Update on an Analysis of a Potential Groundwater Storage and Recovery Program in the Carpinteria Groundwater Basin

Montecito Water District (MWD) | March 11th, 2025

Upper San Joaquin River Basin Storage Investigation (Temperance Flat)

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) | April 1st, 2016

The Upper San Joaquin River Basin Storage Investigation is a feasibility study of new surface water storage that is being performed by the U.S. Department of the Interior

The Upper San Joaquin River Basin Storage Investigation is a feasibility study of new surface water storage that is being performed by the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation. The purpose of the investigation is to determine the type and extent of federal, state, and regional interests in a potential dam project in the upper San Joaquin River watershed to expand water storage capacity; improve water supply reliability and flexibility for agricultural, urban, and environmental uses; and enhance San Joaquin River water temperature and flow conditions to support anadromous fish restoration efforts This investigation is one of five surface water storage studies recommended in the CALFED Bay-Delta Program Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement/Report Record of Decision of August 2000. Reclamation released a Draft Feasibility Report in February 2014 that provides an in depth examination into the potential construction of a new dam and reservoir on the upper San Joaquin River, between Friant and Kerckhoff dams. View the feasibility report available here. Reclamation released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Upper San Joaquin River Basin Storage Investigation for public comment on September 5, 2014. Written comments may be provided at any time on or before Oct. 27, 2014. Testimony can also be submitted at the upcoming public hearings on October 14 and October 16, 2014. Comments and testimony will be considered in the Final EIS. The Draft EIS documents the potential environmental effects of alternatives to increase storage of water from the upper San Joaquin River watershed to improve water supply reliability and operational flexibility in Central Valley Project San Joaquin Valley areas and other regions of California, and to enhance water temperature and flow conditions in the San Joaquin River downstream from Friant Dam for salmon and other native fish. In addition to the No Action Alternative, the Draft EIS documents five action alternatives that include constructing a dam in the upstream portion of Millerton Lake at river mile 274. The action alternatives vary based on operations and intake feature configurations. The Draft EIS was prepared for formal public review and comment, consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act. View the Draft EIS report available here.Upper San Joaquin River Basin Storage Investigation

Valuing energy flexibility from water systems

Nature Portfolio (Springer Nature) | September 27th, 2024

From Maven's Notebook preview: * The researchers suggest a way to measure the value of using water systems to help manage energy needs. * Water systems are generall

From Maven's Notebook preview: * The researchers suggest a way to measure the value of using water systems to help manage energy needs. * Water systems are generally very efficient at adjusting their energy use, but with current designs, they can only provide a moderate amount of power and energy under typical conditions. * Upgrading facilities to improve their energy flexibility is often a good investment and is usually cheaper than adding battery storage on-site. * Different pricing systems for energy in the U.S. and around the world have the biggest impact on whether these upgrades will be profitable. * Recognizing the value of energy flexibility is the first step to encouraging energy storage, flexible energy use, and renewable biogas generation in the water industry.

Water Budget Development for SGMA Compliance, Case Study: Ukiah Valley Groundwater Basin

Universities Council on Water Resources Journal of Contemporary Water Research & Education | December 28th, 2017

The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) is the first comprehensive legislative effort to reform groundwater management in the state of California after years of

The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) is the first comprehensive legislative effort to reform groundwater management in the state of California after years of uncoordinated and voluntary governance of this resource. The objective of this study is to: a) describe the SGMA in California, b) describe a method for estimating a water budget, and c) present the implementation of this method for the Ukiah Valley Groundwater Basin (UVGB). An estimated water budget, done on a monthly time step from 1991 to 2015, was developed in order to characterize the UVGB. Results suggest that the groundwater basin is not in overdraft, and that a portion of the Russian River is a gaining river (approximately 18,952 AF/y) from November to June, and a losing river (approximately 393 AF/y) from July to October. Furthermore, lateral groundwater movement is identified through the groundwater mass balance. Based on previous work and the results of this study, the observed later groundwater losses signify connectivity between the UVGB and the Sanel Valley Groundwater Basin (SVGB). Local groundwater managers and users can use this information to inform proposed action plans and monitoring protocols that will allow them to achieve and maintain groundwater sustainability in the UVGB by the year 2040.

Water shortages worsened by reservoir effects

Nature Portfolio (Springer Nature) | November 13th, 2018

The expansion of reservoirs to cope with droughts and water shortages is hotly debated in many places around the world. We argue that there are two counterintuiti

The expansion of reservoirs to cope with droughts and water shortages is hotly debated in many places around the world. We argue that there are two counterintuitive dynamics that should be considered in this debate: supply–demand cycles and reservoir effects. Supply–demand cycles describe instances where increasing water supply enables higher water demand, which can quickly offset the initial benefits of reservoirs. Reservoir effects refer to cases where over-reliance on reservoirs increases vulnerability, and therefore increases the potential damage caused by droughts. Here we illustrate these counterintuitive dynamics with global and local examples, and discuss policy and research implications.

Water Storage Issue Paper

Delta Stewardship Council (Delta Council) | April 8th, 2013

This Issue Paper, authored by DSC Vice-Chair Randy Fiorini, is entitled, “Don’t Just Think ‘Big’ When Adding to State’s Water Storage Capacity.”  The paper d

This Issue Paper, authored by DSC Vice-Chair Randy Fiorini, is entitled, “Don’t Just Think ‘Big’ When Adding to State’s Water Storage Capacity.”  The paper discusses the successes of many local public water agencies in constructing small storage projects, and suggests the State consider small, as well as large scale storage projects, to address California’s water storage needs. Specific recommendations include: The California Water Commission should conduct a statewide survey of public water agencies to determine locations that have been considered locally or regionally for water storage but have not been pursued. To ensure public water agency participation the California Water Commission should partner with the Association of California Water Agencies to prepare for and conduct the survey and produce and inventory list. Once a statewide survey of possible storage locations is complete and a comprehensive list of locations has been identified, the Department of Water Resources and the California Water Commission should evaluate and identify which locations with local support have a public benefit.

Water Supply in the Conterminous United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, Water Years 2010–20, Chapter B of U.S. Geological Survey Integrated Water Availability Assessment—2010–20

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | January 17th, 2025

The following are the key points of this chapter: Throughout much of the Great Plains and Northeast through Midwest aggregated hydrologic regions, low precipitation

The following are the key points of this chapter: Throughout much of the Great Plains and Northeast through Midwest aggregated hydrologic regions, low precipitation totals in water years 2011 and 2012 resulted in low streamflow, evapotranspiration, and soil moisture, associated with one of the most substantial droughts since the 1930s. The highest interannual variability in precipitation was in the California–Nevada, Texas, Southern High Plains, and Southwest Desert hydrologic regions, whereas the lowest interannual variability was in the Florida, Tennessee–Missouri, and Northeast hydrologic regions. Among the Western aggregated hydrologic region, where snow is critical for water availability, the California–Nevada hydrologic region had the highest interannual variability in maximum snow accumulation with a coefficient of variation (CV) of 0.60, whereas the Columbia–Snake, Pacific Northwest, and Central Rockies hydrologic regions all had a CV of less than 0.36. Six of 29 unconfined and 6 of 23 confined principal and regional aquifer systems had current water-level percentiles (median 2010–20) of less than 30 percent of historical water levels (that is, median 2000–20 water levels) including the California Coastal Basin aquifers, the Colorado Plateaus aquifers, and the Central and Southern regions of the High Plains aquifer. Hydrologic regions with low precipitation and little storage coincide with aquifer systems that have shown a decline in groundwater levels during water years 2010–20, including the Southern High Plains, Central High Plains, and Texas hydrologic regions. Companion chapters: U.S. Geological Survey Integrated Water Availability Assessment—2010–20, Chapter A Status of Water-Quality Conditions in the United States, 2010–20, Chapter C  Water Use Across the Conterminous United States, Water Years 2010–20, Chapter D  Climate Change and Future Water Availability in the United States, Chapter E  Integrated Water Availability in the Conterminous United States, 2010–20, Chapter F 

Water Surplus and Drought Management Update - Conditions as of 11/29/2022

Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) | December 13th, 2022