4/1/2020

10 Day Northern California Precipitation Forecast: 0% chance on 4/1, 0% chance on 4/2, 10% chance on 4/3, 90% chance on 4/4, 90% chance on 4/5, 40% chance on 4/6, 20% chance on 4/7, 10% chance on 4/8, 20% chance on 4/9 and a 20% chance on 4/10.

From CDEC: Precipitation to date for water year 2019-2020 - As of 4/1/2020:

Northern Sierra Precipitation Index: 24.2" - 56% of average for this date

San Joaquin Precipitation Index: 18.0" - 54% of average for this date

Tulare Basin Precipitation Index: 12.2" - 51% of average for this date

From CDEC: Average statewide snow water equivalents as of 4/1/2020:

North: 16.5" - 57% of normal for this date

Central: 16.7" - 56% of normal for this date

South: 11.5" - 45% of normal for this date

Statewide: 15.2" - 53% of normal for this date

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

Sacramento River (Freeport)

The daily average reported 11,747 cfs on 3/31 and is expected to remain about the same through 4/6.

Feather River (at Boyd's Landing)

The Feather is reporting 2,566 cfs and is expected to remain the same through 4/4 then possibly increase to 3,572 cfs by 4/6.

San Joaquin River (near Vernalis)

The San Joaquin is currently reporting 1,417 cfs and may increase to 1,502 cfs by 4/6.

Delta Cross Channel Gate Operation

Posted: 11/27/2019

Delta Cross Channel Gates will CLOSE on Sunday December 1, 2019 at approximately 0900 hrs.

Comment: NMFS BO Action IV.1.2 Dec 1 seasonal closure.

Action: During the period between November 1 and June 15, DCC gate operations will be
modified from the proposed action to reduce loss of emigrating salmonids and green
sturgeon. The operating criteria provide for longer periods of gate closures during the
emigration season to reduce direct and indirect mortality of yearling spring-run, winter-run,
and CV steelhead. From December 1 to January 31, the gates will remain closed, except as
operations are allowed.

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)

Conditions kept everything very stable over the time period. The Vernalis and Jones anion analyzers are currently non-operational so bromide levels are estimated based on EC. Upcoming precipitation, if significant enough, should decrease values at Vernalis, Jones, Hood and possibly Banks which depends on mixing in Clifton Court Forebay.

Banks: EC - 454 uS/cm, Br - 0.2 mg/L, 10 Days ago: 461 uS/cm and 0.2 mg/L

Jones Daily Average: EC - 651 uS/cm, Estimated Br - 0.22 mg/L, 10 days ago: 540 uS/cm, 0.2 mg/L

Clifton Court Forebay Daily Average: EC - 594 uS/cm, 10 days ago: 534 uS/cm

Vernalis: EC - 876 uS/cm, Estimated Br - 0.28 mg/L, 10 days ago: 915 uS/cm and 0.3 mg/L

Gianelli: EC - 523 uS/cm, Br - 0.17 mg/L, 10 days ago: 485 uS/cm and 0.15 mg/L

Hood: EC - 156 uS/cm, 10 days ago: 185 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

As with the EC and bromide, there were no major changes at any of the stations. The potential precipitation event expected this weekend may increase things a bit but it depends on the amount of runoff.

Banks: TOC = 4.7 mg/L, DOC - 4.4 mg/L 10 days ago: 5.2, 4.6

Jones: TOC = 4.8 mg/L, DOC - 4.2 mg/L 10 days ago: 5.4, 4.7

Vernalis: TOC = Estimated 4.8 mg/L, Estimated DOC = 4.4 mg/L 10 days ago: 5.1, 5.0

Gianelli: TOC = 5.3 mg/L, DOC = 5.0 mg/L 10 days ago: 4.8, 4.7

Hood: TOC = 1.7 mg/L, DOC = 1.5 mg/L 10 days ago: 2.0, 1.7

Daily Average Pumping: 3/22 through 3/31

Banks Pumping Plant ... ranged between 1,430 cfs and 3,739 cfs over the time period. The 3/31 average was 2,855 cfs.

Jones Pumping Plant ... ranged between 1,840 cfs and 3,560 cfs over the time period. The 3/31 average was 2,691 cfs.

Gianelli Pumping Plant ... discharge generation (San Luis Reservoir water moving out of the reservoir into O'Neill Forebay) ranged between zero cfs and zero cfs over the time period. The 3/31 average was zero cfs. Discharge pumping (O'Neill Forebay water moving into San Luis Reservoir) ranged between 2,684 cfs and 4,901 cfs over the time period. The 3/31 average was 4,307 cfs.

O'Neill Pumping Plant (Federal CVP) ... discharge generation (O'Neill Forebay water moving into the DMC) varied between zero cfs and zero cfs over the time period. The 3/31 average was zero cfs. Discharge pumping (DMC water moving into O'Neill Forebay) ranged between 1,257 cfs and 3,193 cfs over the time period. The 3/31 average was 2,191 cfs.

Dos Amigos Pumping Plant ... ranged between 833 cfs and 1,562 cfs over the time period. The 3/31 average was 1,458 cfs.

South Bay Pumping Plant ... ranged between 142 cfs and 198 cfs over the time period. The 3/31 average was 164 cfs.

Barker Slough Pumping Plant ... ranged between zero cfs and 36 cfs over the time period. The 3/31 average was 36 cfs.

This is the first Weekly Update for the 2020 Temporary Barriers Project.

Status of the Temporary Barriers as of March 2, 2020:
DWR has all necessary permits and approvals in place and plans to start construction of the agricultural barriers – Middle River, Grant Line Canal, and Old River at Tracy Barriers on May 1, 2020.   DWR does not plan to construct the Spring Head of Old River Barrier this year.  

As required by the environmental permits, pre-construction surveys will be conducted in advance of construction.  Environmental monitors will be present during all phases of construction including the in-water work.  Environmental education will be provided to the crew members.  Required discreet turbidity and dissolved oxygen monitoring data will be collected during the in-water work phase of the construction. 

Water Level Modeling
Modeling was conducted for the simulation period from February 19, 2020 through March 9, 2020.  Forecasted water levels at Middle River at Howard Road, Old River at Tracy Blvd, and Grant Line Canal at Doughty Cut are mostly above the specified threshold denoted in red line in each plot.  The modeling results are attached, and 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 below:
http://cdec.water.ca.gov/river/southdeltaStages.html