Report provided by:

Matthew Meadows, Assistant Watermaster

Effective immediately today, June 7, 2023, the Army Corps of Engineers flood release targets from Pine Flat were reduced by 200 cfs.  The new Pine Flat order is 11,800 cfs. Outflow from Pine Flat was reduced at 13:00 hours.

 

The target flood release in the North Fork below Crescent Weir will remain at 4,750 cfs. As of this morning, the target flood release in the South Fork was 425 cfs. The reduced target outflow will result in the South Fork flood target being reduced to zero. When the reduction arrives in 24-48 hours, South Fork flow will be for irrigation orders only.  Irrigation demand on the South Fork is likely 200-230 cfs through the weekend, with daily changes as needed to maintain the minimum order at Pine Flat of 11,800 cfs. This morning South Fork flows consisted of flow below Army Weir and through Crescent Bypass. The Crescent Bypass was shut off this morning around 09:00 hours.

 

We are expecting irrigation demand to fluctuate in the short-term maintaining the target Pine Flat order, approximately 11,800-12,000 cfs through the weekend.

Releases will continue to be adjusted accordingly to meet irrigation orders, local creeks entering below Pine Flat and changing conditions.

All data is provisional and subject to revision.

We will circulate updates as conditions change.

 

Status of flows below Pine Flat Dam as of 0700 June 7, 2023.

18,000 cfs (estimated) Pre Project Piedra (Full natural flow at Piedra, 3 miles downstream of Pine Flat Dam. Includes Mill and Hughes Creek flows)

12,000 cfs Total Order at Pine Flat.  (Order includes flood release, local demands and estimated channel losses)

11,970 cfs Pine Flat Reservoir Release

30 cfs Mill and Hughes Creeks (Unobstructed gauge several miles below Pine Flat Reservoir)

8,270 cfs flow at Reedley Narrows (approximately three miles upstream of the City of Reedley, Capacity per ACOE Reservoir Control Manual 13,000 cfs)

6,940 cfs flow Below Peoples Weir (approximately one mile downstream of Highway 99, Capacity per ACOE Reservoir Control Manual 11,000 cfs)

560 cfs, South Fork of Kings River, release below Army Weir

130 cfs, Crescent Bypass, water diverted from the North Fork to the South Fork

4,640 cfs flow below Crescent Weir, 4750 cfs target flood release below Crescent Weir (approximately three miles downstream of Highway 41)

 

Status of Pine Flat as of 2400 hours June 6, 2023

557,052 acre-feet Pine Flat storage (Capacity 1,000,000 acre-feet)

223,080 acre-feet Upstream storage (Capacity 251,900 acre-feet)

471,768 acre-feet vacant storage space on the Kings River system

 

For More Information, Please Contact:

STEVE HAUGEN, Kings River Water Association Watermaster, (559) 217-5249

DAVID MERRITT, Kings River Conservation District General Manager, (559) 237-5567
RICK BROWN, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Sacramento District Public Affairs, (916) 557-5102
RANDY McFARLAND, KRWA Public Information Consultant, (559) 260-2775