Report provided by:

Matthew Meadows, Assistant Watermaster

 

Effective immediately, June 14, 2023, the Army Corps of Engineers flood release target from Pine Flat is being reduced by 200 cfs per day through Sunday June 18th.  This morning the Pine Flat order was 11,600 cfs. By Sunday, June 18, 2023, the order at Pine Flat will be 10,600 cfs.

 

The first of five 200 cfs decreases occurred today at 12:00 hours. The remaining daily 200 cfs decreases are planned for 05:00 hours.

 

The target flood release in the South Fork Kings River is currently zero, only irrigation orders are being diverted into the South Fork at Army Weir. The flood release target in the North Fork below Crescent Weir will be reduced as the changes at Pine Flat occur.

 

The current target flood release in the North Fork is 4,750 cfs. Changes in the North Fork target will be made daily as needed to maintain the minimum order at Pine Flat. Depending on changes to irrigation demand, by Sunday the target flood release in the North Fork should be about 3,750 cfs. These reductions arrive in 24-48 hours after release changes are made at Pine Flat.

 

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 14, 2023.

16,000 cfs (estimated) Pre Project Piedra (Full natural flow at Piedra, 3 miles downstream of Pine Flat Dam. Includes Mill and Hughes Creek flows)

11,600 cfs Total Order at Pine Flat.  (Order includes flood release, local demands and estimated channel losses)

11,600 cfs Pine Flat Reservoir Release

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

7,920 cfs flow at Reedley Narrows (approximately three miles upstream of the City of Reedley, Capacity per ACOE Reservoir Control Manual 13,000 cfs)

6,630 cfs flow Below Peoples Weir (approximately one mile downstream of Highway 99, Capacity per ACOE Reservoir Control Manual 11,000 cfs)

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

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

4,850 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 13, 2023

603,270 acre-feet Pine Flat storage (Capacity 1,000,000 acre-feet)

229,344 acre-feet Upstream storage (Capacity 251,900 acre-feet)

419,286 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