May282024

May 28, 2024

Report provided by:

Matthew Meadows, Assistant Watermaster

The Army Corps of Engineers will begin flood releases from Pine Flat at midnight. The target flow at Crescent Weir will be approximately 200 cfs on Wednesday May 29, 2024, at 00:01 hours with a minimum 7,000 cfs release from Pine Flat.

Current releases from Pine Flat are approximately 6,200 cfs. The expected release levels will have flows and water levels in the river like peak summer irrigation.  Releases will only be sufficient to meet irrigation demands of Kings River member units to make scheduled water deliveries. All water delivered through the North Fork into Mendota Pool are to meet irrigation demands.

Current information indicates flood release could last 5-10 days. Duration is highly dependent upon future weather conditions and runoff.  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 28, 2024.

  • 9,000 cfs (estimated) Pre Project Piedra (Full natural flow at Piedra, 3 miles downstream of Pine Flat Dam. Includes Mill and Hughes Creek flows)
  • 6,220 cfs Total Order at Pine Flat.  (Order includes local demands and estimated channel losses)

 

6,205 cfs Pine Flat Reservoir Release

  • 15 cfs Mill and Hughes Crees (approximately three miles upstream of the City of Reedley, Capacity per ACOE Reservoir Control Manual 13,000 cfs)
  • 1,990 cfs flow Below Peoples Weir (approximately one mile downstream of Highway 99, Capacity per ACOE Reservoir Control Manual 11,000 cfs)

 

  • 290 cfs, South Fork of Kings River, release below Army Weir (Unobstructed gauge several miles below Pine Flat Reservoir)
  • 2,425 cfs flow at Reedley Narrow
  • 350 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 27, 2024

  • 975,582 acre-feet Pine Flat storage (Capacity 1,000,000 acre-feet)
  • 226,542 acre-feet Upstream storage (Capacity 251,900 acre-feet)
  • 49,776 acre-feet vacant storage space on the Kings River system