OID and SSJID Sell Water for Stanislaus River Pulse Flow

On September 29th, an agreement was executed among Oakdale Irrigation District (“OID”), South San Joaquin Irrigation District (“SSJID”), San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority (“SLDMWA”) and the California Department of Water Resources (“DWR”) for the purchase and release of water in New Melones Reservoir.

The transaction involves the lease of up to 23,000 AF at a price of $500/AF. Payment obligations are being split equally between SLDMWA and DWR, who will pay for the actual flows that the Bureau of Reclamation (“Reclamation”) releases from Goodwin Dam in accordance with the pulse flow schedule under the National Marine Fisheries Service’s (“NMFS”) 2009 Biological Opinion on the long-term operation of the Central Valley Project and State Water Project.

Benefits of the released water will be assigned 50/50 to Reclamation and DWR.

The transaction is categorically exempt from CEQA because it results in supplemental instream fishery flows. The pulse flow is intended to keep river temperatures cold enough for returning salmon.

In April, Reclamation projected that only 147,000 AF would remain in New Melones at the end of September. Without this transaction, Reclamation supplies would be insufficient to meet the pulse flow, and OID, SSJID and Reclamation would have to work with NMFS and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to maintain fishery.

Extraordinary conservation efforts within the two districts and unexpected favorable runoff in the spring and summer led to 260,000 AF remaining in the reservoir at the end of September. The districts had supplies available to lease so the pulse flow can be met.

OID and SSJID have a settlement agreement that entitles them to up to 600,000 AF per year of inflow in New Melones Reservoir in recognition of their pre-1914 appropriative rights on the Stanislaus River. Under the 1998 Agreement and Stipulation, their full allocation was reduced by 25%. This cutback was in addition to savings from the conservation efforts that yielded supplies for the pulse flow and will help provide irrigation supplies next year.

Parties to this agreement see it as representative of the collaboration that is needed to solve problems in the drought-stricken state.

“This agreement shows that with cooperation and some give and take, the needs of fish and ag can be met,” said Steve Knell, OID’s General Manager. “If the drought continues, we’ll need more of this type of cooperation – not less.”

David Murillo, the Bureau of Reclamation’s Mid-Pacific Regional Director, stated: “Working together continues to be our key strategy to persevere through the drought and maximize water supplies. This agreement is an excellent example of what can be accomplished through collaboration and teamwork.”

 

Written by Marta L. Weismann