Keywords

Reservoir operation modeling; environmental flows; San Joaquin River

Location

Session H2: Water Resources Management and Planning - Modeling and Software for Improving Dcisions and Engaging Stakeholders

Start Date

17-6-2014 10:40 AM

End Date

17-6-2014 12:00 PM

Abstract

Water resources system modeling was conducted using the CalSim II San Joaquin River model to evaluate streamflow standards proposed during the current update to the 2006 Water Quality Control Plan for the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Estuary (Bay-Delta Plan Update). Phase I of the Bay-Delta Plan Update will select and implement State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) standards for San Joaquin River instream flows and salinity. CalSim II is a monthly model of reservoir and water system operations in the Central Valley of California. The first modeling effort was to analyze a proposed agreement between the Bureau of Reclamation (henceforth referred to as Reclamation) and Merced Irrigation District (MID) to meet an interim spring pulse flow standard on the San Joaquin River during 2012-2013. In order to simulate the variety of possible reservoir operations and releases to meet the standard that could occur during 2012-2013, the model was run over a range of possible hydrologic conditions starting from initial conditions present in Sept 2011. The second modeling effort was to evaluate long-term flow standards proposed by the SWRCB for the Bay-Delta Plan Update, expressed in terms of the bypass of a certain percent of unimpaired flow on the Stanislaus, Merced, and Tuolumne Rivers, during February to June. Unimpaired flow is a modeled flow volume which removes the effect of dams and diversions. The SWRCB's proposed alternative of 35% of unimpaired flow was evaluated over an 82 year hydrologic period. The purpose of these modeling efforts was to evaluate how different flow standards affect flows on the San Joaquin River and its tributaries, reservoir storages and operations, Reclamation purchases of water from MID, and water deliveries.

COinS
 
Jun 17th, 10:40 AM Jun 17th, 12:00 PM

CalSim Modeling of Proposed San Joaquin River Basin Flow Standards

Session H2: Water Resources Management and Planning - Modeling and Software for Improving Dcisions and Engaging Stakeholders

Water resources system modeling was conducted using the CalSim II San Joaquin River model to evaluate streamflow standards proposed during the current update to the 2006 Water Quality Control Plan for the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Estuary (Bay-Delta Plan Update). Phase I of the Bay-Delta Plan Update will select and implement State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) standards for San Joaquin River instream flows and salinity. CalSim II is a monthly model of reservoir and water system operations in the Central Valley of California. The first modeling effort was to analyze a proposed agreement between the Bureau of Reclamation (henceforth referred to as Reclamation) and Merced Irrigation District (MID) to meet an interim spring pulse flow standard on the San Joaquin River during 2012-2013. In order to simulate the variety of possible reservoir operations and releases to meet the standard that could occur during 2012-2013, the model was run over a range of possible hydrologic conditions starting from initial conditions present in Sept 2011. The second modeling effort was to evaluate long-term flow standards proposed by the SWRCB for the Bay-Delta Plan Update, expressed in terms of the bypass of a certain percent of unimpaired flow on the Stanislaus, Merced, and Tuolumne Rivers, during February to June. Unimpaired flow is a modeled flow volume which removes the effect of dams and diversions. The SWRCB's proposed alternative of 35% of unimpaired flow was evaluated over an 82 year hydrologic period. The purpose of these modeling efforts was to evaluate how different flow standards affect flows on the San Joaquin River and its tributaries, reservoir storages and operations, Reclamation purchases of water from MID, and water deliveries.