. Achieving California’s Water Supply and Delta Ecological Improvement Simultaneously. Achieving...
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Achieving California’s Water Supply and Delta Ecological Improvement Simultaneously Stacy K. Li, PhD Aquatic Systems Research Ca 1956 in the San Joaquin Delta Broader perspective was needed Thank you - The Late Don W. Kelley and John R. Gildersleeve My experience working in the Delta
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Transcript of . Achieving California’s Water Supply and Delta Ecological Improvement Simultaneously. Achieving...
Achieving California’s Water Supply and Delta Ecological Improvement
SimultaneouslyStacy K. Li, PhD
Aquatic Systems Research
Ca 1956 in the San Joaquin Delta
Broader perspective was needed
Thank you - The Late Don W. Kelley and John R. Gildersleeve
My experience working in the DeltaMy experience working in the Delta
It’s Time to DecideIt’s Time to Decide
The Delta water export system is broken:
Do we continue to refurbish and update the present system?
Or do we design a new system?
In either case - There will only be one chance because of the immense expense and time pressures (avoid levee failure, permitting and construction).
The Delta water export system is broken:
Do we continue to refurbish and update the present system?
Or do we design a new system?
In either case - There will only be one chance because of the immense expense and time pressures (avoid levee failure, permitting and construction).
REMINDER:Delta Restoration Goals
REMINDER:Delta Restoration Goals
Secure Water Supply
Restore the Delta Ecology
Secure Water Supply
Restore the Delta Ecology
What is at Stake?What is at Stake?
California is the fifth largest economy in the world with $1.5 trillion annual gross state product (as of 2008).
The world economy is affected by the economy of California.
The economy of California depends upon water. Therefore, you are affected even if your water supply is
not the Central Valley Project or the State Water Project.
California is the fifth largest economy in the world with $1.5 trillion annual gross state product (as of 2008).
The world economy is affected by the economy of California.
The economy of California depends upon water. Therefore, you are affected even if your water supply is
not the Central Valley Project or the State Water Project.
Some Reasons for UrgencySome Reasons for UrgencyLevee and water diversion failures imminent in the DeltaInconsistent design, construction, and maintenance of leveesLevees not as reliable or as safe as dams.Island subsidenceProximity to major earthquake faults - 6.5 RichterLevees expensive ($8,000 lineal foot X 5280 feet/mile X 1,100 miles)Lower Jones Tract failure occurred on a sunny day.
Climate ChangeIncrease range of tidal flux (levee concern)Increase in storm surge (levee concern)Loss of Sierra snow pack (4 million acre feet)
San Joaquin flow reversals - over 300 days annually
Fish population collapses - Several species at all-time lows
Declining water quality -Ag return flow, stockyards, dairy operations
Salt importation into San Joaquin Valley increasing - 1 million tons/year
Human population increasing - about 1 million/year (50 M 2026?)
Outflow to SF Bay 1/2 of historical
Water supply nearing capacity limits - (>88.7%)
Levee and water diversion failures imminent in the DeltaInconsistent design, construction, and maintenance of leveesLevees not as reliable or as safe as dams.Island subsidenceProximity to major earthquake faults - 6.5 RichterLevees expensive ($8,000 lineal foot X 5280 feet/mile X 1,100 miles)Lower Jones Tract failure occurred on a sunny day.
Climate ChangeIncrease range of tidal flux (levee concern)Increase in storm surge (levee concern)Loss of Sierra snow pack (4 million acre feet)
San Joaquin flow reversals - over 300 days annually
Fish population collapses - Several species at all-time lows
Declining water quality -Ag return flow, stockyards, dairy operations
Salt importation into San Joaquin Valley increasing - 1 million tons/year
Human population increasing - about 1 million/year (50 M 2026?)
Outflow to SF Bay 1/2 of historical
Water supply nearing capacity limits - (>88.7%)
SAC
SJR
Water supply exportsexportoutflowMIX
Central Valley Project(USBR website)
Central Valley Project(USBR website)
San Joaquin River used as water supply (Friant Dam, Madera Canal, Friant-Kern Canal)
Sacramento River used to resist seawater intrusion into the Delta (Shasta and Folsom dams) and to freshen San Joaquin water (Delta Cross Channel).
Send mitigation water to San Joaquin River senior water rights holders (Jones pumping plant, Delta Mendota Canal).
Provide freshwater diversion site for Pittsburg and Antioch to mitigate for salt intrusion (Rock Slough Intake, Contra Costa Canal).
CVP NEVER implemented use of Sacramento River water as water supply (peripheral canal!).
[SWP uses Feather River (Oroville Dam) and relies upon through Delta water conveyance (Banks pumping plant, California Aqueduct).]
San Joaquin River used as water supply (Friant Dam, Madera Canal, Friant-Kern Canal)
Sacramento River used to resist seawater intrusion into the Delta (Shasta and Folsom dams) and to freshen San Joaquin water (Delta Cross Channel).
Send mitigation water to San Joaquin River senior water rights holders (Jones pumping plant, Delta Mendota Canal).
Provide freshwater diversion site for Pittsburg and Antioch to mitigate for salt intrusion (Rock Slough Intake, Contra Costa Canal).
CVP NEVER implemented use of Sacramento River water as water supply (peripheral canal!).
[SWP uses Feather River (Oroville Dam) and relies upon through Delta water conveyance (Banks pumping plant, California Aqueduct).]
WATER SUPPLYTypical Delta Hydrological
BudgetDelta Atlas 1995
(1980-1991)
WATER SUPPLYTypical Delta Hydrological
BudgetDelta Atlas 1995
(1980-1991)
Sacramento System
San Joaquin System
Other
Flow to the Bay
Water supply exports
Losses
INPUT OUTPUT
76%
20%
4%
18%
6%
76%
27840 TAF
The Key Concept: WATER BEHAVES DIFFERENTLY:
They typically do not mix
The Key Concept: WATER BEHAVES DIFFERENTLY:
They typically do not mix Sacramento River:
Higher gradient (0.026).
Higher momentum. Higher hydraulic
energy. Higher inertia. Higher current. Lower suspended
solids concentrations.
Sacramento River: Higher gradient
(0.026). Higher momentum. Higher hydraulic
energy. Higher inertia. Higher current. Lower suspended
solids concentrations.
San Joaquin River: Lower gradient
(0.016). Lower momentum. Lower hydraulic
energy. Lower inertia. Higher residence
time. Higher salinity.
San Joaquin River: Lower gradient
(0.016). Lower momentum. Lower hydraulic
energy. Lower inertia. Higher residence
time. Higher salinity.
THEY DO NOT IMMEDIATELY MIX!THEY DO NOT IMMEDIATELY MIX!
Sacramento River
San Joaquin River
Sherman IslandThree Mile Slough
Van Sickle Island
Aerial photograph showing lack of mixing at the confluence of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers.
The Key ConsequencesThe Key Consequences
Sacramento River water is largely unavailable to either CVP (Jones PP) or SWP (Banks PP).
Through Delta Water Conveyance is infeasible.
Water available is not 27,840 TAF (Delta inflow), but closer to 5,660 TAF (SJR inflow).
Sacramento River water is largely unavailable to either CVP (Jones PP) or SWP (Banks PP).
Through Delta Water Conveyance is infeasible.
Water available is not 27,840 TAF (Delta inflow), but closer to 5,660 TAF (SJR inflow).
f
Sherman Is
land
Sacramento River
San Joaquin River
No Good Alternate Sacramento River Water
Sources
No Good Alternate Sacramento River Water
Sources
Georgiana Slough? - Inlet controlled Delta Cross Channel? - Outlet
controlled Three Mile Slough? - to Sacramento
R. Pump harder, longer? - Suisun Bay
water is brackish!
Georgiana Slough? - Inlet controlled Delta Cross Channel? - Outlet
controlled Three Mile Slough? - to Sacramento
R. Pump harder, longer? - Suisun Bay
water is brackish!
Ecological CanariesEcological Canaries
SPECIES Delta smelt (T) Longfin smelt (ST) Striped bass YOY Threadfin shad Chinook salmon
(SC) Steelhead (T)
SPECIES Delta smelt (T) Longfin smelt (ST) Striped bass YOY Threadfin shad Chinook salmon
(SC) Steelhead (T)
CRITICAL FACTOR Backwater habitat Backwater habitat Feeds on plankton Feeds on plankton Ocean? Home? Ocean? Home?
CRITICAL FACTOR Backwater habitat Backwater habitat Feeds on plankton Feeds on plankton Ocean? Home? Ocean? Home?
AFRP 1992-2006 : Fall-run Chinook Salmon
-80
-60
-40
-20
0
20
40
60
80
100
U. S
ac Stem
Cow
Ck
Clear C
k.
Cottonw
ood Ck.
Battle C
k.
Mill C
k.
Deer C
k.
Butte C
k.
Feather R.
Yuba R.
Am
erican R.
Mokelum
ne R.
Cosum
nes R.
Stanislaus R
.
Tuolumne R
.
Merced R
.P
erce
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asel
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SACRAMENTO WATERSHED EASTSIDE STREAM SAN JOAQUIN WATERSHED
341 328102 245 109
Improve Delta Ecology: Mimic Historical
Conditions
Improve Delta Ecology: Mimic Historical
Conditions Restore backwater habitat
Enhance plankton communities
Provide smolt emigration cues
Provide adult attraction flows
Restore backwater habitat
Enhance plankton communities
Provide smolt emigration cues
Provide adult attraction flows
No SJR export - no current!
No SJR export - higher residence time!
No SJR export - A downstream!
No SJR export - an upstream!
No SJR export - no current!
No SJR export - higher residence time!
No SJR export - A downstream!
No SJR export - an upstream!
New Delta Design RulesNew Delta Design Rules Use Sacramento River as water supply (21.2 MAF
vs 5.66 MAF). 15.54 MAF remains for water quality and outflow.
No water export of San Joaquin water.
Use San Joaquin water to assist in resisting salt intrusion into Delta.
Keep outflow to SF Bay at current levels or higher. It is presently at 50%!
Use Sacramento River as water supply (21.2 MAF vs 5.66 MAF). 15.54 MAF remains for water quality and outflow.
No water export of San Joaquin water.
Use San Joaquin water to assist in resisting salt intrusion into Delta.
Keep outflow to SF Bay at current levels or higher. It is presently at 50%!
Peripheral CanalPeripheral Canal Water supply secured.
Flow reversal on Sacramento River unlikely.
San Joaquin Delta ecology improved.
Great improvement of POD species and anadromous species in San Joaquin Delta
Water system not as susceptible to levee failure.
Salt importation to San Joaquin Valley much reduced.
Reduced water processing costs.
Education of general public needed.
Water supply secured.
Flow reversal on Sacramento River unlikely.
San Joaquin Delta ecology improved.
Great improvement of POD species and anadromous species in San Joaquin Delta
Water system not as susceptible to levee failure.
Salt importation to San Joaquin Valley much reduced.
Reduced water processing costs.
Education of general public needed.
