11/4/2019
10 Day Northern California Precipitation Forecast: No precipitation expected over the next ten days.
From CDEC: Precipitation to date for water year 2019-2020 - As of 11/4/2019:
Northern Sierra Precipitation Index: 0.3" - 7% of average for this date
San Joaquin Precipitation Index: 0.0" - 0% of average for this date
Tulare Basin Precipitation Index: 0.0" - 0% of average for this date
From CDEC: Average statewide snow water equivalents as of 7/17/2019:
North: 0.3" - 0% of normal for this date
Central: 0.0" - 0% of normal for this date
South: 0.0" - 0% of normal for this date
Statewide: 0.1" - 0% 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 10,946 cfs on 11/3 and is expected to decrease to 10,228 cfs on 11/6 then remain about the same through 11/9.
Feather River (at Boyd's Landing)
The Feather is currently reporting 2,675 cfs and is expected to remain the same through 11/9.
San Joaquin River (near Vernalis)
The San Joaquin is reporting 2,417 cfs and is forecast to decrease to 1,780 cfs on 11/6 then possibly decrease further to 1,396 cfs by 11/9.
Delta Cross Channel Gate Operation
Posted: 10/22/2019
Delta Cross Channel Gates will CLOSE on Wednesday October 23, 2019 at approximately 0900 hrs.
Delta Cross Channel Gates will OPEN on Saturday October 26, 2019 at approximately 0900 hrs.
Comment: NMFS BO Action IV.1.2 KLCI triggered.
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, Hood (EC only)
Gianelli PP continues to generate, San Luis Reservoir water moving by the station, so values are very stable. Flow, and Delta conditions dictated no major changes at Hood or Banks. Vernalis levels have increased as San Joaquin River flow decreased. This also happened at Jones PP but on to a lesser degree. We can expect things to remain stable or continue to increase since San Joaquin flow is expected to continue to decrease.
Banks Daily Average: EC - 250 uS/cm, Br - 0.10 mg/L, 10 Days ago: 257 uS/cm and 0.07 mg/L
Jones Daily Average: EC - 340 uS/cm, Br - 0.14 mg/L, 10 days ago: 305 uS/cm, 0.12 mg/L
Clifton Court Forebay: EC - 280 uS/cm, 10 days ago: 250 uS/cm
Vernalis: EC - 187 uS/cm, Br - 0.12 mg/L, 10 days ago: 229 uS/cm and < R.L. (0.05 mg/L)
Gianelli: EC - 484 uS/cm, Br - 0.25 mg/L, 10 days ago: 484 uS/cm and 0.25 mg/L
Hood: EC - 136 uS/cm, 10 days ago: 128 uS/cm
Organic Carbon, TOC and DOC - Banks Pumping Plant, Jones Pumping Plant, San Joaquin River at Vernalis, Gianelli Pumping Plant, Hood
No major changes in Delta conditions so carbon levels have not changed.
Banks: TOC = 2.8 mg/L, DOC - 2.6 mg/L. 10 days ago: 3.2, 3.0
Jones: TOC = 3.1 mg/L, DOC - 2.6 mg/L. 10 days ago: 2.7, 3.3
Vernalis: TOC = 2.5 mg/L, DOC = 2.4 mg/L. 10 days ago: 2.6, 2.4
Gianelli: TOC = 3.6 mg/L, DOC = 3.2 mg/L 3 days ago: 3.7, 3.5
Hood: TOC = 1.8 mg/L, DOC = 1.5 mg/L. 10 days ago 1.6, 1.5
Pumping:
Banks PP 10/25 to 11/3: Varied between 125 cfs and 3,136 cfs, the 11/3 average was 125 cfs.
Jones PP 10/25 to 11/3: Varied between 807 cfs and 841 cfs, the 11/3 average reported 841 cfs.
Gianelli Pumping Plant 10/25 to 11/2: Daily average discharge generation (Sal Luis Reservoir into O'Neill Forebay) varied between 1,659 cfs and 6,703 cfs over the time period. The 11/2 average was 3,620 cfs. Daily average discharge pumping (O'Neill Forebay into San Luis Reservoir) reported zero cfs over the time period.
O'Neill Pumping Plant 10/25 to 11/2: Daily average discharge generation (O'Neill Forebay to the DMC) varied between 414 cfs and 761 cfs over the time period. The 11/2 average was 734 cfs. Discharge pumping (DMC to O'Neill Forebay) reported zero cfs over the time period.
Dos Amigos Pumping Plant 10/25 to 11/2: Varied between 3,740 cfs and 5,753 cfs. The 11/2 daily average was 4,410 cfs.
South Bay Pumping Plant 10/25 to 11/2: Varied between 30 cfs and 135 cfs. The 11/2 average was 92 cfs.
Barker Slough Pumping Plant 10/25 to 11/3: Varied between 76 cfs and 117 cfs. The 11/3 average was 17 cfs.
Status of the Temporary Barriers as of October 31, 2019:
Middle River Barrier
Mobilization to install the Middle River barrier started on June 27, 2019. The in-water work started on June 28, 2019 at 8:40AM. The barrier was closed on July 3, 2019 at 12:15PM. The flap gates were set to tidal operation on July 3, 2019 at 4:30PM. The raising of the Middle River crest by an additional foot was completed on July 31, 2019 at 11:30AM. The notching of the Middle River barrier was completed on September 5, 2019. Removal of the barrier is tentatively scheduled to begin on November 22, 2019.
Old River near Tracy Barrier
Mobilization to install the Old River near Tracy barrier started on July 1, 2019. The in-water work started on July 2, 2019 at 9:15AM. The barrier was closed on July 19, 2019 at 2:45PM. The flap gates were set to tidal operation on July 19, 2019 at 3:00PM. The notching of the Old River near Tracy Barrier was completed on September 6, 2019. Removal of the barrier started on October 28, 2018, and the barrier was breached October 28, 2018 at 1:10 PM.
Grant Line Canal Barrier
Mobilization to install the Grant Line Canal barrier started on July 10, 2019. The in-water work started on July 11, 2019 at 7:30AM. The boat docks were completed on July 25, 2019 at 3:00PM. The barrier was fully closed on July 26, 2019 at 3:00PM. The flaps gates were released to tidal operation on July 26, 2019 at 3:15PM. The boat ramp was completed on July 29, 2019 at 4:00PM. The flashboards at the Grant Line Canal barrier were removed to allow up-migrating salmon. Removal of the barrier is tentatively scheduled to begin on November 11, 2019. The boat tender is on duty.
Head of Old River Barrier
The National Marine Fisheries Service has granted permission to cancel the Spring Head of Old River barrier for 2019 due to high water in the system. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has granted permission to cancel the Fall Head of Old River barrier for 2019 due to predicted flows of the tributary rivers and projected cooler weather conditions.
Environmental Compliance
As required by the environmental permits, pre-construction surveys were conducted in advance of construction. Environmental monitors were present during all phases of construction including the in-water work. Environmental education was provided to the crew members. Required discreet turbidity and dissolved oxygen monitoring data was collected during the in-water work phase of the construction. No environmental issues have been observed thus far.
Water Level Modeling
Modeling was conducted for the simulation period from October 29, 2019 through November 18, 2019. The modeling results are attached. 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
Water Level Complaints
In 2019, the first water level complaint of the season was received from South Delta Water Agency on June 26, 2019 indicating problems at low tide for a Middle River diverter just downstream of the Wood Irrigation Company. Although construction of the Middle River barrier initially alleviated the water level concern on Middle River, water level complaints for Middle River were received on July 10 and July 11. A water level complaint at Tom Paine Slough was also received from Pescadero Irrigation district on July 10, 2019. A second water level complaint at Tom Paine Slough received from Pescadero Irrigation district on July 15, 2019 on critical low level and is impacting water deliveries. On 7/26/19 another water level complaint at Tom Paine Slough received from Pescadero Irrigation district on completely out of water and is impacting deliveries severely. No new water level complaints were received this week.
We have established an email address, SDWAComplaint@water.ca.gov, to receive and distribute water level complaints to the appropriate DWR staff. Please use this email address specifically designated for South Delta water level complaints. In order to help us determine the response and the appropriate follow up, please provide the following information in your water level complaint email:
All complaints need to provide the information requested in the first three bullets.
Please note that the information provided in the complaint email will be used to evaluate the situation and to take action as appropriate. For the Temporary Barriers Project, this information is critical as water level complaints are used as a necessary justification to request approval from fishery agencies to fully close the Grant Line Canal barrier, release the flap gates to a tidal operation, and to raise the crest of the Middle River barrier by additional one foot.
Barrier |
Mobilization |
Start in-water work |
Complete in-water work |
Middle River |
11/22/2019 |
11/22/2019 |
11/27/19 |
Old River near Tracy |
10/28/2019 |
10/28/2019 |
11/13/2019 |
Grant Line Canal |
11/11/19 |
11/11/19 |
11/27/19 |