May 3, 2024

Report provided by:

Matthew Meadows, Assistant Watermaster

The Army Corps of Engineers will begin low level flood releases from Pine Flat at midnight. The target flow at Crescent Weir will be 200 cubic feet per second (cfs) on Saturday May 4, 2024, at 00:01 hours.  Current releases from Pine Flat are approximately 3,100 cfs, with outflow increasing to 5,500-6,000 cfs over the weekend as the irrigation districts’ distribution systems are charged and in full operation. These release levels will have flows and water levels in the river similar to summer irrigation.  Releases will only be sufficient to meet irrigation demands of Kings River member units. The 200 cfs target at Crescent Weir are not likely to have water reaching Mendota Pool but will have water in the North Fork sufficient to meet irrigation demands of Kings River member units James and Tranquillity Irrigation District’s.

Starting at midnight, Pine Flat releases will ramp up over several hours.

Current information indicates flood release could last 1-4 weeks at levels like summer irrigation flows.  Duration is highly dependent upon future weather conditions.  Releases will continue to be adjusted accordingly to meet irrigation orders 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 May 3, 2024.

• 7,900 cfs (estimated) Pre Project Piedra (Full natural flow at Piedra, 3 miles downstream of Pine Flat Dam. Includes Mill and Hughes Creek flows)
• 3,140 cfs Total Order at Pine Flat.  (Order includes local demands and estimated channel losses)
• 3,100 cfs Pine Flat Reservoir Release
• 40 cfs Mill and Hughes Creeks (Unobstructed gauge several miles below Pine Flat Reservoir)
• 1,600 cfs flow at Reedley Narrows (approximately three miles upstream of the City of Reedley, Capacity per ACOE Reservoir Control Manual 13,000 cfs)
• 1,150 cfs flow Below Peoples Weir (approximately one mile downstream of Highway 99, Capacity per ACOE Reservoir Control Manual 11,000 cfs)
• 450 cfs, South Fork of Kings River, release below Army Weir
• 40 cfs North Fork of Kings River, to meet current irrigation demand
• No target flood release below Crescent Weir (approximately three miles downstream of Highway 41)

Status of Pine Flat as of 2400 hours May 2, 2024

• 940,487 acre-feet Pine Flat storage (Capacity 1,000,000 acre-feet)
• 144,739 acre-feet Upstream storage (Capacity 251,900 acre-feet)
• 166,674 acre-feet vacant storage space on the Kings River system

 

Matthew Meadows

Assistant Watermaster

Kings River Water Association

4888 E. Jensen Ave

Fresno, CA 93725