Peer Review Debunks Fish Models

For years, the Modesto and Turlock Irrigation Districts and the SFPUC have claimed the Tuolumne River Voluntary Agreement (TRVA) would produce more fish with less water. Well, it turns out their science doesn’t hold water. In September 2020, the National Marine Fisheries Service released a peer review of the fish models upon which the TRVA is based. This extremely thorough report found a number of major flaws in the models. Our coalition responded by submitting a sign-on letter to the SFPUC encouraging them to drop their support for the TRVA and embrace the Bay Delta Plan.

In response to our concerns, SFPUC Commissioner Ed Harrington initiated a workshop focusing on the science behind the Bay Delta Plan and TRVA. Our coalition pulled together an excellent panel that gave a very convincing presentation on the need for higher unimpaired flows. Inexplicably, SFPUC staff chose not to present any science in support of the TRVA.

The workshop can be viewed here (science presentation begins at 59:00).