Sep 19, 2016 - improvements to the system and protect ecosystem health, water ... patterns, allow for the capture of wat
Project Overview Testimony in Brief September 19, 2016 The purpose of the project overview testimony was to provide an examination of the California WaterFix - specifically related to the three new points of diversion. Items covered included the current configuration and operations of the State Water Project (SWP) and Central Valley Project (CVP), a general description of the new WaterFix facilities and a discussion of operational criteria. As the first testimony presented, this discussion set the stage for the groups to follow by introducing concepts that were heard throughout the petitioner’s case in chief and providing background and context. Takeaways The fundamental purpose of WaterFix is to make physical and operational improvements to the system and protect ecosystem health, water supplies and water quality. WaterFix would provide SWP/CVP operators with increased flexibility by virtue of dual-conveyance: the ability to divert water from the existing points of diversion in the south Delta, the proposed new points of diversion, or both. Currently, diversions in the south Delta are often restricted. Dual conveyance would align water operations to better reflect natural flow patterns, allow for the capture of water during high flow events and help protect against sea level rise and earthquake disruptions. WaterFix proposes no changes to the source of water, rates of diversion, timing of diversion, place of use or purpose of use. These aspects of DWR’s existing water rights permits would remain conditions that must be met. The California Legislature, Delta Reform Act, CALFED, Delta Vision’s Blue Ribbon Task Force, and the California Water Action Plan all recognize the role of new conveyance facilities. WaterFix proposes no changes to upstream operational criteria of the SWP and CVP, water contractor service areas or conditions under existing permits. Potential operational criteria is presented as a boundary analysis, which provides a broad range that, ultimately, any permitted initial operating criteria would likely fall within. These boundaries are sufficiently broad and allow evaluation by the Water Board of the likely initial operating criteria with regard to effects on legal users of water without knowing the specifics of that initial operating criteria. Under WaterFix, no changes to several existing regulatory requirements including: D-1641 terms (Delta water quality and flow objectives): Water quality objectives Outflow objectives Delta Cross Channel gate operations
Suisun Marsh salinity control gate operations Export/import ratio Rio Vista minimum flow objectives BiOps and State CESA Permits terms: San Joaquin River inflow/export ratio Old and Middle River (OMR) flows Fall X2 flows (the line where fresh water and salt water mix) Additional Delta Cross Channel gate operations Head of Old River Rock Barrier and agricultural rock barriers operations New or additional regulatory requirements: North Delta Diversion bypass flows Potential additional OMR flows Potential additional Rio Vista minimum flow Potential Spring Delta outflow Potential additional operation and operational criteria for the Head of Old River Gate (replaces rock barrier) Adaptive management and collaborative science would operate consistent with all applicable plans and programs and in coordination with relevant state and federal agencies. Following approval of initial operating criteria, adaptive management would be used to adjust operations within that criteria in light of new science.
