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Westlands Water District
3130 N. Fresno Street, P.O. Box 6056, Fresno, California 93703-6056, (559) 224-1523, FAX: (559) 241-6277
February 10, 2015
Operations Report
State Water Board Drought Actions
On February 3, 2015, the Executive Director of the State Water Resources Control Board issued an
Order approving a Temporary Urgency Change Petition (TUCP) submitted by the Department of Water
Resources (DWR) and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation). This Order adjusts both flow and water
quality requirements in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta for February and March 2015, allowing the State
Water Project (SWP) and Central Valley Project (CVP) to conserve water supplies in upstream reservoirs and
more effectively operate facilities in response to the ongoing drought conditions.
The Order temporarily modifies Water Rights Decision 1641 (D-1641) requirements for February and
March 2015 including:
• Modification of the monthly minimum Net Delta Outflow Index (NDOI) to no less than 4,000 cubic feet
per second (cfs) from the current minimum daily NDOI of 7,100 cfs for February through June.
• Modification of the San Joaquin River at Airport Way Bridge, Vernalis, minimum monthly average flow
rate to 500 cfs from the minimum flow requirement of 710 or 1,140 cfs depending on the maximum
daily average Electrical Conductivity (EC).
• Modification of the Delta Cross Channel (DCC) Gate closure requirements to allow DCC Gates to be
opened as necessary in order to help reduce intrusion of high salinity water while preserving storage in
upstream reservoirs and reducing impacts to migrating salmon. Currently, the DCC Gates are required
to be closed during February and March.
• Modification of outflow related export limits that reflect a balance between competing beneficial
needs.
o If NDOI of at least 7,100 cfs is not being met or the DCC Gates are open, the combined
maximum SWP and CVP export rate would be no greater than 1,500 cfs.
o When precipitation and runoff events occur that allow the DCC Gates to be closed and a
minimum daily NDOI of 7,100 cfs is being met, but any additional Delta Outflow requirements
are not being met, then exports of natural and abandoned flows would be permitted up to D1641 Export Limits; unless an exception for February applies, exports are required to be
limited to 35 percent of Delta inflow from February through June.
Additional information regarding the TUCP Order can be found here:
http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/waterrights/water_issues/programs/drought/docs/tucp/2015/tucp_order02
0315.pdf
Jones Pumping Plant
Water year to date (WYTD) Jones Pumping Plant (Jones PP) has exported 838,200 AF south of the Delta. In
January, Jones PP averaged 1,250 cfs. Decreased pumping in January was due to a lack of rainfall events
throughout the state. Thus far in February, Jones PP has only pumped 17,700 AF. Jones PP is currently
operating at 990 cfs. Jones PP and Banks PP have operated at reduced levels all water year, providing a
combined total of 2.04 MAF south of the Delta. In January, the Delta Mendota Canal-California Aqueduct
Intertie (Intertie) did not pump any water into the California Aqueduct. Water year to date the Intertie has
conveyed 36.5 TAF.
San Luis Reservoir
Storage on the federal side of the San Luis Reservoir (SLR) increased to 358,000 AF (48% of the Historical
Average and 37% of capacity). The District’s storable supplemental water types and 2013 rescheduled supply
accounts for 52 percent of SLR federal storage. The SLR’s total storage for both CVP and SWP is 1,146,600 AF
(70% of Historical Average).
CVP Reservoirs
Even with recent storms, the combined storage of the six key federal reservoirs is only 5 MAF. After
experiencing the third consecutive critically dry water year, total storage is 1.5 MAF lower compared to 2009
but 390,000 AF higher than 2013. Table 1 compares the six reservoirs by year. The federal projects are
operating to a critical water year standards with minimum releases to maximize storage levels. Shasta storage
is 2,312,500 AF (73% of Historical Average) and Folsom is 500,300 AF (91% of Historical Average). Storage
increased for the Shasta and Folsom reservoirs by 401,000 AF and 60,000 AF, respectively.
DATE:
RESERVOIR
SHASTA
NEW MELONES
TRINITY
FOLSOM
MILLERTON
SLR-FED
TOTAL
Table 1: CVP Reservoirs Dry Year Comparison
2/10/2015
2010
2014
2,924,000
1,666,200
1,230,300
1,050,700
1,092,300
1,158,800
346,500
214,600
251,400
186,000
642,100
332,500
6,486,600
4,608,800
2015
2,312,500
589,600
1,048,700
500,300
188,000
358,100
4,997,200
Ground Water Management Program
The Ground Water Management Program (GWMP) pumped 7,700 AF in January. The District’s
January groundwater demands were 109 percent of the historical average. The District anticipates
the GWMP pumping to reach 220,000 AF in 2014-2015 water year. In February, thus far the GWMP
has pumped approximately 4 TAF.
WWD Demands
The District’s daily SLC demands in January averaged 38 CFS (29% of Historical Average; see Figure 1
below).
Figure1: 10 Year Historical Average vs 2014 Demands
AF
10 Year Historical Average
2014 Demands
200,000
180,000
160,000
140,000
120,000
100,000
80,000
60,000
40,000
20,000
0
The District rescheduled 218,000 AF into water year 2014-15, however after losses were incurred the
rescheduled amount was reduced to 205,000 AF in May.
Precipitation
The precipitation outlook is normal in Northern California as a result of December and February
precipitation events. As shown in Figure 2, experts are continuing to forecast above normal precipitation
within the District Boundary from February through April with probabilities exceeding 33.33%. The percent of
seasonal average to date at the Northern Sierra 8- Station Index is 102% and the Southern Sierra 5-Staion
Index is 56%. Water Year 2015 started on the October 1. Daily precipitation updates are available on DWR
website http://cdec.water.ca.gov/snow_rain.html.
Snow
California snow pack is well below normal for February in all areas of the Sierras. Mild rather than cold
air has accompanied storm systems which has generated precipitation that falls as rain even in the higher
elevations resulting in lower than normal snow water content. Snow water equivalents are found in Table 2.
Table 2: California Snow Pack
Average Snow Water
Sierras
% of April 1 Average
% of Normal to Date
Equivalents
North
5.3”
18%
25%
Central
6.3”
21%
29%
South
4.9”
18%
26%
Statewide
5.6”
19%
27%
Daily snow survey updates are available on DWR website http://cdec.water.ca.gov/snow/current/snow/
WWD Allocation Projection
The District’s allocation projection for the 2015-16 water year is specified in the Table 3.
Table 3: Westlands Water District 2015 Water Supply Allocation Forecast
Delta Restrictions Imposed Under Biological Opinions*
Water Year
Type
Maximum
Moderate
Minimal
Initial
Final
Initial
Final
Initial
Final
Allocation Allocation Allocation Allocation Allocation Allocation
0-10%
35-45%
0-25%
Wet
0-5%
25-30%
0-10%
Above Normal
0%
0-15%
0%
Below Normal
0%
0%
0%
Dry
0%
0%
0%
Critically Dry
*allocation range characterizes export uncertainties
35-50%
25-35%
0-20%
0-5%
0%
0-25%
0-15%
0%
0%
0%
50-65%
35-50%
0-25%
0-10%
0%