tulloch reservoir and the drought of 2012-201?
TRANSCRIPT
Tulloch Reservoirand
The Drought of 2012-201?
TRI-DAM PROJECTRon Berry
Susan LarsonMarch 7, 2015
Why Are You Here?
“Fish win another water fight round” 12/23/14 Manteca Bulletin
“Drought could spur draining of Tulloch Lake” 2/17/15 Modesto Bee
“Feds want to drain Tulloch for fish” 2/20/15 Union Democrat
“Tulloch draining concerns Calaveras” 2/25/15 Union Democrat
“Fish vs. people frustration rages at Oakdale Irrigation District meeting” 3/3/15 Modesto Bee
“Draining Lake Tulloch: A symptom of decades of failed policy” 3/5/15 Opinion – Union Democrat
Why Are We Here? Like YOU, We Care We Manage The Reservoir We Generate Power We Live Here Drought Mandates
What is Tri-Dam?and Why are We Here?
Tri-Dam Project is an agency formed by two Irrigation Districts: the Oakdale Irrigation District and the South San Joaquin Irrigation District. Together Tri-Dam developed, operate and maintain four (4) power generation facilities, with 24 employees in total:
Donnells Reservoir — 64,325 A/F, 72.0 Mw
Beardsley Reservoir – 97,802 A/F, 11.0 Mw
Sandbar Powerhouse – 16.2 Mw
Tulloch Reservoir — 66,968 A/F, 25.9 Mw
The facilities operated by Tri-Dam includes the dams, tunnels,penstocks, power houses, communications systems, and generaloffices. These facilities are located along the Middle Fork of theStanislaus River in Tuolumne County, California. Tri-Dam Projectis governed by a joint board of directors composed of the fivemember boards of the two Irrigation Districts. Downstream thewater is used to irrigate approximately 117,500 acres of CentralValley farm land including but not limited to almonds, walnuts,and other pasture crops.
DONNELLSRESERVOIR
Donnells Reservoir is located in asteep rocky canyon on the MiddleFork of the Stanislaus River. Thereservoir is accessed by a narrowand winding route where safetravel speeds average less than 10mph. No facilities are providedfor boating. The steep rockyterrain limits foot access to onlysmall portions of the shoreline.No developed recreation facilitiesexist at the reservoir, however thearea is popular for day use,dispersed camping and fishing.The reservoir is open all year, butroad access is subject to winterclosure.
BEARDSLEYRESERVOIR
Beardsley Reservoir is located in a steep canyon of the Middle Fork of the Stanislaus River system approximately 9 miles downstream from Donnells Reservoir. Beardsley Reservoir is accessed by a steep and winding paved route where safe travel speeds average 20-30 mph.
Tulloch Reservoir
Tulloch Reservoir sits immediately downstream of New Melones Reservoir, operated by the Bureau of Reclamation. Tulloch reservoir is situated within two Counties, Calaveras and Tuolumne. Normal summer operating level ranges between 506.5 – 509.5 elevation. Maximum storage is 66,968 af.
Total Project Costs in 1955 Dollars
Donnells and Beardsley $31,200,000
Tulloch and Goodwin Revision $18,500,000Total $49,700,000*
Federal Dollars Invested $0 State Dollars Invested $0 Taxpayer Dollars Invested $0 OID / SSJID Farmers $49,700,000
OID / SSJID obtained pre-1914 water rights within the Stanislaus River Basin
*$433,000,000 in 2015 dollars
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Stanislaus River Projects
How Are Reservoirs Levels At Tulloch Established?
1. US Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) determines Tulloch’s operating levelso Winter schedule (normal range 498.6 – 501.6)o Summer schedule (normal range 506.5 – 509.5)
2. Water Distributionso BOR river flow requirements
Environmental Species Act (ESA) Mandatesa) Fisheriesb) Salinityc) Dissolved oxygen
o District irrigation demands Diversions at Goodwin
Melones ReservoirIn 1924, planning began as OID and SSJID combined with PG&E and the San Francisco Electric Company in an agreement to construct the Melones Reservoir which was completed in 1928. The Melones Reservoir held 112,500 acre feet and could irrigate 144,000 acres of land in both districts. Years later, the Federal government took over Melones and greatly increased its capacity. The water storage facility is now known as New Melones Reservoir and allows OID and SSJID first rights to a combined 600,000 acre feet of water.
Maximum Reservoir Elevation 1088.0 ft
Maximum Reservoir Storage 2.4M af
Maximum Winter Elevation 1049.5 ft
New Melones ReservoirIn 1944, Congress authorized the construction of the New Melones Dam to prevent flood damage caused by rain and snowmelt to the 35,000 acres of downstream agricultural land and the communities of Oakdale, Riverbank, and Ripon as well as others further downstream. Congress modified this authorization in the 1962 Flood Control Act to include irrigation, power, wildlife and fishery enhancement, recreation, and water quality as reasons for construction.
Approval for and construction of the reservoir was not without public controversy; however, the dam was completed in 1978 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In this final year, the Corps transferred the project to Reclamation, which has since managed the reservoir and surrounding landscape. The reservoir is now a part of the Central Valley Project, created to provide water to arid areas in California, and to minimize downstream flooding.
Regulatory Agencies Along The Basin
US Bureau of Reclamation (BOR)
State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB)
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
CA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW)
US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
as of 3/6/15
Current Conditions
Fourth Dry Year Average rainfall for Middle Fork of Stanislaus River 37.5 inches Precipitation Year = July 1 to June 30
2011/2012 = 26.34 inches 2012/2013 = 27.83 inches 2013/2014 = 25.75 inches 2014/2015 = 17.44 inches or 47% of normal rainfall
Current Snow Survey – March 1st = 13% of normal April 1st projection is 12% of normal
Sept. 2012 1,510,706 acre feet
Diff = 463,651
Sept. 2013 1,047,055 acre feet
Diff = 527,380
Sept. 2014 519,675 acre feet
Sept. 2015 (projected) ??? acre feet
New Melones End of Month September Storage
Normal Annual Runoff into NM = 1,050,000 af
Current Storage in New Melones = 605,550 af
Projected Inflow (90% Exceedance) 240,000 af
Current Inflow - 3/5/2015 188,480 af
Additional Inflow 51,520 af
Current Storage 605,550 af (3/5/2015)
Gross Storage 657,070 af
Dead Pool -80,000 af
Useable Storage for 2015 577,070 af
Status of New Melones
Useable Storage for 2015 577,070 af
SSJID/OID Diversions (2014) 420,000 af
Balance for BOR Fish Flows 157,070 af
OCAP Table 2e (Fish Flows) 115,000 af
Storage Buffer EOSSS 21,900 af
Fish Flow Requirements Oct – Dec 65,000 af
Shortfall for EOSS 44,900 af
Potential for ESA action if shortfall cannot be made up
“Estimate” of EOSS Water(End of Month Storage September)
California Population in 1978: 22M
California Population in 2015: 39M
Population increase of 42% while reservoir storage increased 3.8% during that same period.
Reservoir management is a challenging endeavor.
Reservoir schedule finalized
Summer Projections
Fall Projections
What Can We Expect?
2016 and Beyond…
Normal rainfall
year
Anotherdry year
Establish dry year release policy—reduced release
mandates
Additional draw downs / run of the river
Begin to increase reservoir storage
Continue to store all available water in upper reservoirs
What's Ahead…
Immediately following today’s meeting, today’s PowerPoint will be posted on Tri-Dam’s website, www.tridamproject.com
Tri-Dam Staff will be making presentations to Calaveras and Tuolumne Counties Board of Supervisors.
Tri-Dam Staff will continue to provide direct updates to local agencies. Tri-Dam Staff will post weekly updates at www.tridamproject.com Tri-Dam Staff will continue discussions with the BOR, NMFS and State Water
Board regarding reductions in mandatory releases. Tri-Dam Staff will finalize the Tulloch Reservoir Schedule – mid-April ?? Tri-Dam Staff will post the Schedule on www.tridamproject.com Tri-Dam Staff will provide direct mail notification of any drawdowns to all
reservoir property owners, agencies and others. Tri-Dam Staff will establish a Tulloch Informational Group comprised of TDP
Staff, agencies, business owners and local residents.
Questions and Closing Remarks