From the San Joaquin River Restoration Program:
The Bureau of Reclamation has released an initial Restoration Allocation & Default Flow Schedule for the period March 1, 2020 through February 28, 2021.
Using the best available forecasting information for precipitation and runoff above Millerton Lake, Reclamation sets the initial allocation at 212,909 acre-feet (AF) as measured at Gravelly Ford. This corresponds to 329,854 AF at Friant Dam including the expected Holding Contracts below Friant Dam. This is a “Dry” Water Year Type and is based on an unimpaired inflow into Millerton of 928,000 AF using a 20/80 blending of the CA Department of Water Resources and National Weather Service runoff forecasts and the 75% exceedance forecast.
The Restoration Administrator for the Program will return a recommendation based on this allocation in the coming days. The current hydrologic trend is for normal to dry conditions through the first half of February. The Restoration Allocation will be adjusted accordingly as hydrologic conditions change and may be reduced or increased. The Restoration Flow Guidelines provide detailed guidance on the allocation process. We anticipate multiple updates to the Restoration Allocation will be made throughout the spring until the final allocation is finalized in May or June.
Until March 1, 2020, Restoration Flows will continue under the 2019 Restoration Allocation and associated Restoration Administrator Recommendations, unless the Restoration Administrator opts to advance part of the 2020 allocation volume into February.
The Initial 2020 Restoration Allocation & Default Flow Schedule can be viewed here.
For Information about Restoration Flows, please visit: http://www.restoresjr.net/restoration-goal/restoration-flows/
For the Restoration Administrator recommendations, please visit: http://www.restoresjr.net/documentsreports/ra-recommendations/
For additional information about the San Joaquin River Restoration Program, please visit http://www.restoresjr.net or contact Josh Newcom, Public Affairs Specialist, at 916-978-5508 or snewcom@usbr.gov
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