From the San Joaquin River Restoration Program:
The Bureau of Reclamation has released an updated Restoration Allocation & Default Flow Schedule for the period March 1, 2021 through February 28, 2022.
Using the best available forecasting information for precipitation and runoff above Millerton Lake, Reclamation sets the initial allocation at 70,919 acre-feet (AF) as measured at Gravelly Ford. This corresponds to approximately 187,785 AF at Friant Dam including the expected Holding Contracts below Friant Dam. This is a “Critical-High” Water Year Type and is based on a forecasted unimpaired inflow into Millerton of 657,000 AF using a 50/50 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 Restoration Allocation will be revised several times this season as hydrologic conditions change. The Restoration Flow Guidelines provide detailed guidance on the allocation process. The next Restoration Allocation will be issued on or before February 18, 2021.
The Restoration Administrator has also made a change to the Restoration Flow Schedule. Flows at Friant Dam will be reduced on Saturday, February 6 to result in a decrease in flows at Gravelly Ford. Between February 9 and February 28, flows at Gravelly Ford will be held at 155 cfs.
The Updated 2021 Restoration Allocation & Default Flow Schedule can be viewed here https://www.restoresjr.net/?wpfb_dl=2525
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.
