System Reoperation

Study in Context

California Water Commission Sacramento, California

September, 2017

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Discussion Topics

• Set Context -- Related Programs & Reports • System Reoperation Study: Phases I - III • Recommendations for Next Phase of SRS

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California’s Water Management A Tale of Two Extremes

TOO MUCH

Folsom Reservoir, 1976

TOO LITTLE

California Water Plan 2018 Envisioning Cal Water Sustainability

• Describe progress on Governor’s Water Action Plan & implement Action 10 (water finance)

• Recommend steps to strengthen agency & regulatory alignment

• Deeper dive on sustainability -- identify intended outcomes & indicators to evaluate effectiveness

• < NEW > 5-year State investment plan to advance water reliability & sustainability

• < NEW > Funding Plan showing needed revenues & funding portfolio

Related Programs

Making Conservation a Cal Way of Life • EO issued May 9, 2016 to establish a WUE Framework

– long-term water conservation measures – improved planning for more frequent and

severe droughts • Contains 4 objectives and 13 items • Directed to 5 EO Agencies

– Water Resources – Water Board – Public Utilities Comm. – Food & Agriculture – Energy Commission

• April 2017 Final Report

• Legislation is pending

for implementation 5

Strengthen Local

Drought ResilienceEliminate

Water Waste

Use Water More Wisely

Improve Agricultural

WUE & Drought Planning2

45 6

78 9

10

13

1112

# EO item number

1 3

Related Programs

Central Valley Flood Protection Plan 2017 Update • Appraisal, feasibility and

site specific assessments • Sacramento River Basin • San Joaquin River Basin

• Portfolio of Actions • New South Delta Bypass • Increased reservoir flood pool

storage (Calaveras River) • Forecast Informed Operations • Larger downstream channel

capacities for peak releases • Urban levee improvements • Levee setbacks • Transitory storage / groundwater

recharge basins / flowage easement • Annual sediment removal

Related Programs

Water Available For Replenishment

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Related Programs

Best Estimate Statewide 1,335 TAF/Year

After 100 years, SGMA is Reconnecting California’s Water Cycle

~~~~~ Hydrologically & Institutionally

Related DWR Reports

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Related Programs

System Reoperation Study Timeline

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WSIP Water Storage Investment Program CVFPP Central Valley Flood Protection Plan

WAFR Water Available for Replenishment SRS System Reoperation Study

2008 2021

Today

2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020

SRS Legislation 2008

SRS Phase I Report 2011

SRS Phase II Report 2014

WSIP Concept Papers Mar 2016

Draft CVFPP Update Dec 2016

Draft WAFR Report Jan 2017

SRS Phase III Report 2017

2017 - 2021 SRS Next Phase >>

System Reoperation Study I: Plan of Study

• Literature & tool review • Engagement plan • Strategy formulation (building blocks)

II: Strategy Formulation • Outreach & Reoperation Locations • Reoperation Component Sizing

III: Strategy Assessment • Conjunctive management • Supplemental ecosystem flow • Forecast-based operations • SWP-CVP: storage sharing & joint point

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Reservoirs • Shasta • Oroville • Folsom • New Don Pedro • Pardee • Camanche • McClure • Millerton

• CVP-SWP Integration

Phase II - Reservoirs & Basins Considered

GW

GW

GW

GW

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Groundwater Basins • Sacramento Valley • San Joaquin Valley • Tulare Basin • South Coast

Phase II - Agency Coordination and Outreach

• Reservoir Owners & Operators

• Water Agencies

• Non-Governmental Organizations

• Groundwater Districts

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Observations from Potential Participants: • Groundwater districts were eager to participate, as entities that

might receive additional surface water.

• Reservoir owners and operators were reluctant to participate, with many declining, as entities whose facilities would be studied for reoperation opportunities.

Phase II - Shasta and Oroville Reoperation Components

• GW Conjunctive Management -- Up to 200 TAF/year • Supplemental Ecosystem Flows -- Up to 300 TAF/year • Forecast Based Operations (FBO) -- Up to ± 25% flood space

CVP-SWP Integration • Storage Sharing • Joint Point of Diversion

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Reservoir Reoperation

Phase III Reoperation Strategies

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GW

Shasta Lake Lake Oroville

Lake McClure

CVP-SWP Integration

Phase III: Shasta and Oroville Reoperation

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Reoperation Components R

eo

pe

ratio

n

Benefit Measure

Conjunctive Management Water Supply 37 TAF/year

Supplemental Ecosystem Flow Ecosystem Flow 80 TAF/year

Forecast Based Operations

Flood Stage Reduction 0.1 Feet

Phase III: CVP – SWP Integrated Operations

Reoperation Components

Reoperation

Benefit Measure

Storage Sharing

Water Supply 100 – 150 TAF/year Joint Point of Diversion

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Sys ReOp Key Findings • Benefits are limited

• System is fairly optimized & operators occasionally apply strategies

• Operating SWP & CVP as single project has marginal supply reliability & ecosystem benefits (100 – 150 TAF/year)

• Benefits are resilient – with new Delta conveyance and climate change.

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GW

Shasta Lake

Lake Oroville

Lake McClure

CVP-SWP Integration

Storage Integration Study by ACWA

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1. Evaluate Potential for Using Flood Flows for Groundwater Recharge & Ecosystem Restoration

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Recommendations for Next Phase

2. Evaluate Existing Flood Operating Rules of Reservoirs Under Changing Hydrology

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Phase IV Recommendations Next Phase Recommendations Recommendations for Next Phase

Historical 1981 - 2010

Future 2070 - 2099

3. Evaluate Feasibility of Existing Reservoir Spillways and Outlets to Pass Floodwater Safely with Changing Hydrology

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Phase IV Recommendations Next Phase Recommendations

Folsom Dam Outlet Gates

Recommendations for Next Phase

4. Identify System Reoperation Implementation Challenges and Opportunities

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Phase IV Recommendations Next Phase Recommendations Recommendations for Next Phase

Next Steps

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• Multi-Sector Engagement (flood, groundwater, ecosystem) • White Paper (multi-sector planning)

• Document past work • Frame benefits & barriers • Identify information gaps

• Plan of Study (multi-sector R&D) • Interdisciplinary (agencies, academia, organizations) • Studies & pilot projects

• Study Implementation (multi-sector initiative) • Funding • Project management • Inform plans, regulations/permitting & investment decisions

(GSPs, IRWMPs, Regional/State/Federal flood plans, Conservation plans, public & foundation funding, etc.)

For More Information

General Inquiries: DWR Public Affairs Office

About this presentation: Program Manager: Ajay Goyal ajay.goyal@water.ca.gov

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