Drought Management Sheri Looper CVP Water Resource Specialist
Drought Management Overview: –Contractual and Environmental Commitments –2015 Allocations –SWP and CVP Drought Contingency Plan –Shasta Temperature Plan –Water Transfers –Contractual Schedule Modifications
Contracts Approximately 270 water contracts –Sacramento Settlement Contracts –San Joaquin River Exchange Contracts –Water Service and Repayment Contracts –Refuge Contracts Total Contracted Water is 9,508,607 Acre-Feet (AF)
Water Deliveries Water YearDeliveries (AF) 20142,937, ,746, ,600, ,069, ,590, ,900, ,316, ,586, ,237,911
Contracts Sacramento Settlement Contracts –2,115,620 AF –Shasta Critical Year, 25% reduction of contract supply Refuge Water Supply Contracts –422,251 AF –Shasta Critical Year, 25% reduction of contract supply San Joaquin River Exchange Contracts –840,000 AF –650,000 AF in Shasta Critical Other Contracts –Conditions of shortage based on available supplies
Other Obligations Endangered Species Act –Temperature Compliance Points on Sac River 56 Degrees Maximum, NMFS Biological Opinion and Water Rights Order 90 –Flow Management Standards on the American River Water Rights Decision 1641 (D-1641) –22 compliance points in the Delta for water quality and flow objectives
2015 Allocations
Drought Responses CVP and SWP Drought Contingency Plan Temporary Urgency Change Petitions for Delta Standards Shasta Temperature Management Plan –Sacramento Settlement Schedule Modifications –Water Transfers Emergency Drought Barriers
SWP and CVP Drought Contingency Plan Maximize Regulatory Flexibilities Build Operational Flexibility Create a Balanced Approach to Meeting River Temperatures, Instream Flows, Delta Protective Actions, and Deliveries
SWP and CVP Drought Contingency Plan Regulatory Flexibilities –Temporary Urgency Change Petitions (TUCP) Filed TUCPs in conjugation with DWR to request certain changes to terms and conditions of water right permits –Modification to D-1641 D-1641 Modifications –Flow and water quality standards –Modification of Delta Cross Channel Gates –Modification of Export Limits
D-1641 Modifications: Changes to Vernalis, Net Delta Outflow, DCC Gates Gates Closed Gates Open
Shasta Temperature Plan Developed in coordination with NMFS, USFWS, DWR, CDFW, SWRCB, and Stakeholders –Maintain access to essential water supplies for California communities throughout the CVP and SWP –Avoid the severe winter-run Chinook mortalities of last year Management of cold water pool in Shasta for releases through summer and early fall –Cold water pool for meeting ESA standards smaller and warmer than years past –Streams and Rivers already running warm Unlikely to meet the 56°F compliance points as required under ESA and water rights permits
Temperature Compliance Points
Plan Elements Target as close to 57°F as possible at Clear Creek Closely monitor real-time temperatures near the Highway 44 bridge Allowing short-term exceedances above 58°F to conserve cold water Set base flow at 7,250 cfs for June & July Delay full side-gate operation at Dam as long as possible Establish a Real-time Operations Team to manage releases
Schedule Modifications for Sac Settlement Contractors Contracts specify diversion quantities for each month April-October Reclamation and some Sac Settlement Contractors agreed to schedule modifications, allowing shifts in monthly supplies through December –Contractors used other water supplies in April and May, delaying the diversion of contract supplies –Reclamation able to release in summer months to meet dual purposes fishery and agricultural demands met with same water
Water Transfers Reclamation contracts allow for the transfer of water between willing sellers and willing buyers –Change in place use, point of diversion, or purpose of use Willing sellers take specific actions to make water available for buyers –Crop Idling, Groundwater Substitution, Reservoir Reoperation Larger quantities of transferable water needed to keep water in Shasta Expanded transfer window through November 2015
Emergency Drought Barriers
Thank you Questions