Transcript Evaluation to Date

NODOS/Sites Reservoir:
A Local Perspective
Glenn Colusa Irrigation District
July 2009
1
Agenda
Why is GCID Engaging on Sites?
Planning Processes to Date
PFR Planning and Overall Project Objectives
Key Project Features
Benefits/Challenges
Evaluation to Date
Sites Performance Under Current and Future Conditions
Stakeholders/Potential Partners
Recommended Next Steps
2
Why is GCID Engaging on Sites?
Sites planning has stalled recently as a result of DWR/USBR resources
being focused on solving Bay-Delta problems (“Delta-centric” approach)
Strong local partner needed as a catalyst for the project to promote
multiple benefits and to garner broader support
Need to ensure that next large water bond includes proper
consideration/allocation to Sites project funding
California’s Bay-Delta crisis poses limitations to operations and water
supply
New storage offers great potential to increase system flexibility and
produce multiple benefits:
– Increased water supply and improved water supply management
– Improved water quality
– Enhanced environmental conditions (increased cold-water reserves;
assistance in meeting Biological Opinions, and water for BDCP e.g. Yolo
Bypass restoration programs)
Increases flexibility north of Delta (where majority of supply originates)
3
Key Project Features
Key Project Features




1.8 MAF Sites Reservoir
Pumping/Gen Plants
Funks Res. Enlargement
GCID Terminal Regulating
Reservoir
 Recreation Facilities
 Conveyance Facilities
 Road Relocations
4
Conveyance and
Operations
 Diversion from Sacramento River thru
existing canals and new conveyance:
• T-C Canal: Nov – Mar
• GCID Canal: Nov – Mar
• New Pipeline: Year Round
• Diversions take place primarily in the winter
 Over 600 TAF can be delivered locally allowing
re-operation of the system (Shasta, Oroville,
and Folsom)
 Water can also be released to river for
downstream use
5
Planning Processes to Date
DWR – ongoing North of Delta Storage Investigation
(NODOS) – State Feasibility Report due in 2008 has been
delayed indefinitely
Reclamation/DWR – Plan Formulation Report (PFR) was
completed September 2008 and released May 2009 (revised
PFR anticipated in 18 months)
Biological Opinions/BDCP - Sites being re-evaluated with
new operational criteria
GCID recently convened workshops to establish a Sites
Reservoir State-Federal-Local partnership
GCID pressing a go-forward strategy for project planning and
re-evaluation (a process not tied to state and federal reporting
requirements)
6
USBR PFR Planning and Project
Objectives
Primary Objectives:
– Increase water supply and water supply reliability and
Sacramento Valley water management flexibility
– Improve Delta water quality
– Increase the survival of anadromous fish populations in
the Sacramento River, as well as the health and
survivability of other aquatic species
Secondary Objectives:
– Provide ancillary hydropower generation
– Provide additional recreational opportunities
– Provide incremental flood damage reduction benefits
7
Benefits/Challenges
Primary benefits evaluated to date:
– water supply reliability
– water quality (reduced water treatment costs)
– ecosystem restoration (anadromous fish/other aquatic
species as well as terrestrial habitat e.g. Yolo Bypass)
Challenges:
– multiple actions/issues vying for priority
– quantifying benefits (e.g. relatively easy to quantify water
treatment benefit vs. environmental )
8
Water Supply
Water Supply
Shasta
 Increase Water Supply
Reliability for SWP &
CVP Contractors and
Local Water Users
 Provide Water Supply
for the EWA or
equivalent program
Sites
Oroville
Folsom
 Provide Level 4 Refuge
Supply
99
Delta Water Quality
Delta Water Quality
Shasta
Sites
Oroville
Folsom
 Sites to release water to
augment Delta outflow in summer
and fall months
1010
Ecosystem Restoration
Shasta
Sites
Provide
Improve
Cold Flows
Water in
Provide
Stable
Reduce
Diversions
Supplemental
Pool
at Shasta River
Lake to
the
Sacramento
from
Sacramento
Flows
for Yolo for
Enhance
Conditions
River
During
Bypass
&Critical
Delta
Fall
Run Salmon
Fish Migration Periods
Oroville
Folsom
Provide
Supplemental Spring
Flows for Fish and
Riparian Habitat
11
11
Evaluation to Date
Have evaluated a 1.8 maf Sites Reservoir assuming
pre-Wanger and post-Wanger “decision” condition
– post-Wanger assumes increased Delta flows and
reduced exports (USFWS BO)
Need to re-evaluate the project with new regulatory
conditions and planned actions in the Delta:
– new NMFS BO requires additional Shasta operations to
benefit salmon (further reduces CVP/SWP yield)
– new Delta Conveyance could affect Sites performance
– Sites could help offset adverse impacts from climate
change
12
Sites Performance Under
Current/Future Conditions
Pre-Wanger
Potential Yield (maf)
Environmental
1
.5
Water
Quality
Water Supply
Wanger
Environmental
Water
Quality
Water Supply
Smelt BO
BDCP
Smelt and
NMFS BO
Climate
Change
Modeling to be
Completed Once
USFWS/NMFS Action
Plan is Finalized
0
-.5
-1
= Availability of Sites to provide capacity
= Wanger decision decreased yield
13
Sites Needs to be Durable and
Account For Continued Change
Delta-related
– Produce benefits for supply, quality and the ecosystem
while reducing stressors on the Delta
– Enhance conditions for listed species throughout the
system
Indirect
– Provide ecosystem flows, cooler water and improved
habitat for anadromous fish on Sacramento River
– Added flexibility from Sites can also improve the viability
and effectiveness of conjunctive management, water
exchanges and transfers
14
Partnerships with key stakeholders
essential to success
GCID and other
Sacramento Valley
interests
Municipal and
industrial interests
Environmental groups
DWR
USFWS
NMFS
COE
CDFG
USBR
15
Recommended Next Steps
Identify federal/state/local funding to continue to drive process
Continue to build/strengthen partnerships
Re-evaluate project performance under projected conditions:
– NMFS BO
– BDCP conveyance improvements
– Climate change
Evaluate alternative project configurations (e.g. small,
medium, large) with goal of maximizing benefits, durability,
and willing funding partners
Prepare a local report document that clearly summarizes
potential benefits across various interests
16