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Stockton East Water District Ag-Water Report for Fall/Winter 2011/2012 Click to jump to an article:
The storage at New Hogan Reservoir on October 1is expected to be about 191,000 Acre-Feet (AF); about 82,000 AF more than last year on this date. New Melones storage level is also up about 800,000 AF from last year. This makes three straight years of stable levels above a million AF at New Melones. If managed properly, this trend can help our supplies for 2012. Like last year, the water district relied on the New Melones Reservoir supply as the primary source for the drinking water treatment plant serving the City of Stockton, California Water Service Company and San Joaquin County service areas. Higher New Hogan year-end reservoir levels reflect this source management focus. Surface water users are to be congratulated for working with the water district staff in order to conserve the water which was available to us this year. With your help, we met our goal, thank you! Climatology experts are consistent in their predictions for the coming winter. La Nina is the term they use; and a wet beginning with below average total precipitation amounts are expected. With an average year of precipitation, the storage in New Hogan Reservoir is expected to increase to over 250,000 AF by April 1, 2012. That would be sufficient to get us comfortably through the next irrigation season. A similar effect in the Stanislaus River watershed could also result in a sufficient allocation of Central Valley Project water from New Melones Reservoir, allowing New Hogan Reservoir to hold greater reserves for irrigation years beyond 2012. Those who have read this type of mesage before know these estimates are based on average inflow figures, and only time will tell how the 2012 irrigation season will play-out. Think snow, it will not be too long! Budiselich Flashboard Dam Fish Passage Improvement Project Groundbreaking Ceremony A groundbreaking ceremony for the first of its four anadromous fish passage restoration projects was held on Wednesday, September 7, 2011 at the Budiselich Flashboard Dam site located with the Stockton Diverting Canal on the eastern boundary of the City of Stockton. The site is located upstream of the intersection of Highway 99 and Waterloo Road (Highway 88). When completed, this project will enable anadromous fish, like fall and winter run chinook salmon and steelhead, to more easily migrate upstream with minimal river flow rates of 10 cubic-feet-per-second (cfs). The project is comprised of seven "V" shaped rock-boulder weirs filled with an engineered streambed material (rocks, cobbles, gravel and sand) in a manner that creates a rock ramp roughened channel fishway with pools, allowing the fish to rest in before continuing upstream to the next pool. The streambed and banks will be reshaped to improve the existing steep seven-foot unfriendly drop with a more gentle channel profile that will lower river flow velocities, reduce the turbulence and provide enough water depth allowing fish to more easily navigate upstream off the project site. The reshaping extends 250 feet downstream of the existing flashboard dam foundation, with a maximum width of about 125 feet. Prior to this project, river flows of approximately 200 cfs were required for fish passage. After completion, it is estimated that fish will be able to migrate with flows as low as 10 cfs. The $350,000 project is a joint effort between California Department of Water Resources (DWR), which provided design work, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the California Department of Fish and Game and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, who jointly provided 50% grant funding. Stockton East Water District is providing the other 50% of the project cost through cash distributions and in-kind support including engineering, administration and project construction. The project was endorsed by Stockton East Water District's agricultural customers and Urban Contractors (California Water Service Company, City of Stockton and San Joaquin County) and approved by numerous regulatory agencies. In order to secure permits, detailed hydraulic modelling was completed by the DWR staff. Completion of the hydraulic modelling ensured that this project will have no significant impact on water surface elevations for either the 100-year or 200-year flows that occur in the Stockton Diverting Canal. It is expected that construction will be completed by October 20, 2011 in advance of the fall migration season. Farmington Groundwater Recharge Program Work on an additional 35-acre recharge site adjacent to the drinking water treatment plant was scheduled to begin in 2009. The delay is attributed to the water district's challenges to work through the bureaucracy of the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in Sacramento. It has been difficult to convince the USACE to proceed with a project that is not part of their core-mission (flood-control, navigation and environmental restoration). The USACE's lack of support is disappointing, but the water district has not given up forcing them to perform. In addition to pushing the USACE with the help of our Congressional representatives, the water district is also looking at other funding sources to continue its goal of developing and maintaining a sustainable and reliable water supply for all of our customers. California Irrigation Management Information System (CIMIS) CIMIS is a program of the Office of Water Use Efficiency under the California Department of Water Resources. It manages a network of over 120 automated weather stations in the state of California. CIMIS was developed in 1982 by DWR and the University of California at Davis to assist irrigators in managing their water resources efficiently. Efficient use of water resources benefits Californians by saving water, energy and money. Irrigators can reduce operational cost (water and electric power) by becoming familiar with varying crop irrigation demand, suggested by CIMIS. For more information visit the CIMIS website at www.cimis.water.ca.gov/cimis/welcome.jsp Operations Superintendent John Yoshimura Retires After 32 Years of Service The Board of Directors and staff congratulated and extended their sincere appreciation to John Yoshimura on his decision to retire after 32 years of service. The Tuesday, June 14, 2011 Board of Directors meeting was dedicated in his honor and John was presented with a Resolution of Appreciation. District staff bid bon voyage by hosting a "Casino Royale" luncheon theme on Friday, June 17, 2011. Current and former district staff shared many memories of John's tenure at the district followed by a friendly game of Texas Hold'em Poker, where John was the dealer. GOOD LUCK YOSH; YOU WILL BE MISSED! Stockton East Water District's Fleet Receives New Addition "Big Blue" was added to the water district's vehicle fleet in September. The "Isla Vista" bicycle is being used by district staff as an alternative form of transportation at the district's water treatment plant. The new form of transportation has been so well received by district staff that two more will be added to the fleet next year. This is a good way to practive "Spare-the-Air" everyday. Aerial Spraying Notification Program In 1997 the district implemented a voluntary Aerial Spraying Notification Program. Aerial spraying around the district's water treatment plant, Lower Farmington Canal, Upper Farmington Canal and natural creeks is of concern to the district. If you use an aerial spraying company which applies chemicals to treat your crops around the noted areas, please remind the company to contact the water district at least 24 hours in advance of spraying at 209-948-0537 and provide the following information: Parcel to be sprayed, Material Safety Data Sheet, Contact Information (Name and Phone Number). School is in session, and the SAWS Water Education Program is in full swing again, offering free, standards-based water education presentations to all K-6 classrooms in the Stockton Area. What are the 2011 Water Rates? On or before April 15th of each year, at a meeting open to the public, the district examines all water assessments and determines the rates for the then current year. The 2011 groundwater rate is $4.66 per AF, the surface water rate is $22.00 per AF, the domestic rate is $39.50 per unit (occupied or not); the M&I rate is $192.69 per AF ($3.60 for groundwater production assessment and $189.09 for the rate equalization). What is an Owner's Water Use Statement? The district requires all owners to submit an Owner's Water Use Statement (OWUS) by January 15th of each year. The district uses the OWUS to determine your groundwater assessment/surface water bill. The prior year information is preprinted on the form. Please review your OWUS for accuracy , make any necessary changes and return the completed form with your signature, date, e-mail address and telephone number to the district. When is the bill due? Payment is due upon receipt. Unpaid progress bills become delinquent after Monday, October 31, 2011.
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Stockton East Water District Mailing Address: Treatment Plant Site (209) 469-3335 Ag Call-In email us at sewd@sewd.net |
