Report provided by:

Matthew Meadows, Assistant Watermaster

 

Effective immediately, June 12, 2023, the flood release targets from Pine Flat are being reduced by 200 cfs.  Currently Pine Flat order is 11,800 cfs will be reduced to 11,600 cfs this afternoon.

 

The target flood release in the North Fork below Crescent Weir will remain at 4,750 cfs. The current target flood release in the South Fork is ~200 cfs, the flow reduction this afternoon will bring the flood release target for the South Fork to zero. When the reduction arrives in 24-48 hours, South Fork flow will be for irrigation orders only. Changes in the South Fork target will be made daily as needed to maintain the minimum order at Pine Flat.

 

We are expecting irrigation demand to fluctuate in the short-term maintaining the target Pine Flat order, approximately 11,600-11,800 cfs, until further notice.

 

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 12, 2023.

15,500 cfs (estimated) Pre Project Piedra (Full natural flow at Piedra, 3 miles downstream of Pine Flat Dam. Includes Mill and Hughes Creek flows)

11,800 cfs Total Order at Pine Flat.  (Order includes flood release, local demands and estimated channel losses)

11,750 cfs Pine Flat Reservoir Release

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

8,080 cfs flow at Reedley Narrows (approximately three miles upstream of the City of Reedley, Capacity per ACOE Reservoir Control Manual 13,000 cfs)

6,680 cfs flow Below Peoples Weir (approximately one mile downstream of Highway 99, Capacity per ACOE Reservoir Control Manual 11,000 cfs)

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

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

5,080 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 11, 2023

597,105 acre-feet Pine Flat storage (Capacity 1,000,000 acre-feet)

226,306 acre-feet Upstream storage (Capacity 251,900 acre-feet)

428,489 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