environment are often far greater than the available water supply. As such, there is a need for a formal decision making structure facilitated by an external party. Activities to be performed - questions of mutual interest will be addressed, such as understanding population dynamics of fishes as they relate to water operations and identifying and ranking critical uncertainties that hinder the success of delta smelt supplementation in the central valley and river management decision making in both the central valley and colorado river. The outcome from this project is to provide decision-makers with sound technical information and tools when determining operational criteria for the long-term operation of californias central valley project (CVP), and the glen canyon DAM adaptive management program (GCDAMP), while improving the design of non-flow actions to efficiently meet objectives for fishes. The project will provide opportunities for recipients to develop and expand their current expertise and share their expertise with federal and state scientists and managers, in order to contribute towards executive order 14181. This project will enhance the ability of all federal and academic partners to directly focus research on questions related to critical resource restoration management decisions, in structured decision making and adaptive management programs. Deliverables and expected outcomes -decision analytical methods will be applied using the best available modeling tools to evaluate delta smelt science priorities related to supplementation and CVP operations. Existing native fish data collected over 20 years will be analyzed as part of the GCDAMP to develop predictive models to inform decision-making related to flow and non-flow management actions to confront invasive species, drought, and operations to maximize hydropower and water deliveries in the colorado river. The GCDAMP analysis is incorporated as part of project N in the triennial work plan associated with the program: https: WWW.usbr.GOV UC progact AMP pdfs 20250206-gcdamptriennialbudgetworkplan-FY2025%E2%80%932027-508-amwqd.PDF intended beneficiary(IES) - all parties involved in managing the central valley project (CVP), and the glen canyon DAM adaptive management program (GCDAMP) and in particular the bureau of reclamation. In addition, these objectives are of considerable interest to scientists and resource managers in general for effective management of dams and reservoirs that serve the needs of 40 million people while meeting multiple objectives related to fish conservation and recreation. Subrecipient activities, if known or specified at the time of award NA