Natural Resources Defense Council v. Kempthorne, Order Granting in Part and Denying in Part Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment

United States District Court, Eastern District of California | May 7th, 2007

This case concerns the effect on a threatened species of fish, the Delta smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus) , of the coordinated operation of the federally managed Central

This case concerns the effect on a threatened species of fish, the Delta smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus) , of the coordinated operation of the federally managed Central Valley Project ("CVP") and the State of California's State Water Project *2 ("SWP"), among the world's largest water diversion projects. Both projects divert large volumes of water from the California Bay (Sacramento - San Joaquin) Delta ("Delta") and use the Delta to store water.

Old and Middle River Flow Review: USGS Gauge Readings versus Index Calculations for 2011 through 2017

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | November 17th, 2017

This report will demonstrate the strong flow correlation between the United States Geological Survey gages at the Old and Middle Rivers (USGS OMR), and the OMR Index calc

This report will demonstrate the strong flow correlation between the United States Geological Survey gages at the Old and Middle Rivers (USGS OMR), and the OMR Index calculations, which have been used by the State Water Project and the Central Valley Project (the Projects) to operate to, and comply with, Old and Middle River (OMR) flow requirements. The results of the two different methodologies for determining OMR will be compared with daily, 5-day average, and 14-day average values, and will demonstrate a close correlation and tracking between the two methodologies. The time-span will be from December to June of the Water Years 2011 to 2017 and gives a background view and general effectiveness of using the OMR Index. The difference between the methodologies is that the USGS OMR values are based on tidally filtered hourly flow values of Old and Middle Rivers near Bacon Island, whereas the Index methodology uses an empirical equation based on net flows into and out of the Southern Delta. The USGS OMR flow values have been difficult for the Projects to operate to, in large part because the tidally filtering calculation is lagged by three days. What’s more, atmospheric conditions exert an unpredictable influence on OMR values and missing data introduces errors. By contrast, the OMR Index is much easier to work with because the San Joaquin River at Vernalis (VNS) gage used in the OMR Index equation is located upstream of the Delta and is therefore not affected significantly by tidal effects or atmospheric conditions and has only a one-day delay in the OMR Index equation. Using prior day flows from the VNS gage allows the Projects’ operations to be more predictable since current day exports can be closely controlled. Through regression analysis and empirical graphs, this report will show that the OMR Index method produces results that are closely correlated with values from the USGS OMR. And since the Index method can be used to closely approximate the USGS OMR flow values over an averaging period, the Index method is a satisfactory alternative to using the lagged USGS OMR flow data for real-time operations.

Order Approving Temporary Urgency Changes to Water Right License and Permit Terms Relating to Delta Water Quality Objectives

California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) | February 21st, 2023

Oroville Dam: A key unit of the State Water Project

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | July 1st, 1973

Petition for Extension of Time to Perfect Conditional Water Rights Under the State Water Project Permits (SWP) 16478, 16479, 16481, and 16482 for Water Supply and Permits 16477 and 16480 for Hydropower Operations

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | January 21st, 2025

Click here for DWR press release and related correspondence.

Click here for DWR press release and related correspondence.

Potential for Using the Upper Coachella Valley Ground-Water Basin, California, for Storage of Artificially Recharged Water

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | September 15th, 1980

The California Department of Water Resources, through the Future Water Supply Program, is investigating the use of ground-water basins for storage of State Wate

The California Department of Water Resources, through the Future Water Supply Program, is investigating the use of ground-water basins for storage of State Water Project water in order to help meet maximum annual entitlements to water project contractors. This report presents a preliminary evaluation of the geohydrologic fac- tors affecting storage of water by artificial recharge in the upper Coachella Valley, Calif. The ground-water basin of the upper Coachella Valley seems to be geologically suitable for large-scale artificial recharge. A minimum of 900,000 acre-feet of water could probably be stored in the basin without raising basinwide water levels above those that existed in 1945. Preliminary tests indicate that a long-term artificial recharge rate of 5 feet per day may be feasible for spreading grounds in the basin if such factors as sediment and bacterial clogging can be controlled.

Preface to the Environmental Assessment for 2019 Ocean Salmon Fisheries Management Measures

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) | April 1st, 2019

Preseason Report I Stock Abundance Analysis and Environmental Assessment Part 1 for 2019 Ocean Salmon Fishery Regulations (PRE I)

Pacific Fishery Management Council | March 1st, 2019

Preseason Report II Proposed Alternatives and Environmental Assessment Part 2 for 2019 Ocean Salmon Fishery Regulations (PRE II)

Pacific Fishery Management Council | March 21st, 2019

Preseason Report III Council Adopted Management Measures and Environmental Assessment Part 3 for 2019 Ocean Salmon Fishery Regulations (PRE III)

Pacific Fishery Management Council | April 30th, 2019