Independent Review Panel (IRP) Report for the 2015 Long-Term Operations Biological Opinions (LOBO) Annual Science Review

Delta Stewardship Council (Delta Council) | December 1st, 2015

This report presents findings and opinions of the Independent Review Panel (IRP) assembled by the Delta Science Program to inform the National Marine Fisheries Service (N

This report presents findings and opinions of the Independent Review Panel (IRP) assembled by the Delta Science Program to inform the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) as to the efficacy of water operations and certain regulatory actions prescribed by their respective Long-term Operations Biological Opinions’ (LOBO) Reasonable and Prudent Alternative Actions (RPAs) as applied from October 1, 2014 through September 30, 2015 (Water Year 2015).  This year’s annual review focused primarily on: (1) Shasta Reservoir and Sacramento River temperature monitoring, modeling, and management, (2) the River Assessment for Forecasting Temperature (RAFT) decision support tool (model), (3) an Enhanced Particle Tracking Model (E-PTM), and (4) a USFWS report on past, present, and future approaches to incidental take of Delta Smelt.  After reviewing a required set of written documents (Appendix 1), the IRP convened at a public workshop in Sacramento, CA on 5-6 November 2015. The first day of the 2-day workshop included agency presentations and provided a forum for the IRP to interact and consider information presented on water operations, temperature modeling, monitoring and RPA Actions as implemented in yet another critically dry 2015 water year. On the second day, the IRP deliberated in a private session beginning at 9:00 a.m. in order to prepare and present their initial findings at the public workshop at 2:00 p.m., after which there was an opportunity for agency representatives, members of the public, and the IRP members to comment and otherwise exchange impressions and information. Subsequent IRP communication and deliberations were conducted via email and conference calls in the course of drafting this final report. Click here for federal agency response letter

Innovation in Monitoring: The U.S. Geological Survey Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta, California, Flow-Station Network

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | January 1st, 2016

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) installed the first gage to measure the flow of water into California’s Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta from the Sacramento River

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) installed the first gage to measure the flow of water into California’s Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta from the Sacramento River in the late 1800s. Today, a network of 35 hydro-acoustic meters measure flow throughout the delta. This region is a critical part of California’s freshwater supply and conveyance system. With the data provided by this flow-station network—sampled every 15 minutes and updated to the web every hour—state and federal water managers make daily decisions about how much freshwater can be pumped for human use, at which locations, and when. Fish and wildlife scientists, working with water managers, also use this information to protect fish species affected by pumping and loss of habitat. The data are also used to help determine the success or failure of efforts to restore ecosystem processes in what has been called the “most managed and highly altered” watershed in the country.

Integrated Coastal Groundwater Monitoring Program and Plan

Monterey County Water Resources Agency (MCWRA) | May 19th, 2019

California American Water Company (CalAm) is working to increase sustainability of their water supply portfolio to meet the long-term needs of customers in their

California American Water Company (CalAm) is working to increase sustainability of their water supply portfolio to meet the long-term needs of customers in their service area on the Monterey Peninsula. Accordingly, CalAm has proposed the Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project (MPWSP). The MPWSP includes a desalination plant, distribution pipelines, aquifer storage and recovery and in-lieu use of desalinated water. Feedwater for the desalination plant would be from a seawater intake system consisting of slant wells constructed into the shallow aquifers at the coastal margin of the Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin (SVGB). The objective of the MPWSP is to meet CalAm’s long-term water demands and comply with state imposed regulatory requirements1. A MPWSP Test Slant Wells Study (HWG, 2017) was conducted to evaluate project effects and support preparation of a draft and Final Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIR/EIS) (ESA, 2017). CalAm has received a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity CPCN) for the MPWSP from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)2. The EIR/EIS supported the CPUC decision. This document presents a proposed Coastal Monitoring Plan (Monitoring Plan) to continue observing the MPWSP effects, if any, on the SVGB.

Juvenile Production Estimate (JPE) Calculation and Use/Application of Survival Data from Acoustically-tagged Chinook Salmon Releases Report

Delta Stewardship Council (Delta Council) | February 21st, 2014

Each year, NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) estimates the number of juvenile winter-run Chinook salmon expected to enter the Delta. NMFS’ June 4, 2009

Each year, NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) estimates the number of juvenile winter-run Chinook salmon expected to enter the Delta. NMFS’ June 4, 2009, biological and conference opinion on the long-term operation of the Central Valley Project and State Water Project provides an incidental take limit on natural juvenile winter-run based on the juvenile production estimate.

Lake Tahoe Nearshore Water Quality Protection Plan

California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) | November 6th, 2014

In October 2013, the Desert Research Institute, UC Davis, and University of Nevada at Reno released the Lake Tahoe Nearshore Evaluation and Monitoring Framework Report (R

In October 2013, the Desert Research Institute, UC Davis, and University of Nevada at Reno released the Lake Tahoe Nearshore Evaluation and Monitoring Framework Report (Report) (NeST 2013). The Report presents a conceptual understanding of nearshore environment processes, assesses the heterogenic nature of the nearshore, highlights the lack of data available to characterize the environmental status of the Lake Tahoe nearshore, and emphasizes that current agency implementation efforts will benefit the nearshore environment. This Lake Tahoe Nearshore Water Quality Protection Plan (Plan) outlines the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board’s (Regional Water Board) response to the changes in the Lake Tahoe nearshore environment as informed by the Report. Based on the Report findings and recommendations, the Regional Water Board will proceed with the following actions: (1) continue implementing programs that benefit nearshore environmental quality; (2) establish and implement an integrated nearshore monitoring plan to track change in the nearshore environment and track pollutant inputs to the nearshore; (3) evaluate localized “hotspots” where nearshore change has been documented and assess causes of observed degradation; (4) investigate climate change influence on nearshore water quality; and (5) assess the need for revised or new water quality standards to protect nearshore water quality. In establishing and maintaining nearshore water quality protection policies, the Water Board will continue to coordinate with other government agencies and the public. Because available resources are insufficient to fully implement all recommendations, a dedicated annual funding source must be found to adequately protect and enhance Lake Tahoe’s precious nearshore. The Plan elements and funding needs are presented in Attachment 1. The Plan also serves as response to a Legislative request in the 2012-2013 Budget Act specific to the Water Board’s approach to the nearshore.

Land subsidence caused by the East Mesa geothermal field, California, observed using SAR interferometry

American Geophysical Union (AGU) | April 15th, 1997

Interferometric combination of pairs of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images acquired by the ERS-1 satellite maps the deformation field associated with the activity o

Interferometric combination of pairs of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images acquired by the ERS-1 satellite maps the deformation field associated with the activity of the East Mesa geothermal plant, located in southern California. SAR interferometry is applied to this flat area without the need of a digital terrain model. Several combinations are used to ascertain the nature of the phenomenon. Short term interferograms reveal surface phase changes on agricultural fields similar to what had been observed previously with SEASAT radar data. Long term (2 years) interferograms allow the study of land subsidence and improve prior knowledge of the displacement field, and agree with existing, sparse levelling data. This example illustrates the power of the interferometric technique for deriving accurate industrial intelligence as well as its potential for legal action, in cases involving environmental damages. *Correction appended

Land subsidence in the San Joaquin Valley, California, as of 1972

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | July 10th, 1975

Land subsidence which began in the mid-1920's due to groundwater overdraft in the San Joaquin Valley has caused widespread concern for the past two decades. Withdrawals

Land subsidence which began in the mid-1920's due to groundwater overdraft in the San Joaquin Valley has caused widespread concern for the past two decades. Withdrawals for irrigation increased from 3 million acre-feet in 1942 to 10 million acre-feet in 1966. Water levels declined at unprecedented rates during the 1950's and early 1960's. Pumping lifts became inordinately high, well casings failed at alarming rates, and differential settlement caused numerous farming and engineering problems. By 1970,5,200 square miles of valley land had been affected, and maximum subsidence exceeded 28 feet. The valley-wide volume of subsidence totaled 15.6 million acre-feet, one-half the initial storage capacity of Lake Mead. This subsidence represents one of the great environmental changes imposed by man. Importation of surface water to the northwestern and eastern areas of overdraft in the valley began in the 1950's and to the much larger western and southern areas in the late 1960's. Canal imports have largely replaced ground-water pumpage in these areas. As of 1973, after three decades of continued declining water levels, many hundreds of irrigation wells are idle and water levels are rising. Throughout much of the valley, artesian pressures are recovering toward their presubsidence levels, and elevations of the subsiding land surface are stabilizing. Basic-data graphs and computer-plotted stress-strain relationships constitute a major part of this report. They are based on 10-13 years of detailed field measurements of both water-level change and compaction collected by the U.S. Geological Survey at 20 selected locations in the San Joaquin Valley. The recharge characteristics of a ground-water reservoir are indicated roughly by the volume ratio, which is subsidence/pumpage. In the Los Banos-Kettleman City area, the values of this ratio range from less than 0.2 near the perimeter to more than 0.6 in the central part of the area. In the corresponding parts of the Arvin-Maricopa area, the ratio ranges from near 0 to more than 0.4.

Land subsidence in the San Joaquin Valley, California, as of 1980

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | July 1st, 1984

Land Subsidence in the Santa Clara Valley, California, as of 1982

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | July 31st, 1988

Land subsidence, groundwater levels, and geology in the Coachella Valley, California, 1993-2010

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | June 15th, 2014

Land subsidence associated with groundwater-level declines has been investigated by the U.S. Geological Survey in the Coachella Valley, California, since 1996. Groundwate

Land subsidence associated with groundwater-level declines has been investigated by the U.S. Geological Survey in the Coachella Valley, California, since 1996. Groundwater has been a major source of agricultural, municipal, and domestic supply in the valley since the early 1920s. Pumping of groundwater resulted in water-level declines as much as 15 meters (50 feet) through the late 1940s. In 1949, the importation of Colorado River water to the southern Coachella Valley began, resulting in a reduction in groundwater pumping and a recovery of water levels during the 1950s through the 1970s. Since the late 1970s, demand for water in the valley has exceeded deliveries of imported surface water, resulting in increased pumping and associated groundwater-level declines and, consequently, an increase in the potential for land subsidence caused by aquifer-system compaction.