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Like CALFED, Interior has adopted an adaptive management approach to instream flow releases under CVPIA, Rather than commit to releases of specific amounts of CVP water, though, Interior reaches into a "toolbox" of strategies designed to meet the needs of fish, such as water purchases trom willing sellers, But shifting water from one use to another has provoked strong reactions from key stakeholders, CVP contractors have called it a breach of the consensus spirit of the CALFED process, and environmentalists have said the toolbox approach doesn't meet CVPIA's environmental wafer and AFRP requirements. Adequate stream flows also are important for reducing and removing contaminants from water. Pollutants such as petroleum products, pesticides and sewage can be toxic to aquatic organisms, disrupting the delicate foodweb that supports biological diversity, CALFED has set a goal to reduce loading, concen- trations and bioaccumulation of contaminants of concern to ecosystem health in the water, sediments, and tissues of tish and wildlite in the Delta region by 25 to 50 percent. II implemented, that could mean changing land-management practices to decrease use of pesticides and reducing discharges of hydrocarbons, metals and selenium from San BAlTLE CREEK Battle Creek has been described as the most important salmon-producing tributary of the Sacramento River, It is one of several California streams where dams have been or are being removed in efforts to restore depleted salmon fisheries, Restoration of Battle Creek is one of about 450 Category III projects being developed under the CALFED program that are designed to improve the Bay-Delta watershed, Category III projects are funded by water users and state and federal governments, Battle Creek flows south-southwest out of the Sierra Nevada near Lassen Park, and joins the Sacramento River just south of Redding, Dams were built on the creek beginning in the late 19th century to produce hydroelectric power and supply nearby farms with irrigation water. However, these projects severely depleted populations of steel head, spring-run and fall-run chinook salmon. Francisco Bay area industries. Recreational boating also contributes pollutants. Battle Creek, abore, has been described as the most important salmon.prvducing tributary vfthe Sacramento Ril'e,: Salt water, though not a pollutant, has been recog- nized as an important water-quality factor that can affect aquatic species. The Della estuary historically has been a place where fresh river water mixes with salt water from the Bay, creating nutrienHich zones with high concentrations of algae, fish and eggs, However, flow changes since the rivers were dammed have altered the traditionai salinity patterns, The State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) has been concerned about Delta salinity for many years, and in 1995 ordered the CVP and SWP to manage salinity there through releases from their reservoirs designed to protect agriculture, urban water supplies and aquatic organisms. The plan to restore Battle Creek brought together about a dozen stakeholder groups including state and federal agencies, local landowners, the electric utility that owned some of the dams and conservation groups, Through its Anadromous Fish Restoration Program, the U,S, Fish & Wildlife Service provided funding and guidance for a non- profit Battle Creek Watershed Conservancy made up of local residents and stakeholders that educated landowners and others about the watershed, In late 1999 a plan was announced to remove five dams on Battle Creek and increase seasonal stream flows to make more habitat available for salmon spawning, Three diversion dams that remain on the creek will have fish screens or fish ladders enlarged to help salmon migrate to upstream spawning areas. Modifications to hydropower facilities on the creek are scheduled to be completed by 2003, 11