" State Water Board sends letter to diverters of surface water; warns there will be “little or no natural and abandoned flows in the Delta watershed and other stream systems" come fall
by Maven
From the State Water Resources Control Board, this letter addressed to вЂDiverters of Surface Water and Interested Persons':
open_letter_with_arrow_around_it_9212“For the past two years, much of California has experienced record dry and warm conditions. For 2013, the combined total precipitation for the months of January through May is the driest in about 90 y·ears of record. Reservoir operators reported lower than average storage levels as of the end May and these storage levels will continue to decline as water is released to support municipal, agricultural and water quality needs.
The California water rights system is designed to provide for the orderly allocation of water supplies in the event that there is not enough water to satisfy everyone's needs. When there is insufficient water for all, water diversions are allocated in order of water right priority.
Currently, certain water right holders primarily within the Sacramento River watershed are restricted (through a permit condition referred to as “Term 91 “) from diverting water when the State and Federal Water Projects are releasing stored water to meet Delta water quality standards and in-basin entitlements. The rule of water right priority only extends to natural and abandoned flows. Stored water that is released to meet Delta objectives is neither natural nor abandoned flow. This water therefore cannot be legally taken by riparian and other users.
Currently, a substantial portion of Delta inflow is stored water. In the late summer and fall, there will be little or no natural and abandoned flows in the Delta watershed and other stream systems. … “
More: http://mavensnotebook.com/2013/07/1...the-delta-watershed-and-other-stream-systems/
by Maven
From the State Water Resources Control Board, this letter addressed to вЂDiverters of Surface Water and Interested Persons':
open_letter_with_arrow_around_it_9212“For the past two years, much of California has experienced record dry and warm conditions. For 2013, the combined total precipitation for the months of January through May is the driest in about 90 y·ears of record. Reservoir operators reported lower than average storage levels as of the end May and these storage levels will continue to decline as water is released to support municipal, agricultural and water quality needs.
The California water rights system is designed to provide for the orderly allocation of water supplies in the event that there is not enough water to satisfy everyone's needs. When there is insufficient water for all, water diversions are allocated in order of water right priority.
Currently, certain water right holders primarily within the Sacramento River watershed are restricted (through a permit condition referred to as “Term 91 “) from diverting water when the State and Federal Water Projects are releasing stored water to meet Delta water quality standards and in-basin entitlements. The rule of water right priority only extends to natural and abandoned flows. Stored water that is released to meet Delta objectives is neither natural nor abandoned flow. This water therefore cannot be legally taken by riparian and other users.
Currently, a substantial portion of Delta inflow is stored water. In the late summer and fall, there will be little or no natural and abandoned flows in the Delta watershed and other stream systems. … “
More: http://mavensnotebook.com/2013/07/1...the-delta-watershed-and-other-stream-systems/