DROUGHT ACTIONS AFFECTING THE SAN FRANCISCO ESTUARY“Relaxed” Water Quality Regulations
The measly snowpack this year is already gone, meaning that spring runoff has finished too—what is in our reservoirs is what we have until the rains return. We rely on that water not only for drinking water, but also as a controlled release to manage the freshwater hydraulic salinity barrier—pushing back the influx of saltwater from San Francisco Bay to maintain water quality for those who get their water from the Delta. We also use reservoir releases, particularly in the fall, to control instream water temperatures for the protection of endangered fish species…
Emergency Drought Barrier
Since salinity in the Delta is high and could compromise water quality at the pumps, the Department of Water Resources has installed an emergency drought barrier in the Delta to prevent too much saltwater from the San Francisco Bay from reaching the Delta pumps…
Sacramento River Temperature Management Plan
For several fish species, much of the damage was done earlier in the year during the critical spring period when regulations were first relaxed… See more below.
Voluntary 25% Reduction
Delta farmers with riparian water rights have volunteered to take a 25% reduction in their water supply now in order to prevent surprise cuts later in the year…
Senior Water Rights Curtailments
The State Water Resources Control Board has issued curtailment notices to 114 senior water rights holders who take water from the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers and the Delta… |
