Other scientific needs exist and the Delta Outflow Study 
will be fulfilling these needs in the future. For example, the 
study has discovered some of the qualitative relationships 
between fishery resources and freshwater flows, but these re¬ 
lationships must be confirmed and quantified . In other words, 
how much of a population reduction or increase results if 
outflows are reduced by some amount? Reported amounts of 
reduction in other systems that have caused adverse responses 
range up to approximately 47 percent. In an average rainfall 
year, approximately 50 percent has been diverted from San 
Francisco Bay. The study also must develop some predictive 
capability, through simple fishery models, to be used when the 
regulatory agencies eventually set protective standards. 
The Outflow Study also will need to document relationships 
between fishery resources and circulation/hydrodynamic patterns. 
Some organisms use circulation processes for transportation of 
their young, but the quantitative relationships between outflows 
and these processes are unknown. Beyond that, it must be deter¬ 
mined whether any observed flow-related circulation changes will 
impact those organisms known to use currents in the Bay and if 
so, whether or not such impacts will be detrimental. 
Policy needs for San Francisco Bay center around two 
issues. First, in California a long standing controversy re¬ 
garding the role of the Federal Central Valley Project in 
protecting beneficial uses has been debated. This issue has 
recently been resolved to the state's satisfaction in the 
Coordinated Operations Agreement (COA). Congress must act on 
this Agreement. Second, continued funding support from the USBR 
to continue the outflow studies is desperately needed. Study 
contracts are renewed each year and, from time-to-time, the 
project has been threatened due to budget cuts in the Bureau 
program. Long-term, financial support is needed to continue 
these important studies. 
In conclusion, California is a divided state, but through 
agency coordination and cooperation, and also some sound 
scientific studies, progress is being made toward protecting 
and, in fact, in some cases, enhancing fish and wildlife 
resources. 
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