tulloch reservoir and the drought of 2012-201?

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