9/20/2021

10 Day Northern California Precipitation Forecast: No precipitation expected over the next 10 days.

From CDEC: Precipitation to date for water year 2020-2021 - As of 9/20/2021:

Northern Sierra Precipitation Index: 23.8" = 46% of average for this date

San Joaquin Precipitation Index: 18.8" = 47% of average for this date

Tulare Basin Precipitation Index: 9.9" = 35% of average for this date

From CDEC: Average statewide snow water equivalents as of 8/30/2021:

North: 0.0" = 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: 0.0" = 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 (I Street Bridge/Freeport Bridge)

The 9/19 daily average reported 7,841 cfs and is expected to remain about the same through 9/25.

Feather River (at Boyd's Landing)

The Feather is currently reporting 1,653 cfs and is expected to remain about the same through 9/25.

San Joaquin River (near Vernalis)

The San Joaquin is reporting 533 cfs and is expected to remain about the same through 9/25.

Delta Cross Channel Gate Operation (From the USBR website)

Posted: 9/13/2021

Delta Cross Channel Gates will open on Friday, September 17, 2021 at approximately 1000 hours.

Delta Cross Channel Gates will close on Monday, September 20, 2021 at approximately 1000 hours. Gates will remain closed until further notice.

Comment: Delta Rio Vista requirement/seasonal weekend operation.

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)

There were no major changes over the period except at Vernalis where EC and presumably bromide (the analyzer is not reporting) increased along with an increase in San Joaquin River flow which is usually the opposite of what happens. Releases in the Stanislaus River have been decreasing so there must be an input upstream of the station that along with decreasing Stanislaus flow, is increasing both EC and bromide. The analyzer at Jones was thought to have been restored on 9/17 but it has not reported. Bromide most likely decreased a bit based on EC.

Banks: EC - 615 uS/cm, Br - 0.39 mg/L, 10 Days ago: 644 uS/cm and 0.38 mg/L

Jones Daily Average: EC - 525 uS/cm, (Est.) Br 0.37 mg/L 10 days ago: 512 uS/cm, 0.36

Clifton Court Forebay Daily Average: EC 485 uS/cm, 10 days ago: 530 uS/cm

Vernalis: EC 400 uS/cm, (9/16) Br – 0.16 10 days ago: 239uS/cm and Br 0.11

Gianelli: EC - 562 uS/cm, Br 0.24 mg/L, 10 days ago: 560 uS/cm and 0.24 mg/L

Hood: EC - 178 uS/cm, 10 days ago: 205 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 and none expected.

Banks: TOC = 4.4 mg/L, DOC = 4.2 mg/L 10 days ago: 4.3, 4.0

Jones: TOC = 3.7 mg/L, DOC = 3.5 mg/L 5 days ago: 3.7, 3.5

Vernalis: TOC = 2.1 mg/L, DOC = 0.0 mg/L 7 days ago: 1.9, 1.8

Gianelli: TOC = 4.0 mg/L, DOC = 3.9 mg/L 7 days ago: 3.7, 3.5

Hood: TOC = 1.5 DOC = 1.5 10 days ago: ?, ?

Daily Average Pumping: 9/10 through 9/19

Banks Pumping Plant ... ranged between 282 cfs and 423 cfs over the time period. The 9/19 average was 329 cfs.

Jones Pumping Plant ... ranged between 1,743 cfs and 2,703 cfs over the time period. The 9/19 average was 2,703 cfs.

Gianelli Pumping Plant ... discharge generation (San Luis Reservoir water moving out of the reservoir into O'Neill Forebay) ranged between zero cfs and 1,252 cfs over the time period. The 9/19 average was 635 cfs. Discharge pumping (O'Neill Forebay water moving into San Luis Reservoir) ranged between zero cfs and 1,182 cfs over the time period. The 9/19 average was 589 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 9/19 average was zero cfs. Discharge pumping (DMC water moving into O'Neill Forebay) ranged between 580 cfs and 1,627 cfs over the time period. The 9/19 average was 1,627 cfs.

Dos Amigos Pumping Plant ... ranged between 527 cfs and 1,529 cfs over the time period. The 9/19 average was 1,277 cfs.

South Bay Pumping Plant ... ranged between 239 cfs and 329 cfs over the time period. The 9/19 average was 329 cfs.

Barker Slough Pumping Plant ... ranged between 43 cfs and 112 cfs over the time period. The 9/19 average was 69 cfs.

Status of the Temporary Barriers as of September 16, 2021:

Head of Old River Barrier

DWR does not plan to construct the Spring or Fall Head of Old River Barrier this year.  

Middle River Barrier

Construction of the barrier and in-water work started on May 1, 2021.  The installation of the culverts on the north abutment was completed on May 8, 2021.  The barrier was partially closed, and all gates are tied open on May 12, 2021 at 4:45 PM.  The barrier was fully closed, and all gates were released to tidal operation on May 15, 2021 at 10:00 AM.  The in-water installation work was completed on May 15, 2021 at 12:00 PM.  Construction was completed on June 2, 2021 at 3:00 PM.  The barrier was notched on Monday September 13, 2021.

Old River near Tracy Barrier

Mobilization to install the barrier started on May 8, 2021.  The in-water work started on May 10, 2021.  The boat ramp was completed on 5/22/2021.  The barrier was closed on May 27, 2021 at 10:00 AM with one flap gate tied open and the remaining 8 flap gates operating tidally. The remaining flap gate was released on June 1, 2021 at 3:30 PM.  The in-water installation work was completed on May 27, 2021 at 1:00 PM.  Construction was completed on June 3, 2021 at 3:00 PM.  Boat portage is available from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM Monday through Friday and 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM Saturday and Sunday.  The barrier was notched on Monday September 13, 2021.

Grant Line Canal Barrier

Mobilization to install the barrier started on May 1, 2021.  The in-water work started on May 3, 2021.  The boat ramp was completed on 5/21/2021.  The barrier was fully closed on May 27, 2021 at 12:30 PM with one flap gate tied open and the remaining 5 flap gates operating tidally. The remaining flap gate was released on June 1, 2021 at 10:30 AM.   The in-water installation work was completed on May 27, 2021 at 12:30 PM.  Construction was completed on June 2, 2021 at 10:00 AM.  Boat portage is available from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM every day, including weekends.  Flashboards in the flashboard structure were removed on Monday September 13, 2021 to provide an attractive flow for the upstream fish migration.

Environmental Compliance

As required by the environmental permits, pre-construction surveys have been conducted in advance of mobilization and construction.  Environmental monitors are 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 were collected during the in-water work phase of the construction.  

Water Temperature

Monitoring of water temperature at the San Joaquin River at Mossdale Bridge station (MSD) is being conducted as part of the National Marine Fisheries Service Biological Opinion on Long-term Operations of the Central Valley Project and State Water Project 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)”.  The daily average temperature at MSD exceeded 71.6°F (22°C) and was observed for three consecutive days on May 29, 30, and 31, satisfying the criteria to release the remaining flap gates to tidal operation.

Water Level Modeling

Modeling was conducted for the simulation period from September 08, 2021 through October 04, 2021.  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

The following section summarizes an ongoing list of water level complaints received during the year 2021:

Ø Low water level complaints were received on March 23 at Middle River.

Ø Low water level complaints were received on March 29 at Old River.

Ø Low water level complaints were received on March 29 at Middle River at Wood Irrigation Company.

Ø Low water level complaints were received on April 30 at Middle River near Undine Road bridge.

Ø Low water level complaints were received on May 6, 22 and 24 at Tom Paine Slough.

Ø Low water level complaints were received on June 18 at Tom Paine Slough

Ø Low water level complaints were received on July 1, 2 and 18 at Tom Paine Slough