CALFED Ops Group
 

Calendar of Ops Group Topics
Ops Group meetings are held monthly. Particular items for the agenda include (numbers in brackets refer to relevant footnotes in the State Water Resources Control Board Water Right Decision 1641):
SEPTEMBER
  gold bullet CALFED Ops Group
 
Consider San Luis Reservoir conditions and likely operations during the winter-run outmigration period. Identify opportunities to increase pumping at times when salmon are not present to develop “credits” that will allow pumping to be reduced when salmon are found near the CVP or SWP export facilities (24).
OCTOBER
  gold bullet CALFED Ops Group
 
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 Consider strategies for the closure of the cross channel gates.
   
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 Close for up to 45 days between November 1 and January 31 (19).
   
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 AFRP Delta Action #6 -- Operate the gates according to the Ops Group Spring-run Protection Plan.
  gold bullet Bureau and DWR
 
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 Assess AFRP implementation risk by looking at storage levels and historical hydrologic probability.
NOVEMBER
  gold bullet Bureau, DWR, NMFS, DFG, and FWS
 
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 Prepare a plan of operations for testi ng export effects on emigrating juvenile salmon in December and January (AFRP Delta Action #8).
DECEMBER
  gold bullet DWR
 
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 Make an initial water supply allocation for the SWP based on 90 percent exceedence hydrology.
  gold bullet Bureau
 
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 Operate the Cross-channel gates. Per AFRP Delta Action #6 and the CALFED Ops Group Spring-run Protection Plan, close the DCC.
JANUARY
  gold bullet Bureau and DWR
 
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 Predict the 8-river Index for January and the corresponding February requirements if the index is less that 900 TAF (14).
 
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 Provide updates to CVP/SWP estimates of project supplies and temporary water supplies (i.e., 215 water, unscheduled supplies).
  gold bullet CALFED Ops Group
 
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 If the January 8-River Index is between 1.0 and 1.5 MAF, discuss if modification of February export/inflow ratio is necessary and, if so, establish the modified value. (Prior discussions have concluded a linear interpolation should be used as the default method.)
FEBRUARY
  gold bullet The Delta Accord modifies March outflow requirement if February is extremely dry (14).
  gold bullet CALFED Ops Group
 
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 Discuss winter-run “yellow light” (as needed).
  gold bullet Bureau
 
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 Update and announce a water supply allocation for the CVP based on 90 percent exceedence hydrology.
 
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 Submit a February forecasted plan of operations to NMFS for review of compliance with the Winter-run biological opinion. Subsequent submittals are made each month.
  gold bullet DWR
 
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 Analyze possible changes in SWP water supply allocations based on 99 percent exceedence hydrology.
 
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 Publish the first of four official hydrologic forecasts in Bulletin 120.
MARCH
  gold bullet CALFED Ops Group
 
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 Review San Joaquin River pulse flow requirements and predictions for tributary flows, and modifications of pumping in response to San Joaquin River salmon abundance and distribution (21,22).
 
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 Discuss winter-run “yellow light” (as needed).
  gold bullet Real-time Monitoring
 
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 Begin sampling at Mossdale.
  gold bullet Bureau
 
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 Update CVP water supply allocation.
 
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 Incorporate Sacramento River flow criterion for striped bass into forecasted plan of operation (AFRP Delta Action #4).
 
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 Recommend alternative export limits under VAMP (AFRP Delta Action #1) during extreme high flow conditions. This is based on forecasted San Luis Reservoir storage conditions. Report to FWS the forecasted San Joaquin River flows and CVP/SWP export operations during the April/May pulse flow period.
 
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 Recommend ramping schedule of San Joaquin River flows at the end of the April/May pulse flow period (AFRP Delta Action #5) based on temperature conditions, presence of salmon at Mossdale, and yellow light conditions for delta smelt.
  gold bullet DWR
 
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 Publish the second Bulletin 120.
 
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 Update SWP water supply allocation.
APRIL
  gold bullet Real-time Monitoring
 
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 Begin sampling throughout the Delta.
  gold bullet Install and Operate Barriers
  gold bullet SDWA Issues
  gold bullet The Delta Accord modifies the May and June X2 requirements if the predicted May estimate of the Sacramento River Index is less than 8.1 MAF at the 90 percent exceedence level.
  gold bullet CALFED Ops Group
 
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 If the predicted May estimate of the Sacramento River Index is less that 8.1 MAF at the 90% exceedance level, review May and June requirements (14).
 
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 Discussion of winter-run “yellow light” (as needed).
  gold bullet Bureau
 
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 Update the water supply allocation for the CVP.
  gold bullet DWR
 
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 Publish the third Bulletin 120.
 
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 Update SWP water supply allocation.
MAY
  gold bullet CALFED Ops Group
 
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 Consider timing of closure of Delta cross-channel gates for 14 days between May 21 and June 15.
 
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 Discuss delta smelt “yellow light” and “red light” (as needed).
 
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 Discuss whether to extend real-time monitoring beyond June.
  gold bullet Bureau
 
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 Update the CVP water supply allocation.
  gold bullet DWR
 
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 Publish the final hydrologic forecast in Bulletin 120. The water year classification is set based on the 50 percent exceedence hydrology.
 
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 Finalize SWP allocations based on 99 percent exceedence hydrology.
JUNE
  gold bullet CALFED Ops Group
 
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 Consider the timing of closure of Delta cross-channel gates for 14 days between May 21 and June 15.
 
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 Discuss delta smelt “yellow light” and “red light” (as needed).
       
  (Continue discussion of Delta Action 5)