Title
Adopt a release schedule for Nacimiento and San Antonio reservoirs for 2024.
(Staff: Peter Kwiek & Joseph Klein)
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Monterey County Water Resources Agency Board of Directors:
Adopt a Release Schedule for Nacimiento and San Antonio Reservoirs for 2024.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Each spring, the Agency proposes an annual reservoir release schedule based on a variety of factors that include current reservoir storage, river flows, Nacimiento Water Project water orders, and implementation of the Salinas Valley Water Project.
The attached proposed 2024 schedule assumes continuous conservation flows to recharge the Salinas Valley groundwater basin and operate the SRDF from late April to mid-October and meets the operational requirements of State Water Resources Control Board appropriative water rights held by the Agency for the Nacimiento and San Antonio Rivers.
Following a full conservation season which provided groundwater recharge and SRDF diversions from May through October, 2023, numerous small to moderate winter storms have re-filled the Nacimiento Conservation Pool and brought San Antonio close to its operational volume limit which is currently based on the 1985 Rule Curve pending re-construction of the San Antonio Dam Spillway. As a result, total combined reservoir storage volume in early April exceeds 600,000 acre feet for the first time since 2011.
As a result of late season (late March to Early April 2024) inflow to Nacimiento Reservoir and significant flows within the Salinas River, commencement of conservation releases and SRDF operation are being delayed. This will also allow time for a sufficient volume of water to be evacuated from the reservoir to enable scheduled critical spillway maintenance to begin in early June with minimal disruption to operations later in the season. This release of water is reflected in the schedule's April release totals and is expected to be completed by about April 22. ...
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