7/6/2020

10 Day Northern California Precipitation Forecast: 0% chance of precipitation over the next 10 days.

From CDEC: Precipitation to date for water year 2019-2020 - As of 7/6/2020:

Northern Sierra Precipitation Index: 31.7" - 63% of average for this date

San Joaquin Precipitation Index: 24.5" - 63% of average for this date

Tulare Basin Precipitation Index: 18.6" - 66% of average for this date

From CDEC: Average statewide snow water equivalents as of 6/26/2020:

North: 0.0" - 0% of normal for this date

Central: 0.0" - 0% of normal for this date

South: 0.1" - 0% of normal for this date

Statewide: 0.0" - 0% of normal for this date

River Flows (Current and estimated future flow rates from NOAA's California Nevada River Forecast Center and CDEC)

Sacramento River (Freeport)

The daily average reported 13,104 cfs on 7/5 and is expected to remain the same through 7/11.

Feather River (at Boyd's Landing)

The Feather is reporting 4,076 cfs and is expected to remain the same through 7/11.

San Joaquin River (near Vernalis)

The San Joaquin is currently reporting 601 cfs and may decrease to 578 cfs by 7/7 then possibly increase to 638 cfs on 7/11.

Delta Cross Channel Gate Operation

Posted: 6/12/2020

Delta Cross Channel Gates will OPEN on Friday June 12, 2020 at approximately 1000 hrs. The Delta Cross Channel (DCC) gates will remain open until further notice.

Comment:  Summer schedule.

PLEASE NOTE: GATES MAY NEED TO BE CLOSED WITH SHORT NOTICE IF A FISHERY CONCERN IS IDENTIFIED.

EC and Bromide - Banks Pumping Plant, Jones Pumping Plant, Clifton Court Forebay (EC only), San Joaquin River at Vernalis, Gianelli Pumping Plant, Sacramento River at Hood (EC only)

No significant changes at Banks, Jones, Gianelli, Clifton Court or Hood. Jones and CCF continue to track closely. Vernalis levels increased due to decreased flow in the SJR. However, SJR flow may be increasing a bit so there may be a decrease in EC and bromide but the flow increase is expected to be small so the constituent decrease should also be small.

Banks: EC - 284 uS/cm, Br - 0.10 mg/L, 10 Days ago: 321 uS/cm and 0.12 mg/L

Jones Daily Average: EC - 261 uS/cm, Br - 0.08 mg/L, 10 days ago: 290 uS/cm, 0.09 mg/L

Clifton Court Forebay Daily Average: EC - 271 uS/cm, 10 days ago: 325 uS/cm

Vernalis: EC - 455 uS/cm, Br - 0.19 mg/L, 10 days ago: 186 uS/cm and Br 0.05 mg/L

Gianelli: EC - (Est.) 457 uS/cm, (Est.) Br - 0.21 mg/L, 10 days ago: 455 uS/cm and 0.20 mg/L (The anion analyzer is down and the sonde is not reporting physical values at this time.)

Hood: EC - 134 uS/cm, 10 days ago: 132 uS/cm

Organic Carbon, TOC and DOC - Banks Pumping Plant, Jones Pumping Plant, San Joaquin River at Vernalis, Gianelli Pumping Plant, Sacramento River at Hood

No major changes over the past 10 days. Current conditions, have not affected carbon levels. The decrease in SJR flow did not affect carbon at Vernalis.

Banks: TOC = 4.4 mg/L, DOC - 3.4 mg/L 10 days ago: 4.8, 4.0

Jones: TOC = 2.8 mg/L, DOC - 2.9 mg/L 10 days ago: 3.3, 3.1

Vernalis: TOC = 2.1 mg/L, DOC = 2.1 mg/L 10 days ago: 2.0, 1.9

Gianelli: TOC = 3.4 mg/L, DOC = 3.3 mg/L 10 days ago: 3.4, 3.2

Hood: TOC = 1.4 mg/L, DOC = 1.2 mg/L 10 days ago: 1.6, 1.3

Daily Average Pumping: 6/26 through 7/5

Banks Pumping Plant ... ranged between zero cfs and 1,886 cfs over the time period. The 7/5 average was 1,886 cfs.

Jones Pumping Plant ... ranged between 1,837 cfs and 3,526 cfs over the time period. The 7/5 average was 3,507 cfs.

Gianelli Pumping Plant ... discharge generation (San Luis Reservoir water moving out of the reservoir into O'Neill Forebay) ranged between 620 cfs and 5,628 cfs over the time period. The 7/5 average was 620 cfs. Discharge pumping (O'Neill Forebay water moving into San Luis Reservoir) ranged between zero cfs and zero cfs over the time period. The 7/5 average was zero cfs.

O'Neill Pumping Plant (Federal CVP) ... discharge generation (O'Neill Forebay water moving into the DMC) varied between zero cfs and 1,102 cfs over the time period. The 7/5 average was zero cfs. Discharge pumping (DMC water moving into O'Neill Forebay) ranged between zero cfs and 849 cfs over the time period. The 7/5 average was 849 cfs.

Dos Amigos Pumping Plant ... ranged between 2,625 cfs and 4,314 cfs over the time period. The 7/5 average was 2,625 cfs.

South Bay Pumping Plant ... ranged between zero cfs and 255 cfs over the time period. The 7/5 average was 239 cfs.

Barker Slough Pumping Plant ... ranged between 51 cfs and 96 cfs over the time period. The 7/5 average was 82 cfs.

Status of the Temporary Barriers as of July 2, 2020:

Spring Head of Old River Barrier
The barrier is not installed this season.

Middle River Barrier
Mobilization to install the barrier started on May 1, 2020.  The in-water work started on May 4, 2020.  The barrier was closed on May 9, 2020.  There are total of 6 flap gates and 5 flap gates were released to tidal operation on May 26, 2020.  On June 12, 2020, the remaining flap gate was released to tidal operation.
Old River near Tracy Barrier

Mobilization to install the barrier started on May 1, 2020.  The in-water work started on May 4, 2020.  The boat ramp was completed on 5/21/2020.  The barrier was closed on May 29, 2020 with one flap gate tied open and the rest operating tidally. On June 12, 2020, the remaining flap gate was released to tidal operation.  Boat portage operations will be available from 8am to 6pm Monday through Friday and 7am to 7pm Saturday and Sunday.
Grant Line Canal Barrier

Mobilization to install the barrier started on May 9, 2020.  The in-water work started on May 11, 2020.  The boat ramp was completed on 5/27/2020.  The barrier was fully closed, and all flap gates are tied open on June 1, 2020.  On June 15, 2020 all flap gates were released to tidal operation. Boat portage operations will be available from 6am to 8pm every day.
Environmental Compliance

As required by the environmental permits, pre‐construction surveys have been conducted in advance of construction.  All monitors have been approved for environmental monitoring and will be present during all phases of construction including the in-water work.  Environmental education has been provided to the crew members.  Required discreet turbidity and dissolved oxygen monitoring data is being collected during the in‐water work phase of the construction.  No environmental issues have been observed thus far.
Water Temperature

Monitoring of water temperature at the San Joaquin River at Mossdale Bridge station (MSD) is being conducted as part of the 2019 USFWS Biological Opinion for the Long-term Operations of the SWP and CVP which states, “Barriers would include at least one culvert open to allow for fish migration when water temperatures are less than 71.6°F (22°C).  Per NMFS clarification, we moved to a daily average and met the criteria at 71.6°F (22°C) on May 9, 27, 28 and 29, 2020.

Water Level  Modeling
Modeling was conducted for the simulation period from June 30, 2020 through July 20, 2020.  Forecasted water levels at Middle River at Howard Road, Old River at Tracy Blvd, and Grant Line Canal at Doughty Cut are above the specified threshold denoted by a red line in each plot; actual water levels are tracking well with the forecasts.  DWR will continue to monitor and report water levels and conditions.
 Real-time south Delta water level data is available on CDEC at the URL: http://cdec.water.ca.gov/river/southdeltaStages.html

Water Level Complaints
In 2020, the first two water level complaints of the season were received from South Delta Water Agency on April 28, 2020 indicating very low water levels in Middle River near the Wood Irrigation Company and at Undine Road.  On June 11, 17, and 18, 2020, water level complaints at Tom Paine Slough were received from Pescadero Irrigation district, and they installed two 4500 gallon per minute pumps to help with water level issues.  On July 1, 2020, another water level complaint was received from Pescadero Irrigation district indicating low water levels in Tom Paine Slough are severely impacting water deliveries.