Ridenbaugh Press/Water Rights

After reviewing the manual snow survey data from the California Department of Water Resources that was provided the week of April 8, the Bureau of Reclamation has determined that due to persistent dry conditions an additional adjustment to the Friant Division allocation is necessary.

In consultation with the Friant Division Contractors and in consideration of the San Joaquin River Restoration Program release schedule, the Friant Division Class 1 water supply allocation is decreased from 55 percent to 50 percent. Class 2 water remains at 0 percent.

Currently, precipitation in the Upper San Joaquin River watershed at Huntington Lake is about 19.7 inches, which is about 53 percent of average for this time of year. Additionally, accumulated natural river flow to date for WY 2013 for the Upper San Joaquin Basin is about 400,000 acre-feet which is about 22 percent of the total water year average of 1.8 million acre-feet, and about 65 percent of the historical average for this date.

The Department of Water Resources will begin negotiations in a public forum with State Water Project contractors to develop contract amendments to extend the term and change certain financial provisions of their water supply contracts.

The first negotiation session is scheduled for May 1, 2013. Negotiations are expected to last at least three months. An environmental review process, under the California Environmental Quality Act, will follow with opportunity for additional public participation. A final CEQA document analyzing possible environmental impacts is expected in early 2015.

Water supply contracts were negotiated and signed in the 1960’s to provide a water service to the SWP contractors in exchange for payments that provide for SWP financing, capital construction, improvements, and operations and maintenance of SWP facilities. The first of these contracts terminate in the year 2035 and the last terminates in 2042.

The driest January through March on record is causing water supply challenges for much of California, particularly for the Central Valley Project agricultural water service contractors in the western San Joaquin Valley. The Bureau of Reclamation, working closely with the California Department of Water Resources, has implemented several actions to improve water supply conditions south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to the greatest extent possible and is preparing to implement certain additional actions in the near future.

Five specific actions are improving CVP water supplies by more than 100,000 acre-feet to support current westside water allocations. Several other actions to augment future water supplies, including water transfers, could total another 200,000 acre-feet. In addition, new rescheduling guidelines implemented by Reclamation this past winter has allowed CVP contractors to carry over 225,000 acre-feet of their 2012 supplies for use in 2013.

“Reclamation is currently working every prudent avenue, with our partner agencies and customers, to deliver water to where it is needed in this critically dry year,” said Mid-Pacific Regional Director David Murillo. “For the long-term, successful completion of the BDCP, including a new diversion and conveyance facility, would have state of the art protections for the benefit of endangered fish species, would help restore some of the natural flow of water through the Delta, and would provide some certainty and stability to California’s water supply.”

The CVP provides water for agricultural, municipal and industrial, and environmental purposes through complex processes, driven by numerous factors, including hydrology, operational limitations, environmental considerations, regulations, court decisions and a changing climate.

Actions that have been included as factors in calculating the current CVP allocation for south-of-Delta water service contractors:

Delta-Mendota Canal Intertie: Use of the Intertie between the Delta-Mendota Canal and the California Aqueduct, located in Alameda County, west of Tracy, Calif. The Intertie has been used to improve water supplies by 38,000 acre-feet to date in 2013.

Yuba River Accord: Through agreement with the California Department of Water Resources, a portion of the water made available by the Yuba County Water Agency will add to CVP supplies this summer. After system losses, the CVP will likely receive about 24,000 acre-feet.

CVP Water Use Flexibility: Under a “flexibility” agreement, the San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors have used alternative sources of water supply early in the year to delay use of CVP water supplies from the Delta. This potentially provides more Delta water supplies for delivery to CVP water service contractors on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley during the peak irrigation season. About 9,000 acre-feet of water demand is projected to be shifted for user later in the year.

Stanislaus River Fishery Flows: Reclamation is accommodating the release of water from senior water rights holders on the Stanislaus River for fishery benefits, with secondary benefits of improving Delta exports to the CVP and State Water Project. The water would be released from New Melones Reservoir in April and May, and a portion would be diverted for CVP and SWP use. About 30,000 acre-feet will likely be available for supplemental CVP allocation.

Refuge Groundwater Pumping: Groundwater wells in the Grasslands Resource Conservation District and the Grassland Water District will be available to pump additional water. Half of the water pumped will be used to meet refuge Level 2 water demands in lieu of using CVP water, with a like amount of water going back into the CVP yield for allocation to the west side of the San Joaquin Valley. The estimated total quantity of pumped groundwater will be about 4,000 acre-feet, making

2,000 acre-feet available to improve CVP supplies.

Reclamation’s actions to augment future water supplies include:

Water Banking: Since 2001, Reclamation has approved 20 requests from CVP contractors to bank CVP water for use in dry years. So far this year, Reclamation has approved the return of 20,000 acre-feet of banked CVP water to south-of-Delta water users for the 2013 water year.

Water Transfers: Reclamation approves the transfer of CVP water and enters into Warren Act contracts for the movement and storage of non-CVP water transfers. Reclamation is evaluating the quantity and timing of water transfer opportunities through the Delta this summer. Transfers allow CVP contractors to augment their CVP allocation. Potential transfers include north-to-south transfers of Yuba River water, estimated at 50,000 acre-feet; east-to-west transfers of 37,000 acre-feet; and San Joaquin River Exchange Contractor Long-Term Transfer Program transfers of about 62,000 acre-feet. Reclamation has approved a south-of-Delta water rights transfer of 12,000 acre-feet and San Joaquin Valley in-basin transfers of 5,620 acre-feet.

Reclamation’s actions are helping to offset the impacts of this year’s dry hydrology, exacerbated earlier this winter when pumping was restricted for a certain period of time to protect salmon and other fish species, leading to the loss of approximately 250,000 acre-feet of water for south-of-Delta CVP contractors.

The Department of Water Resources on March 22 decreased this year’s water delivery estimate from 40 to 35 percent of requested State Water Project water.

The reduced allocation is due primarily to a record dry January and February in Northern California, where key reservoirs capture water to supply millions of Californians. Weather so far in March also has been relatively dry. California normally receives more than 90 percent of its rain and snow from December through April.

Pumping restrictions this winter in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to protect salmon and Delta smelt also limit the ability of DWR to meet requests for State Water Project supplies.

November and December were relatively wet, but between November 1 and February 28, restrictions to minimize harm to native fish prevented DWR from pumping more than 550,000 acre-feet of water from the Delta to store at San Luis Reservoir. San Luis is a critical summer supply pool for the SWP and the federal Central Valley Project. As of late March the reservoir was 63 percent full.

If DWR did not have to rely solely on its south Delta pumping plant and had a north Delta diversion on the Sacramento River, as proposed by the Bay Delta Conservation Plan, the department could have moved water to
San Luis Reservoir while meeting existing salmon and Delta smelt protections. The ability to divert that water in the wake of winter storms likely would have led to a higher allocation for SWP water supply contractors this year.

“We reduced pumping this winter to protect fish from reverse flows in south Delta streams that entrain fish and divert them from their migratory routes,” said DWR Director Mark Cowin. “The new intakes and habitat restoration proposed by the BDCP would mitigate this problem. These ongoing conflicts will continue until we fundamentally change the way we convey water from the Delta.”

Last week, the California Natural Resources Agency began releasing draft chapters of the BDCP, which aims to both halt the decline of native fish populations in the Delta and stabilize the delivery of water from the Delta. For more information, visit www.baydeltaconservationplan.com.

The 29 public agencies that buy water from the SWP have requested slightly more than four million acre-feet from the project. Together, these agencies supply water to 25 million Californians and nearly a million acres of farmland.

Today’s water delivery estimate may change if hydrologic conditions improve.

Water content in the snowpack, which begins to melt around the first of April, is 57 percent of normal for the date and 56 percent of a full season’s average.

Reservoir storage will help California cope with dry weather. Lake Oroville in Butte County, the SWP’s principal storage reservoir, is at 109 percent of average for the date (82 percent of its 3.5 million acre-foot capacity). Lake Shasta north of Redding, the federal Central Valley Project’s largest reservoir with a capacity of 4.5 million acre-feet, is at 103 percent of its normal storage level for the date (82 percent of capacity).

Reservoirs will supply most water needs this year, but successive dry years would bring drought conditions to some regions of the state.

The final allocation of SWP water in calendar year 2012 was 65 percent of requested deliveries. The allocation was 80 percent in 2011, 50 percent in 2010, 40 percent in 2009, 35 percent in 2008, and 60 percent in 2007. The last 100 percent allocation – difficult to achieve even in wet years because of restrictions on Delta pumping to protect native fish species – was in 2006.

Electronic snowpack readings are available on the Internet at:

http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/snow/DLYSWEQ

As a result of extremely dry conditions in California, the Bureau of Reclamation on March 22 announced an update to the Water Year 2013 water supply allocation for the Central Valley Project.

Following a wet start to the water year in November and December 2012, the January – March period is tracking to be the driest on record, resulting in a critical classification for both the Sacramento and San Joaquin river basins based on the 90-percent exceedence forecast. Reclamation is announcing a decrease in the allocation for the following South-of-Delta water service contractors:

Agricultural water service contractors’ allocation is decreased from 25 to 20 percent of their contract supply.
Municipal & Industrial contractors’ allocation is decreased from 75 to 70 percent of their historic use.
The initial CVP allocation in February was low, based in part on pumping restrictions needed to protect threatened fish species under the Endangered Species Act; however, this decreased allocation for South-of-Delta contractors is based on the critical water year classification, the projection of reduced Delta inflows this spring, significant loss of reservoir storage to support pumping this summer and water quality permit requirements.

“We are facing a challenging water year, but we continue to look for opportunities to facilitate supplemental water supplies through water transfer and exchange programs and new arrangements that could lead to additional flows in the system,” stated Mid-Pacific Regional Director David Murillo. “We are exploring all options to assist in alleviating the serious impacts of these drought conditions.”

The decreased allocations have occurred despite recent actions being taken by Reclamation to help shore up water supplies as described in the CVP Water Plan 2013, available at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/pa/water. Some of these actions include the completion of the Delta-Mendota Canal/California Aqueduct Intertie in May 2012 and the securing of water to supplement CVP supplies as a result of the Yuba Accord.

“Reclamation continues working with our partners to find a comprehensive, long-term solution to achieve the dual goals of a reliable water supply for California and a healthy Bay Delta ecosystem that supports the state’s economy,” Murillo said. “It should be noted that the successful completion of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan would include a new diversion and conveyance facility utilizing state-of-the-art protections for endangered fish species, which would improve water supply reliability even in years such as this, while improving environmental conditions in the Delta.”

The Bureau of Reclamation on March 22 released a Draft Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact proposing to facilitate a temporary one-year transfer and exchange of up to 20,000 acre-feet of recaptured San Joaquin River Restoration Program Interim Flows from Madera Irrigation and Chowchilla Water Districts to the Red Top area. This action would occur during Water Year 2013, from April 1, 2013, through February 28, 2014. The need for the action is to reduce or avoid water supply impacts to Friant Contractors by providing mechanisms to ensure that recirculation, recapture, reuse, exchange or transfer of SJRRP flows occurs.

This proposed action assists in achieving the SJRRP Water Management Goal of the Stipulation of Settlement and the SJRR Settlement Act (part of Public Law 111-11) by allowing MID and CWD, Friant-Division Long-Term Contractors, to transfer water to the Red Top area.

The area for the proposed action is on the western side of Fresno and Madera counties in the San Joaquin Valley. This area, called Red Top, is a location south of Highway 152, near the areas of Avenue 18 ½ and Avenue 20 ½, near the Eastside Bypass and the San Joaquin River. The land use in the area consists of existing agricultural utilization for the growing of pistachios, vineyards and alfalfa.

The Draft EA and FONSI are available for a seven-day public review that closes at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 29, 2013.

The Bureau of Reclamation on March 13 released for public review draft environmental documents for a proposed action that would allow the Kern-Tulare Water District to bank a maximum of 40,000 acre-feet of Central Valley Project water and non-CVP water in the West Kern Water District Groundwater Bank.

The proposed action would include the return of half the water to Kern-Tulare Water District, with the other half left in West Kern Water District as compensation for banking services. The agreement between the two water districts would be in effect for 25 years.

The Draft Environmental Assessment and Draft Finding of No Significant Impact were prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act.

The Bureau of Reclamation has announced the availability of up to $10 million in grants, under the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act, for groundwater banking or recharge projects proposed by local agencies within the Central Valley Project.

Eligible projects must reduce, avoid, or offset expected water supply impacts to the CVP’s Friant Division long-term contractors caused by the San Joaquin River Restoration Program’s Interim and Restoration Flows.

A Funding Opportunity Announcement invites applicants to cost share with Reclamation for planning, design, environmental compliance, and construction costs. The announcement, R13AF20008, is available at www.grants.gov.

The Bureau of Reclamation on February 25 announced the initial Water Year 2013 water supply allocation for Central Valley Project agricultural contractors, municipal and industrial contractors and federal refuges.

The California Department of Water Resources reports that snowpack and precipitation in the Sierra Nevada are below normal with the snow water content statewide at 70 percent of average for this time of year. Additionally, DWR’s February WY 2013 Runoff Forecast indicates a dry water year type for the Sacramento Valley and a critical water year type for the San Joaquin Valley.

The 2013 water year is unfolding in a unique way. Reclamation began WY 2013 (October 1, 2012, to September 30, 2013) with 6.9 million acre-feet of carryover storage in six key CVP reservoirs, which is 98 percent of the 15-year average for October 1. Storms in late November and December resulted in above-average snowpack conditions in Northern California and contributed to above-average storage in Shasta and Folsom Reservoirs; however, the San Joaquin River watershed did not fare as well. This mixed start to the water year was then followed by one of the driest combined Januarys and Februarys on record, leading to what has become a challenging water year.

In addition, water supplies from the state and federal pumps in the south Delta have been reduced significantly this year to protect delta smelt, a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. Although Reclamation has operated the CVP in a manner consistent with the biological opinion designed to protect the smelt, unanticipated numbers of smelt have been observed at the pumps. Storms in December 2012 flushed large amounts of sediment into the Delta, which may have set up a situation for elevated delta smelt migration into the central and south Delta well into February. Reclamation began to cut back on pumping operations in late December to protect the smelt, and pumping reductions have been required throughout January and February.

State and federal officials are conferring on measures needed to provide for the water security of California and to protect the threatened delta smelt after pumping levels through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta were reduced in the short term to protect the fish.

In addition, the Interior Department’s Bureau of Reclamation, in coordination with California’s Department of Water Resources, is reinitiating informal consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and in cooperation with the California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife to evaluate a range of potential alternatives to best meet the needs of the fish and water users during this challenging water year.

Interior and California officials are also reemphasizing their commitment to move forward with the Bay Delta Conservation Plan, which would implement a long-term solution for reducing or avoiding the conflicts that are being seen again this year between water deliveries through the Delta and fishery needs.

In response to some projections that within a few weeks the current authorized incidental take threshold for adult delta smelt could be exceeded, the Service has directed state and federal water operators to further reduce pumping from facilities located in the South Delta. Over the past two months, delta smelt, a fish listed under both the federal and California Endangered Species Acts, have been steadily entrained at the water diversion pumping plants operated by Reclamation and California’s DWR in the southeastern Delta. About 75 percent of the estimated incidental take of adult delta smelt for the operating season has occurred with nearly two months left before the period of concern for adult delta smelt ends.

“The actions the Service are requesting were recommended by the joint federal-state Smelt Working Group and are intended to reduce the incidental take of delta smelt,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Pacific Southwest Regional Director Ren Lohoefener. “The current water year has unfolded in a unique way and Reclamation and the Department of Water Resources have worked hard with the Service to find solutions during a difficult season. The agencies, including California Department of Fish and Wildlife, are closely monitoring the situation and are conferring on appropriate measures to protect delta smelt while ensuring the ongoing availability of water supplies for millions of Californians.”

On Friday, February 8, the Service determined that the combined net Old and Middle River flows in the central Delta should be no more negative than -1,250 cubic feet per second (cfs) on a 14-day running average, with a simultaneous 5-day running average no more negative than -1,563 cfs. This is a decrease from the most recently permitted flow of -2,500 cfs.

“We will work closely with the Service and the Department of Water Resources to implement this change while also reassessing conditions in the Delta and available options related to our water supply operations for the next several months,” said David Murillo, Regional Director of Reclamation’s Mid-Pacific Region. “This water year underscores the need for our agencies to work together to find a comprehensive, long-term solution to achieve the dual goals of a reliable water supply for California and a healthy California Bay Delta ecosystem that supports the state’s economy.”

These actions come as state and federal agencies are considering a proposal for a new water conveyance facility to move water through the Delta and help restore the health of the ecosystem. The BDCP is designed to help restore fish populations, protect water quality, and improve the reliability of water supplies for all water users who depend on the Delta for deliveries from state and federal projects. Because the conveyance proposed as part of the BDCP would divert water from a location north of the Delta, biologists believe that take of delta smelt from operation of the South Delta facilities could be reduced.

Adult delta smelt migrate into the Delta and spawn during the winter and early spring months. Depending on Delta conditions during their upstream migration, some adults may enter areas of the Delta where they become vulnerable to entrainment at the federal and state pumping plants. At the pumping plants, entrained smelt are sampled periodically. Entrainment of delta smelt often results in mortality and is considered incidental take under the Endangered Species Act.

Authorized incidental take represents the amount of harm to a threatened or endangered species expected to result from the operation of the state and federal projects while operating in compliance with the biological opinion. If the estimate of incidental take is exceeded, Section 7 consultation will be reinitiated to evaluate the adequacy of the protections in place, the basis for the amount of authorized incidental take, and, where available, improvements in the measures needed to protect the species. Reinitiation of consultation will ensure that the delta smelt is not jeopardized as a result of modifications to the incidental take statement or other provisions of the Biological Opinion.

The first delta smelt was counted at the pumps on Dec. 12, 2012, and the Service initiated Action 1 of Reasonable and Prudent Alternative component 1 of the Biological Opinion on Dec. 17, 2012.

This action, the seventh determination made this 2012-2013 water year to comply with the biological opinion, was taken based on information about Delta conditions provided by participants of the Delta Conditions Team, and considered in the Smelt Working Group recommendations. All of the Determinations and the Smelt Working Group Notes are posted on the web site of the Service’s Bay-Delta Fish and Wildlife Office at http://www.fws.gov/sfbaydelta/cvp-swp/smelt_working_group.cfm