<pubnumber>
909R07002
</pubnumber>
<title>Tulare Lake Basin Hydrology and Hydrography Summary of the Movement of Water and Aquatic Species</title>
<pages>136</pages>
<pubyear>2007</pubyear>
<provider>NEPIS</provider>
<access>online</access>
<origin>PDF</origin>
<author></author>
<publisher></publisher>
<subject></subject>
<abstract></abstract>
<operator>mja</operator>
<scandate>11/26/08</scandate>
<type>single page tiff</type>
<keyword></keyword>
Tulare Lake Basin
Hydrology and Hydrography:
A Summary of the Movement of Water and Aquatic Species
12 April 2007
Prepared for:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Document Number 909R07002
ECQRP CoogiiMeg
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS
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CONTENTS
Tulare Lake Basin
Hydrology and Hydrography:
A Summary of the Movement of Water and Aquatic Species
1.0 INTRODUCTION 1
2.0 TULARE LAKE BASIN GEOGRAPHY 2
3.0 HISTORICAL HYDROGRAPHY AND HYDROLOGY 3
3.1 Tulare Lake Basin Terminal Lakes 4
3.1.1 Historical Hydrography .....4
3.1.2 General Terminal Lakes Hydrology 6
3.2 Rivers 8
3.2.1 Historical Hydrography 8
3.2.2 Hydrology Overview 10
4.0 MODERN HYDROGRAPHY AND HYDROLOGY 15
4.1 Kings River 16
4.1.1 Hydrography 16
4.1.2 Hydrology 18
4.2 Kaweah River 21
4.2.1 Hydrography 21
4.2.2 Hydrology 24
4.3 Tulare River 27
4.3.1 Hydrography 27
4.3.2 Hydrology 28
4.4 Kern River 30
4.4.1 Hydrography 30
4.4.2 Hydrology 32
4.5 Tulare Lake 34
4.5.1 Tulare Lakebed Development 34
4.5.2 Modern Flow Management and Flood Events 35
4.6 Tulare Lake Basin Imports and Exports 39
4.6.1 Import and Export Facilities 39
4.6.1.1 Delta-Mendota Canal 40
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4.6.1.2 Friant-Kern Canal 40
4.6.1.3 California Aqueduct 42
4.6.1.4 Cross Valley Canal 43
4.6.1.5 Kern Water Bank Canal 44
4.6.1.6 Arvin-Edison Intertie 44
4.6.1.7 Kern River Intertie 44
4.6.1.8 Semitropic Water Storage District 45
4.6.2 Import and Export Amounts 45
4.7 Summary of Surface Movement in theTulare Lake Basin 47
5.0 POTENTIAL FOR MOVEMENT OF AQUATIC SPECIES AND TOXICANTS OUT OF
THE BASIN 48
5.1 Overview of Aquatic Species and Toxicant Movement 48
5.2 Aquatic Habitats and Fish Assemblages in the Basin 50
5.2.1 Aquatic Habitats 50
5.2.2 Fish Assemblages in the Tulare Lake Basin 51
5.2.3 Fish Species of the Lowland Tulare Lake Basin Rivers 51
5.2.4 White Bass and Other Introduced Species 54
5.3 White Bass and Potential Impacts on Native Fishes 54
5.3.1 General Life History of White Bass 55
5.3.2 Potential Impacts of White Bass on the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta 56
5.3.3 The History of White Bass in California 57
5.4 White Bass Issues During and Following the 1983 Flood Event 59
5.4.1 Efforts to Restrict the Movement of White Bass 59
5.4.2 Potential White Bass Movement 60
5.4.3 CDFG White Bass Management Program 61
5.4.3.1 Rotenone Control of White Bass 62
5.4.4 Current Status of Non-Native Fish in the Basin 63
5.5 Potential Planktonic Organisms and Toxicants of Concern in the Basin 65
5.6 Known and Potential Pathways for Aquatic Organisms and Toxicants to Move Outside
of the Basin 66
5.6.1 Hydrographic Pathways and the Potential Movement of Non-Swimming
(Planktonic) Organisms or Toxicants Outside of the Basin 67
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5.6.1.1 Gravity Flow Pathways 67
5.6.1.1.1 Potential for Non-Swimming Organisms or Toxicants to Move
Outside of the Basin through Gravity Flow Pathways 69
5.6.1.2 Pumping Pathways - Routine and Non-Routine 70
5.6.1.2.1 Potential for Non-Swimming Organisms or Toxicants to Move
Outside of the Basin through Pumping Pathways 71
5.6.2 Hydrographic Pathways and the Potential Movement of Swimming Organisms
(i.e. Fish) Outside of the Basin 71
5.6.2.1 Potential for Swimming Organisms to Move Outside of the Basin 75
5.7 Summary of the Potential for Swimming and Non-Swimming Organisms or Toxicants
to Move Outside of the Basin 77
6.0 REFERENCES 80
7.0 TEXT FOR FOOTNOTE REFERENCES 86
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Kings River Hydrograph
Figure 2: Kaweah Delta Channels Schematic
Figure 3: Kaweah River Hydrograph
Figure 4: Tule River Hydrograph
Figure 5: Intersection of the Cross Valley Canal and Kern River
Figure 6: Kern River Hydrograph
Figure 7: Tulare Lake Bottom Storage Cell Map
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Drainage Areas and Mean Annual Runoff
Table 2: Runoff Totals for the Four-Tulare Basin Rivers
Table 3: Minor Stream Runoff
Table 4: Reservoir Information
Table 5: Kings River Water Distribution
Table 6: Bodies of Water in the Kaweah-Tulare Lake Basin that Contain White Bass
(reproduced from CDFG 197)
Table 7: Kaweah River Water Distribution
Table 8: Tule River Water Distribution
Table 9: Tulare Lake Basin Water Imports and Exports
Table 10: Hydrographic Connections within the Tulare Lake Basin and to the San Joaquin River
and California Aqueduct
Table lla: Principal Hydrographic Pathways Out of the Tulare Lake Basin for Non-Swimming
Organisms and Toxicants
Table lib: Potential Hydrographic Pathways Out of the Tulare Lake Basin for Swimming
Organisms
Table 12: Fish Species of the Tulare Lake Basin
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LIST OF MAPS
Map 1: Site and Vicinity
Map 2: San Joaquin Valley Historical Surface Hydrography
Map 3: San Joaquin Valley Current Hydrography
Map 4: Hydrography of the Lowland Tulare Lake Basin
Map 5: Tulare Lake Bottom Hydrography
Map 6: Lowland Kaweah-Kings Hydrography
LIST OF APPENDICES
Appendix 1: Summary of Hydrologic Information
Appendix 2: Site Visit Log of Trip to Tulare Lake Basin (June 29 and 30, 2006) and Selected
Site Photographs
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1.0 INTRODUCTION
This report provides a summary of the historic and current hydrology of the Tulare Lake Basin
(Basin) and describes past, present and potential future movement of water out of the Basin,
and potential movement of biological organisms and toxicants within and outside of the Basin.
This study was initiated at the request of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA).
The first part of the report describes the natural and man-made hydrography and hydrology in
the Tulare Lake Basin. The geographic focus is on the lowland portion of the Basin (the
lowlands) below the low elevation reservoirs or approximately the 500-ft (152-m) elevation
contour. Detailed maps were prepared to help illustrate the surface water pathways within the
lowland part of the Basin as well as the movement of water into and out of the Basin. Daily
and annual hydrological information is also presented, but flow analyses are limited due to time,
budget, and constraints obtaining hydrological data. A table of primary hydrologic connections
is also provided as a summary.
The second portion of the report describes the fish populations and aquatic habitats in the
Tulare Lake Basin, and the potential for movement of organisms (both swimming and non-
swimming) to move within the Basin and to move outside of the Basin. The evaluation of white
bass during and after the high runoff of 1983 is described since it appears to represent a "worst
case scenario" for the movement of aquatic species within the Basin and potential transport
outside the Basin. Potential movement pathways for both swimming and non-swimming
organisms to move outside of the Basin are identified for a range of hydrologic conditions.
Information presented in this report is derived from many published and unpublished (archival,
gray literature, and internet) reports, maps, and data compilations. Primary references,
including hydrological data, were prepared by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE), the
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR), California Department of Water Resources (CDWR),
California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), Friant Water Users Association (FWUA), Kern
County Water Agency (KCWA), Tulare Lake Basin Water Storage District (TLBWSD), and the
individual river watermasters. A field visit was conducted on June 29 (accompanied by USBR
and FWUA personnel) and June 30 (accompanied by CDFG personnel), 2006 to evaluate some
2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
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of the hydrographic features and potential pathways for aquatic organisms to move within and
outside the Basin. Potential pathways and hydrographic connections evaluated during this field
visit are provided in Appendix 1. Agency personnel provided information on water movement
and aquatic species issues and were helpful in developing some of the scenarios described in
this document. Several attempts were made to obtain information and conduct a site visit with
knowledgeable persons in the Kings River, Kaweah River, Tule River, Kern River and the Tulare
Lakebed regions including the watermasters offices of the four rivers. However, these
attempts were unsuccessful.
2.0 TULARE LAKE BASIN GEOGRAPHY
The Tulare Lake Basin encompasses about 16,400 square miles - about 10% of California's land
area - and is one of 10 hydrologic regions recognized by the State for water planning purposes
(see Map 1: Site and Vicinity}.1 The Basin is part of the Great Central Valley geographic
province and the lowland area is included as part of the San Joaquin Valley, usually referred to
as the southern San Joaquin Valley.2 The lowland area encompasses about 8,400 square miles
and is defined for this report as the region below 500 ft in elevation. The Kings River
watershed and service area is included in the Tulare Lake Basin hydrologic unit because the
majority of its runoff flows south toward Tulare Lake, though some Kings River water
periodically flows into the San Joaquin River. Panoche Creek is not included in this report's
definition of Tulare Lake Basin since most of its runoff is directed northeasterly into the San
Joaquin River.3
1 The basin boundary used in this report is the USGS HUC boundary and does not include the Panoche Creek
drainage. The area encompassed by the basin listed here was measured using GIS technology. The DWR Water Plan
(Bulletin 160) March 2004 draft states the area is 17,033 sq. miles but includes the Panoche Creek drainage;
Bulletinl60-93 states the area as 16,520 sq miles; the USACOE office report (Johnson, W., 2004.) states it is 14,000
square miles.
2 Bookman-Edmonston Engineering, 1972.
3 In this report the northern boundary of the Basin is defined by the San Joaquin River, Mendota Pool and the
southern boundary of the Panoche Creek watershed. The Regional Water Quality Control Board Basin Plans include
the Little Panoche Creek watershed (north of Panoche Creek) within the Tulare Lake Basin although recent staff
reports note the error of including the Little Panoche drainage within the basin boundary, as Little Panoche Creek
drains to the San Joaquin River (Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley Region, September 2004.)
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Elevations in the Basin range from a low of about 175 ft (53 m) above mean sea level (MSI)4 in
the Tulare Lake bottom to the 14,496-ft (4,418 m) summit of Mt. Whitney, the highest point in
California. Lake and stream deposits cover much of the Lowlands, and create a flat, smooth
land surface with very low gradients. In the Tulare Lakebed, minimal gradients allow bi-
directional movement of canal water. Peripheral lowland areas are highly dissected by small
drainages, although these drainages seldom carry water.5 Along the east side of the Basin, the
Sierra Nevada mountains rise steeply, with the highest peaks over 14,000 ft (4,267 m), and in
the south, the Tehachapi Mountains rise to over 8,000 ft (2,438 m). The Coast Range flanks
the west side of the Basin, with the highest peaks rising to about 5,000 ft (1,524 m).
3.0 HISTORICAL HYDROGRAPHY AND HYDROLOGY
Prior to European settlement, river-floodplain systems occupied large portions of the
Sacramento, San Joaquin and Tulare Lake Basins (see Map 2: San Joaquin Valley Historical
Surface Hydrography}. Seasonal inundations from the rivers created vast areas of tule-
dominated marshes and wooded wetlands that early surveyors mapped as overflow land.
These marshes and wooded wetlands covered approximately 1.4 million acres including more
than half a million acres in the tidally influenced Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta6 and over
400,000 acres in the Tulare Lake Basin.7
Historically, river runoff in the Tulare Lake Basin collected in terminal lakes on the basin floor.
The interior drainage was created primarily by tectonic sinking and to a lesser extent by the
damming effect of valley-crossing alluvial fans.8 The terminal lakes complex fluctuated in size
from a few square miles during extended dry periods, to over 800 square miles in wet years,
and supported an extensive, fringing tule marsh.9
4 All of the elevations provided in this document are referenced to the current mean sea level (MSL) unless otherwise
noted.
5 Hydrographic maps convey the impression that these peripheral lowland areas have a dense drainage network but
they carry water only during rare high volume rainfall events.
6 The Bay Institute, 1998. Hall, W. H., 1887.
7 Map 2 does not depict the riparian forestland and oak woodland that encompassed another one million acres along
the main-stems and tributaries.
8 Davis, 1998a.
Davis, G. H., J. H. Green, F. H. Olmsted and D.W. Brown, 1959. Many writers mention only the alluvial dam theory,
which is not consistent with the sedimentary record.
9 Grunsky, C. E. 1898a. Hall, W. H., 1886b., Sheet 4.
2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
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3.1 Tulare Lake Basin Terminal Lakes
3.1.1 Historical Hydrography
Tulare Lake, by far the largest of the Basin's terminal lakes, received runoff from several rivers,
including the South Fork Kings, Kaweah, Tule and Kern Rivers.10 Smaller east-side streams
such as Deer and Poso Creeks and the White River likely reached the lake only in wet periods.
Surface runoff from the Coast Range reaching the lake was rare, and usually occurred only after
heavy winter rains. Tulare Lake was the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River11
and the second largest freshwater lake in the United States based on surface area.12 Tulare
Lake was estimated to encompass 790 square miles at its highest overflow level of 216 ft (66
m), recorded in 1862 and 1868. The area of Tulare Lake as shown on Map 2 is about 700
square miles, its area when the water level was at an elevation of about 212.5 ft (65 m).13 The
lake was very shallow and annual fluctuations, typically 3 or 4 ft (0.9 to 1.2 m) in normal years
or 5 to 10 ft (1.5 to 3 m) in wet years, could expose or submerge 100 square miles of land or
more." The boundaries of Tulare Lake were ill defined and changeable due to the low
gradients in the Basin; strong winds could move the lake boundary several miles.15
Tulare Lake had no natural outlet when the lake level was below 207 ft (63 m). At lake levels
above 207 ft, water in Tulare Lake could flow northward into the San Joaquin River Basin. At
this elevation, water flowed into Summit Lake and over the lowest point in the ridge created by
the alluvial fans of the Kings River and Los Gatos Creek. The lowest point in this ridge was at
least 30 ft (9 m) above the low point of the Tulare Lake Basin.16 A dense tule marsh complex
10 Under natural conditions the Tule River and the Kaweah River distributaries may not have flowed year-round all
the way to down to Tulare Lake in drier years. Early flow measurements and descriptions (see pages 14) suggest
perennial flow but these were made upstream of where the rivers entered Tulare Lake. The Kern River inflow to
Tulare Lake was likely a wetter year phenomena either from one of its distributaries or when Buena Vista Lake
overflowed.
11 San Joaquin Valley Drainage Program (SJVDP), 1990.
12 Warner, R. F. and K. Hendrix, 1985. San Joaquin Valley Drainage Program (SJVDP), 1990.
13 Area-elevation table compiled by Harding 1949 and reported in United States Bureau of Reclamation, 1970.
14 USBR 1970 reproduces the lake level fluctuations from 1850 to 1969.
15 Mayfield, Thomas Jefferson, 1993.
16 San Joaquin Valley Drainage Program (SJVDP), 1990. USBR 1970. The elevations given in the literature about
Tulare Lake levels and its overflow must be treated carefully and do not necessarily represent what the elevations
would be today with current sea level reference datum and given the land subsidence that has occurred in the area.
Some of the elevations are derived from surveys done 100 or more years ago and the sea level datum is usually not
2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt2007
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impeded substantial northward outflow to the San Joaquin Basin until the elevation was close to
210 ft (64 m).17
The San Joaquin and Tulare Lake Basins periodically exchanged surface waters through a
complex of slough channels. Some of the channels branching off the main stem of the San
Joaquin River near Firebaugh extended southward, and eventually formed a single, deep
channel about 40 mi (64 km) long and 250 ft (76 m) wide, called Fresno Slough. Fresno Slough
then branched into intricately connected smaller channels 8 to 10 mi (13 to 16 km) from the
river before entering Tulare Lake.18
Flow in the Fresno Slough system was generally believed to be from south to north, bringing
seasonally high water from a Kings River distributary,19 groundwater,20 and periodic overflows
from Tulare Lake into the San Joaquin Basin. Eyewitness reports describe flows in this slough
system at different times as both southward from the San Joaquin Basin toward the Tulare Lake
Basin,21 and northward from the Tulare Lake Basin into the San Joaquin Basin.22 George Derby,
an early explorer and rnapmaker in the area during the 1840s and 1850s, was one of those who
noted southward flow from the San Joaquin system. However, Grunsky, a well-known civil
engineer who first examined this region in the 1870s, believed Derby had crossed the delta of
the Kings River and that the water in the Fresno Slough was flowing from the Kings River delta
north toward the San Joaquin River and that part of the Kings River was flowing south to Tulare
Lake.23
specified. The elevations that are used in this report are consistent with USBR 1970 which reproduced Harding's
1949 reconstruction of Tulare Lake levels. Harding notes the elevations presented by Hall (1886) and used by
Grunsky (1898) in his graph of Tulare Lake levels should be reduced by 4.2 feet to conform to the USGS datum in
1949 (USBR 1970). An example of the confusion created by not noting the datum is that the recent literature still
generally reports the high stand in 1862 and 1868 as 220 feet (Preston, W. L, 1981. Schroeder, R. A. et al., 1988.
Moore et al 1990). Grunsky's graph labels 210 ft as "level of outlet of lake" and Harding labels 207 ft as the
"overflow line".
17 Reported by C.H. Lee 1907, cited in USBR 1970. It is not clear which sea level datum C.H. Lee's report referenced
and whether it was the same as that used by Hall and Grunsky.
18 Williamson, Lieutenant R. S., 1853.
19 California Department of Public Works, 1931.
20 Anonymous, 1873.
21 Derby in Farquhar, F. P., ed., 1932.
22 Coulter, T, 1835. Fremont, J.C., 1848.
23 Farquhar, F. P., ed., 1932.
2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
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The other three large terminal lakes in the Basin were Kern, Buena Vista, and Goose Lakes (see
Map 2). The Kern River alluvial fan ridge forced the Kern River to discharge most its flow into
Kern and Buena Vista Lakes, which then overflowed into Buena Vista Slough towards Tulare
Lake during periods of higher flow in years of above average runoff. Buena Vista Lake overflow
and a Kern River distributary fed Goose Lake, the smallest of the Basin's terminal lakes.
Collectively the lakes covered about 44 square miles in the middle of the 19th century,
contracting in drier periods and expanding to over 100 square miles during particularly wet
years when the waters of Kern and Buena Vista Lakes coalesced.24
3.1.2 General Tulare Lake Hydrology
Prior to intensive European settlement and the significant alteration of the Basin hydrology, the
balance between runoff and evaporation volumes determined Tulare Lake levels and the
frequency and volume of overflow into the San Joaquin River. Tulare Lake levels from the
1850s to the early 1900s were reconstructed using precipitation records, estimates of
evaporation, and eyewitness observations by Dr. S. T, Harding, a Professor of Irrigation at the
University of California Berkeley and long-time consultant to the Tulare Lake Basin Water
Storage District (TLBWSD).25 According to Harding's reconstruction, Tulare Lake water flowed
out of the Tulare Lake Basin in 19 of the 29 years from 1850 to 1878.26 The total outflow
during that period is estimated to be 1.055 million acre-feet (MAP) with the highest annual
outflow estimated at 180 thousand acre-feet (TAP) in 1862. Although the lake was just above
its overflow elevation for a short period in 1878, no outflow is assumed to have occurred in that
year and thus the last natural outflow from Tulare Lake is assumed to have been in 1877.27
In addition to the hydroclimatic balance between runoff and evaporation, Tulare Lake levels
were also influenced by shifts in the Kings River distributaries and the division of its flows
between the Tulare Lake Basin and the San Joaquin Basin. The north side distributaries of the
Kings River, including Cole and Murphy Sloughs, could carry water to Fresno Slough and the
2<t Alexander et al 1874 cited in San Joaquin Valley Drainage Program (SJVDP), 1990., and Fredrickson, David A.,
1983. The 44 square mile area was based on 1850s and 1860s surveys, as reported to the Irrigation Congress.
25 The USGS began publishing Tulare Lake levels in 1906. Prior to 1850, no reconstructions of the Tulare Lake levels
and overflow were found in the literature.
26 USER 1970.
27 USSR 1970.
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San Joaquin River during high flows.28 By the 1860's, settlers had begun to divert Kings River
water for irrigation, often using natural slough channels. By 1872, reports indicate that settlers
intentionally directed Kings River water into channels that took the flow north into the Fresno
Slough and the San Joaquin River.29 The diversion of flow to the north and increasing
diversions of water for irrigation from all Tulare Lake tributaries led to the eventual drying of
the lake by 1899.30 Despite the disappearance of the perennial lake, the lake bottom still
periodically flooded during the wet periods of the 20th century.
A rough estimate of the unimpaired (i.e. assuming no alteration of the Tulare Lake Basin
hydrology) overflow recurrence interval after 1878 can be estimated by comparing precipitation
and estimated runoff records from the 1850-1878 period with modern records. These
comparisons and the measured and calculated fluctuations of terminal lakes that also receive
Sierran runoff (such as Mono Lake) can be used to establish when conditions would have been
similar to the times of recorded Tulare Lake overflow. Analysis of those records performed for
this report indicates that with pre-development conditions, Tulare Lake would likely have
overflowed in the early and mid-1880's, early and mid-1890's, and at times during the following
wetter periods of the 20th century: 1906-1917, 1936-46, 1965-69, 1978-86, and 1995-98.
Overflow could have continued for one or more years beyond the end of these periods.31
From this reconstruction and comparison with other lakes it is conjectured that Tulare Lake
levels would have been relatively high and the lake could have overflowed into the San Joaquin
River in nearly 40% of the years during the 20th century.
Long-term climate reconstructions for the Sierra also indicate a general increase in precipitation
and temperature since the mid-19th century, and that the past century is the third wettest in the
last thousand years.32 Prior to the 19th and 20th centuries, Tulare Lake may have dried up or
was very low during what paeloclimatologist Scott Stine describes as century-scale "epic"
28 Grunsky, C. E. 1898a. Davis et. al., 1959. On page D-89, the document states that under natural and regulated
condition the Kings River is peculiar because it splits: "during low and normal stages, most of the water flows to
Tulare Lake Bed; during high stages much spills north to the San Joaquin."
29 Grunsky, C. E. 1898a.
30 USBR 1970.
31 Overflow could have also occurred in individual wet years such as 1952 and 2006
32 Stine, S., 1990., Stine, S., 1996., and Graumlich, L 1, 1987.
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drought periods, one that occurred from about AD 892 to 1112 and the other from about AD
1209 to 1350.33 Shifts in the Kings River distributaries could also have sent more water toward
the north and reduced the volume of inflow to the lake, resulting in much lower lake levels.
Without citation, Preston 1981 states that "estimates from recent lacustrine deposits and from
early observations indicate that the average area of the lake over the past several thousand
years is probably delimited by the 210-ft elevation contour."
According to anecdotal evidence, groundwater outflow from the Tulare Lake Basin may have
been an important contributor to the base flow of the San Joaquin River. The Irrigation
Congress, reporting on fieldwork for canals in the San Joaquin and Tulare Lake Basins, stated
that "the San Joaquin receives an important accession of volume from underground drainage -
probably from the Tulare Lake drainage."34 However, most accounts of groundwater in this
area indicate that it was "stagnant" - not flowing northward along the trough of the valley
toward the San Joaquin River.35 Additionally, though some northward movement of
groundwater may have occurred, groundwater contours of the Valley indicate that this water
primarily moved toward the valley trough, rather than along the axis of the valley.36
3.2
Rivers
3,2.1 Historical Hydrography
The Kings, Kaweah, Tule and Kern Rivers formed broad deltaic fans as they emerged from the
foothills and channel bottoms and flowed toward the Basin's terminal lakes. Flows were
distributed in multiple channels and sloughs that shifted periodically. These shifts were
precipitated by major floods of water and sediment that overwhelmed the natural channel
capacity, like the floods of 1861-62.
33 Stine, S., 1990., Stine, S., 1996,.
34 Anonymous, 1873., p. 8.
35 Mendenhall, W.C., R.B. Dole, and H. Stabler, 1916.
35 e.g., Ingerson, I. M., 1941. Mendenhali et. al., 1916.
2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
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The Kings River flowed southwesterly out of the foothills into numerous channels, and into a
bottomlands area that is incised slightly below the surrounding land. It then coalesced into a
single channel and flowed southwest. Most of the Kings River water flowed south toward
Tulare Lake. Near Kingsburg, water began to flow out of the mainstem Kings River into
numerous sloughs that later facilitated the distribution of irrigation water. High flows
distributed water into these sloughs over a large, marshy area that merged with Tulare Lake.
The northernmost two of these sloughs, now called Cole and Murphy Sloughs, periodically
carried water north into Fresno Slough and the San Joaquin River.37 The head of Cole Slough
was cut by the floods of 1861-62.38
The Kaweah River branched into 8 or 10 shallow channels that easily overflowed during high
flows, creating marshland and fertile alluvial deposits with abundant oak trees. These shallow
channels were later integrated into irrigation delivery systems. Four of the channels (Elbow,
Mill, Packwood, and Deep creeks) gave the name "four creek country" to the area around
Visalia. The flood of 1861-62 created the St. John's River, the largest distributary of the
Kaweah River.39 Downstream of where the St. John's River turned south, it was called Cross
Creek, which also received water from Cottonwood Creek and Sand Creek. Further downstream
Cross Creek was joined by the two branches of Mill Creek and then flowed into Tulare Lake,
merging its water and sediment with those of the old high-water delta channels of the Kings
River.40
The Kaweah distributaries of Packwood Creek, Deep Creek, and Deep Creek's distributary
Cameron Creek also flowed into Tulare Lake. Outside Creek flowed along the eastern margin of
the Kaweah delta into Elk Bayou, which joined with a channel of the Tule River before flowing
into Tulare Lake.
The Tule River split into several channels near Porterville. Porter Slough was formed by the
1861-62 floods, and was briefly the main channel of the Tule River. Further downstream, the
river separated into a network of channels having a generally westerly course into Tulare Lake.
37 Grunsky, C. E. 1898b.
38 Grunsky, C. E. 1898b.
39
Grunsky, C. E. 1898b
Grunsky, C. E. 1898b.
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The river channels could not hold bigger flows and commonly overflowed, inundating areas of
considerable extent and facilitating the diversion of water for irrigation.41
Deer Creek and the White River flowed across the lowlands in poorly defined channels and had
no water for many of the months of the year. During high flow events both streams could flow
all the way to Tulare Lake.42
The Kern River entered the valley floor flowing in a well-defined flood plain incised below the
general upland surface. Near Bakersfield, the river split into several distributaries and sloughs
with poorly defined channels, and discharged most of its flow into Kern and Buena Vista Lakes.
Like the channels of the other river systems, the Kern River distributaries later facilitated the
delivery of irrigation water.
3.2.2 Hydrology Overview
The Tulare Lake Basin has a Mediterranean-type climate with a pronounced cool, moist season
in the late fall and winter, and a warm, dry season from late spring through early fall. On
average, approximately 80% of the annual precipitation occurs from November through March.
Compared to areas further north in the Central Valley, a greater portion of the Basin's annual
precipitation falls later in the season, during February and March. The primary sources of
precipitation are the low-pressure disturbances that move in from the northwest off the Pacific
Ocean. Storms from the southwest containing abundant sub-tropical moisture can generate
heavy localized precipitation and high runoff from the surrounding mountains. During the
summer months, the lowland portion of the watershed often receives no precipitation and the
Sierra Nevada and Tehachapi mountain ranges receive intermittent, localized thunderstorms.
Precipitation over the Basin varies tremendously, increasing with elevation and with movement
to the north and east. The Basin-wide average annual precipitation is 15.2 in; in the lowlands
the annual average ranges from 5 to 12 inches per year with the higher amounts in the north
and east. Because the western lowlands are in the rain shadow of the Coast Range,
41 Grunsky, C. E. 1898b.
1)2 Preston, W. L, 1981.
10 2006-009 Revised Tutare Basin Rpt 2007
image:
precipitation is higher on the east side of the lowlands than on the west side. In the Coast
Range and Tehachapi Mountains, the average annual precipitation varies from 10 to 25 inches.
In the Sierra Nevada, the average annual precipitation varies from 20 to 50 inches, generally
increasing toward the north. Above about 6,000 ft (1,829 m) in elevation, snowfall provides the
majority of the annual precipitation. Precipitation from year to year can vary greatly, ranging
from about 35% to 250% of the long-term average.
In an average year, more than 13.5 Million Acre-Feet (MAP) of precipitation falls in the Basin.
Evaporative demand in the Basin is very high, ranging from 6 ft annually in the Basin lowlands
to less than 3 ft annually in the High Sierra. Because of the large amount of evaporation, only
a little over 25% of the precipitation, or about 3.6 MAP, becomes runoff. The majority of the
runoff comes from precipitation generated in the Basin uplands as snow and rain, though
intense winter storm events can also generate significant amounts of runoff from rain in the
lowlands. Aside from these storm events, little runoff is generated in the lowlands. Over 98%
of the Basin's Mean Annual Runoff (MAR) from the upland area comes from the Sierra Nevada
and most of that, about 3.223 MAF/YR, is collected in the Basin's four principal river systems:
the Kern, Tule, Kaweah, and Kings. About 50% of the Basin runoff is derived from Kings River
(MAR = 1.791 MAP), the Kern River is the next highest producer (MAR = 0.802 MAP), followed
by the Kaweah River (MAR = 0.474 MAP) and the Tule River (MAR = 0.156 MAP) (see Tables 1
and 2)."3
About 0.325 MAP of runoff on average comes from drainages other than the four principal
rivers.'1'' Much of this runoff is collected by streams draining the Greenhorn Mountains between
the Kern and Tule Rivers and the Sierra Nevada foothills between the Tule and Kings Rivers.
These include the White River, and Deer, Poso, Yokul, Cottonwood, Dry, and Mill Creeks. The
Caliente Creek system has the highest runoff of the streams draining the Tehachapi Mountains.
43 The 1962-2006 mean annual runoff (MAR) amounts for the Kings, Kaweah, Tule, are derived from monthly full
natural runoff (FNF) or unimpaired runoff amounts given in URS 2003 and DWR. (http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cqi-
proqs/previous/FNFSUM). FNF is calculated by DWR and/or USACOE as the full natural runoff at the terminal
reservoirs, which are near the lowland-upland boundary. Kern River natural runoff figures are from KCWA, 2003 and
DWR. (http://cdec.water.ca.gov/CQi-proqs/previous/FNFSUM). Although the period of record (POR) for FNF for all
four streams extends back to 1894, the 1962-2006 period is used so the FNF record on all four rivers is comparable
to the reservoir outflow. 1962 was the first water year that reservoir outflow was measured on all four rivers. The
natural MAR for the 1894-2006 period is 2.985 million acre-feet, or about 7% less than the 1962-2001 average.
'M Minor stream runoff from the uplands is from Bookman-Edmonston Engineering, 1972., adjusted upwards by 3%
to be more comparable to the 1962-2006 period of record.
11 2006-009 Revised Tuiare Basin Rpt 2007
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The Arroyo Pasajero system, which includes Los Gatos Creek, has the highest runoff of the
streams draining the Coast Range. These two mountain ranges contribute only 2% of the
mean annual runoff from the uplands/15 The drainages other than the four principal rivers are
collectively referred to as the minor streams of the Tulare Lake Basin. Table 3 (Minor Stream
Runoff) shows annual runoff for these minor streams in 1977, 1978, 1979, and 1983, which
includes an extremely dry year (1977), a wet year (1978), a close-to-average year (1979), and
an extremely wet year (1983). For most of the streams, 1977 and 1983 represent the extremes
on record for a 12-month (annual) period.46
Table 2 (4-river runoff) displays the annual natural runoff for the four principal rivers for the
1894-2006 period. The total annual runoff volume, as measured by the sum of the flows for
the four major rivers, varies from a low of 0.692 MAP or 23% of average in 1977 to a high of
8.793 MAP or 295% of average in 1983. Annual runoff volumes for individual streams vary
even more, especially those that are primarily rain-fed. For example, the annual runoff for the
Tule River ranges from 11% (1977) to 443% (1983). In a majority of years, there is a
pronounced north to south gradient of decreasing percentage of average runoff, as occurred in
2000 and 1993. However, in some years, there is a trend of increasing percentage of average
runoff from north to south, as occurred in 1969 and 1998.
The two years of highest total annual runoff in the Basin's 108-year record are 1983 (8.8 MAP)
and 1969 (8.4 MAP), which exceed the next highest total of 7.4 MAP in 1906 by about 14%.
Five out of the 10 highest years of runoff have occurred since 1978.47 Although 1983 and 1969
stand out as the wettest years in the modern record, estimates by the USER show the runoff
may have been greater in 1862 (9.9 MAP), 1868 (9.1 MAP), and 1853 (8.9 MAP).48 Historical
45 The Arroyo Pasajro along with Cantua and Salt creeks, which also drain the Coast Range, can occasionally deliver
significant amounts of rainfall runoff into the California Aqueduct and into the lowlands. Over the long term,
however, these systems contribute only minor amounts of runoff.
116 The effect of antecedent soil moisture conditions in small, lower elevation watersheds (with little exposed bedrock
and mostly rain fed) is illustrated by the values in the table. The runoff in 1983, which followed a wet year, was two
to three times greater than the 1978 runoff, which followed a record dry year. The precipitation totals for the two
years were fairly similar, and the four-river runoff did not differ by nearly as much as the minor stream runoff totals.
1)7 Eight out the 11 years with the largest amount of runoff have occurred since the flood control reservoirs were all
completed in 1962.
48 The USSR (1970) estimated the 19th century four-river runoff by correlating it with the estimated runoff into Tulare
Lake that was calculated by Harding in 1949. Harding used water balance methods and estimated lake level rises to
calculate the runoff.
12 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
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accounts from 1862 and 1868 indicate very large flows and a dramatic rise in the Tulare Lake
level occurred in those years. The 1862 floods caused channel avulsion on all four major rivers
in the Basin, and the December 1867 flood is considered the greatest in the Tulare Lake Basin
since European settlement began.''9 In 1970, the USBR did a frequency analysis using 19th
century runoff volumes, and estimated the return interval for the 1969 runoff volume of 8.4
MAP at 55 years.50 No additional frequency analysis of the 1969 or 1983 runoff volumes was
done for this report.
The annual pattern of runoff for the major rivers reflects the fact that the Kings, Kern and
Kaweah watersheds all receive a major portion of their precipitation as snow, and thus delay
the bulk of the runoff to the April-July snowmelt period (see unimpaired inflows in Figures 1, 3,
4, and 6). In the Kings River watershed, 71% of the Basin is above 5,000 ft and 71% of its
average annual unimpaired runoff volume occurs from April to July. In the Kaweah River
watershed, 61% of the watershed is above 5,000 ft and 63% of its average annual unimpaired
runoff occurs from April to July.51 These three watersheds experience high flows in two distinct
seasons. In winter, short-duration peak flows lasting several days are due to rainfall. During
spring and early summer, long-duration higher flows lasting 2 to 4 months come from
snowmelt. The Tule River drains a lower elevation watershed and its peak flows usually occur
in the winter. Only 34% of the Tule River watershed is above 5,000 ft and only 43% of the
average annual runoff volume occurs from April to July, while 51% occurs from December to
March.
The mean daily peak flows in the spring, which usually occur in the mid-May to late June
period, generally exceed the winter peak mean daily flow. Prolonged winter rainstorms,
especially those with high snowlines, such as occurred in January 1997 and December 1966,
produce peak flows substantially higher than the snowmelt peaks and can result in
extraordinary runoff volumes. In 1997, two large rainstorms occurred in January, and the
month's runoff accounted for 31% of the annual runoff volume on the Kaweah and 42% on the
49 United States Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, 1972.
50 USBR 1970.
51 72% of the Kern River watershed is above 5,000 ft. The Kern's monthly unimpaired runoff for the period of record
was not available. In 1993, a slightly wetter than average water year (105%), 70% of the average annual
unimpaired runoff occurred from April to July.
13 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
image:
Tule. In 1966, the mean daily flow on December 6 was 40,000 cubic feet per second (cfs), and
that single day contributed 21% of the annual discharge of the Tule River in water year 1966-
67.
The watersheds draining the uplands do not store significant amounts of groundwater, and
stream base flows are very low in summer and fall after the snow pack is depleted. The
calculated and measured unimpaired inflows since 1962 indicate that the Kings and Kern rivers
appear to maintain base flows of at least 100-200 cfs; Kaweah River low flows can drop below
50 cfs and the Tule River can show no flow.52 No pre-development "natural" daily flow records
were found for the streams downstream of the present reservoirs, but William Hammond Hall
estimates mean monthly flow records from 1879-84 at points near the present reservoirs; his
records are based on occasional measurements and rod records.53 Mid-19th century
descriptions of the lowland Kings River described it as perennial;54 Hall's records indicate that
November had the lowest average flow, at 313 cfs, and the lowest flow in any single month was
220 cfs.
The Kaweah River and its distributaries on the valley floor were described as being "abundantly
watered" in August55 and Grunsky in 1898, using Hall data, stated the "river has a perennial
flow, but its flow is comparatively small at low stages, ordinarily around 30 cfs".56 The lower
Tule River was described by William Brewer in mid-April of 1863, a very dry year, as "a small
river, easily forded, with wide stretches of barren sand on either side."57 Hall's records indicate
mean flow in the low flow months generally ranged from 44 cfs to 87 cfs.58 Even before
irrigation, the Tule River's porous bed and tree-lined banks absorbed much of the downstream
flow.59 Lieutenant R. S. Williamson described the Kern and Kings rivers as "large streams" that
52 When unimpaired or full natural flow is a calculated number, low flow values must be interpreted with great
caution. Small errors in observed storage change or diversion can lead to absurd results, such as negative flows.
53 Hall, W. H., 1886a.
54 Williamson, Lieutenant R. S., 1853.
55 Williamson, Lieutenant R. S., 1853.
56 Hall's records for the Kaweah indicate that the mean monthly flow for the driest months in a dry year (1879) was
31 cfs; in the wetter years the low flow months ranged from 50 to 100 cfs. The Kaweah measurements were made
at Wutchumna Hill and at times near Three Rivers.
57 Farquhar, F. P., ed., 1974.
58 Hall, W. H., 1886a. Hall's measurements were made on the Tule River near Porterville.
59 Cook 1960 in Preston 1981. Base flow in the mid-ig* century was likely higher than current observations. During
the 19th century, minimum temperatures in the mountains in the summer were noticeably cooler than during the late
20th century. Early observers make note of what appears to be a greater extent of late season snow covered area in
14 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
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"do not become exhausted in the driest seasons".50 Hall's records indicate that the mean flow
in the Kern River in the driest months ranged from about 200 to 400 cfs.61
4.0 MODERN HYDROGRAPHY AND HYDROLOGY
The natural hydrography and hydrology of the Tulare Lake Basin have been extensively
modified over the last 150 years. The 19th century modifications were mainly for irrigation
supply, flood control, and land reclamation. Natural sloughs and river channels as well as
constructed ditches were used to supply water to the irrigated land; by the 1870's, numerous
canals had been constructed to divert water from each of the major rivers. By 1872, Kings
River water was intentionally directed north into the Fresno Slough and the San Joaquin River
for flood control purposes and by 1880 some conversion of the Tulare Lake bottom for
agricultural use is reported.62
In the early 20th century, reclamation of the Tulare Lake bottom continued as levees were built
to divide the lake bottom into cells and confine floodwaters to smaller areas. Development of
local river and groundwater supplies allowed expansion of the Basin's irrigated areas.
Dwindling water supplies led to the development of long-distance water import systems first
outlined in the State Water Plan of 1931 and implemented by the Federal Central Valley Project
(CVP) and the State Water Project (SWP) (see Map 2). Dams and large reservoirs were built on
each of the four major rivers for flood control and water supply purposes in the middle of the
20th century (see Table 4, Reservoir Information). Additional dams have been built on the Kings
River further upstream for hydroelectric generation.
In the 20th century, channelization of the rivers and streams for flood control and the creation
of numerous percolation ponds for groundwater recharge have further modified the Basin's
hydrography. In the latter part of the 20th century, additional conveyance facilities were built to
the Sierra, which helped sustain base flow. Climatologists now recognize that the mid-19th century climate was the
tail end of the cooler Little Ice Age in California.
50 Williamson, Lieutenant R. S., 1853.
51 Hall's measurements were made near Rio Bravo Ranch near the foothills. In May of 1863, a very dry year but
presumably still receiving snowmelt, Brewer (Farquhar, F. P., ed., 1974.) described the lower Kern as a wide, swift
stream over a hundred yards wide and treacherous to cross.
52 USER 1970; Tulare Lake Basin Water Storage District, 1981.
15 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
image:
facilitate water transfers and exchanges, both within the Basin and as exports out of the Basin
via the California Aqueduct. Map 3 (SanJoaquin Valley Current Hydrography) shows the major
natural and man-made hydrographic features of the Tulare Lake and San Joaquin River Basins.
Map 4 (Hydrography of the Lowland Tulare Lake Basin) is a more detailed view of the
hydrography of the Basin.
4.1 Kings River
4.1.1 Hydrography
Kings River has the largest runoff volume and the second-largest drainage basin of the four
rivers (see Table 1, Drainage Areas and Mean Annual Runoff). Pine Flat Dam, which was
completed in 1954, separates the upper and lower reaches of the river. The drainage area
above the dam is 1,545 sq. mi. The dam is 95 river miles upstream of where the Kings River
South Fork joins the Tulare Lakebed, and 113 miles upstream of the North Fork Kings River
confluence with the San Joaquin River. Mill Creek and Hughes Creek contribute primarily winter
runoff to the Kings River within the three miles immediately downstream of the Pine Flat Dam.
The Friant-Kern Canal crosses the Kings River approximately 10 miles west of Pine Flat Dam,
where water can be turned out into the Kings River through the Kings River wasteway.
Below the dam, the river follows its natural course southwesterly out into the lowlands and
splits into numerous channels in the Centerville Bottoms. These channels then re-join to form a
single channel, which follows a more southerly course toward Kingsburg. This section of the
river is slightly incised below the main valley floor and is flanked by small, intermittent levees.
Near Kingsburg, the river emerges onto its delta and must be continuously leveed to contain
high flows. Numerous permanent weirs cross the river and the resulting pools are used to
facilitate diversion of water into large canals. Some of the larger canals like Lemoore Canal,
Last Chance Ditch, and Peoples Canal, distribute water south into the historic Kings River delta
area. Lakeland Canal transports water into the Lower Kaweah Delta service area and Cross
16 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
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Creek.63 Alta Canal, also a large canal, distributes water into lands that drain their tailwater into
Cottonwood Creek and Cross Creek.6''
Major canals diverting water to the north side of the Kings River include the Gould, Fresno, and
Consolidated Canals, which are diverted just downstream of the Friant-Kern Canal. The Fresno
and Gould Canals serve Fresno Irrigation District (FID) lands that extend north and west to the
San Joaquin River. Irrigation tailwater from the FID lands and distribution system is
occasionally discharged into the San Joaquin River at one or more points.55
The Lower Kings River flow is separated into the North and South forks at Army Weir (Map 4).
North Fork flow can be routed back to Kings River South Fork using Crescent Weir and Crescent
Bypass. Flow in excess of the downstream water supply needs in the Kings River is normally
first diverted into the North Fork which then flows into Fresno Slough, Fish Slough, and James
Bypass, which together constitute the Kings River North channel system.66 The Kings River
North system discharges into Mendota Pool, which also receives flow from the San Joaquin
River. The Mendota Pool releases water into the San Joaquin River channel at Mendota Dam.
The published capacity of the Kings River North system is 4,750 cfs although flows up to 6,000
cfs have passed through this reach.67 When the Kings River North capacity is reached,
floodwater is sent into the Kings River South system up to its published channel capacity of
3,200 cfs. Flow in excess of the 7,950 cfs combined capacity of the Kings River South and
North systems is supposed to be divided equally between the two systems. In practice, during
large floods, the stage of the San Joaquin River may affect how water is divided between the
two channels.
53 Lakeland Canal below Cross Creek is also called Highlands Canal and is the principal conveyance facility for the
Corcoran Irrigation District. Fugro West, Inc., 2003.
M Alta Canal serves the Alta Irrigation District. District tailwater is also directed through a wasteway into Cross Creek.
65 Jerry Pretzer, USBR, personal communication May 2005. The "Biola spill" is one of the largest discharge points of
FID water into the San Joaquin River; USBR hydrographers have visually estimated discharge up to 300 cfs. Spills are
more typically in the 25 cfs to 50 cfs range when they occur. Discharge into the river can also occur above Donny
Bridge, around Skaggs Bridge, and upstream of Gravelly Ford. Stormwater from the Fresno metropolitan area can
also be routed into the FID canals and discharged into the San Joaquin River east of Highway 99. The water supply
for the FID lands that discharge into the San Joaquin may be from the Kings River, the Friant-Kern Canal, or local
sources such as Dry Creek. The FID canal system provides a hydrographic pathway from these sources to the San
Joaquin River.
66 Johnson, W., 2004.
67 McBain and Trush, eds., 2002.
17 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
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The South Fork of the Kings River is known as Clark's Fork before it turns south and is used to
convey irrigation water to canals that divert from Empire Weir No. 1 and Empire Weir No. 2
(Map 4). At Empire Weir No. 1 water can be diverted into the Stratford, Westlake, and Empire
Westside Canals. At Empire Weir No. 2, water can be diverted into the Blakely Canal and the
Tulare Lake Canal, or continue over the weir to the South Fork Canal, all of which serve lands
on the Lakebed. The Lateral A Canal also delivers water from the California Aqueduct to the
Kings River system at or above Empire Weir No. 2. Below the weir, the South Fork Canal flows
another 10 mi (16 km) to the lowest point in the Tulare Lakebed where it intersects the Tule
River Canal.58 Most flood-flows entering the Lakebed come in via the South Fork Kings River
and thus can be measured at Empire Weir No. 2. Some flood-flows can also come into the
Lakebed from canals in the system. During the 1969 flood, for example, about 28 TAF of Kings
River floodwaters reached Tulare Lakebed from Peoples Canal, Lakeland Canal, Last Chance
Canal, and Lemoore Canal.69
4.1.2 Hydrology
Pine Flat Reservoir stores 1 MAF of water at capacity and is operated to minimize floodwaters
into the Tulare Lakebed and provide water to the 28 member organizations of the Kings River
Water Association (KRWA). Figure 1 displays daily inflow and outflow hydrographs for the
Kings River for recent median (2000), wet (1998), and dry (1988), years.70 Because of its
relatively large storage, Pine Flat releases in winter can normally be kept at minimum levels for
fishery and other needs (50 cfs to 200 cfs). Larger releases are necessary when high inflow
causes the reservoir to encroach on the flood control storage reserve.71 Uncontrolled winter
runoff from Mill Creek, which enters the Kings River below Pine Flat Dam, can result in higher
flow in the lower Kings, including flow into the James Bypass, even when Pine Flat releases are
low. Pine Flat outflow increases in the spring and summer as it is metered out for irrigation
water supply. The summertime peak demand downstream is in the range of 6000 cfs to 7000
68 KRCD and KRWA 1994
69 USBR 1970.
70 Appendix 1 explains why those years were chosen.
71 Another 252 TAF of storage exist upstream of Pine Flat in Courtwright and Wishon Reservoirs. The ratio of
watershed reservoir storage to the mean annual runoff is about 70%.
18 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
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cfs. Flood control releases up to 17,000 cfs occur in the late winter, spring and summer in
years of heavy snow pack to prevent uncontrolled spills from Pine Flat.72
Dam and reservoir control is sufficient to handle the river runoff in most years, though in over a
third of the years, or 20 of the 53 years since Pine Flat Dam was completed, surplus runoff was
routed via the North Fork into the San Joaquin River.73 In 8 of the 20 wet years (1958, 1967,
1969, 1980, 1983, 1997, 1998, and 2006), surplus Kings River flow was also routed into the
Tulare Lakebed. Flow into the San Joaquin River occurs most commonly in the March-June
period as a result of snowmelt flood control releases while flow into the Tulare Lakebed is more
common in the May-July snowmelt period.7"1 The largest flows to the San Joaquin River
occurred in 1969 and 1983 with 1.6 MAF and 2.3 MAF of flow measured in the James Bypass,
respectively; and in 14 out of the 20 years the flow was greater than 100 TAF.75 The largest
Lakebed inflows also occurred in 1983 and 1969 with 224 TAF and 196 TAF of inflow,
respectively. Comparatively small amounts of surplus Kings River flow was also pumped into the
Friant-Kern Canal in 1982, 1995, 1998, and 2006 (the highest amount was 12.7 TAF in 1995).76
Table 5 (Kings River Water Distribution) shows the annual volume, peak magnitude, and
duration of flow in most of the major canals that distribute Kings River water in an average
(1979), dry (1988), and wet (1995) year using the data compiled and published by the Kings
River watermaster.77 The period of time that water is distributed in these canal systems varies
with the year type, the irrigated cropland that they serve, and the water rights priority of the
72 The highest 50 daily release amounts all occurred in the snowmelt months in the heavy snow pack years of 1969,
1983, and 1967. Most of those releases occurred in June.
73 Appendix A, URS, 2002, for data through 2000. Data for 2005 and 2006, obtained from California Data
Exchange Center, James Bypass station; http://cdec2.water.ca.qov/cgi-proqs/quervFx7JBP. Water
year 1973 was not included because only 139 acre-ft of water was recorded in the James Bypass for
the year (all of it in June 1973), and that water may not have reached the San Joaquin River. The next
smallest flows occurred in 1979, when 11,752 acre-ft were routed toward the San Joaquin River.
7'' Excess flow into the lakebed, in the eight years it did occur, was most common in the May-July snowmelt period.
Only 1980 and 1997 did not have a Tulare Lakebed inflow in the snowmelt period.
75 In 1995, 1998 and 2006 a relatively small amount of Kings River inflow into Mendota Pool (e.g. 4 TAF in April
2006) was pumped up to the California Aqueduct through Lateral 7L of the Westlands Water District. The water is
transported south in the joint use Aqueduct to users within Westlands Water District although it is co-mingled with
California Aqueduct water that is exported to Southern California.
76 The amounts of water pumped into Friant-Kern Canal into the Kings River are also relatively small compared to the
pump-ins of Kaweah (St. John's) and Tule River. See page 41 for a discussion of the pump-ins.
77. Kings River Water Association, 1980, 1989 and 1996. The watermaster records were not available for 1998 and
2000, therefore different years were chosen to represent the range of hydrologic conditions than were used in Rgure
1 (see Appendix 1).
19 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
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diversion. Generally, water is supplied to the canals for the longest duration possible each year.
The annual diversion volume is highest in years of average and above average runoff. In the
very wet years the duration and volume of water deliveries can be less than average, since
precipitation and local runoff reduce demand. In drier years, the duration and volume of
irrigation water deliveries will also be reduced due to limited water supply. When water supply
is not restricted, water is diverted into the canals in at least the spring and summer months.
Water is also diverted into most of the canals listed in Table 5, with the exception of Alta and
Lakeland Canals, in at least some of the winter months. In the case of Peoples, Last Chance,
Westlake, Empire Westside, Blakely, Tulare Lake, Fresno, Gould, and Consolidated Canals,
water is diverted into the canals nearly every month of the year. Dry years can restrict flows to
mainly the summer months.
Gould, Fresno, and Consolidated Canals distribute water to the north of the river. All other
canals except Alta Canal distribute water south in the historic Kings River delta area and Tulare
Lake bottom. Alta Canal distributes water up-slope of the historic deltaic alluvial fan to land
that can drain into St. John's/Cross Creek system of the lower Kaweah Delta system. Lakeland
Canal distributes water to areas that are also served by the lower Kaweah Delta system. All of
these canals that distribute water to the south are noted because they or their subsidiary
distribution canals were identified by the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) to
have contained white bass that came from the Kaweah River system.78 Many of these canals
had barriers constructed on them to prevent white bass migration into the Kings River.79
The presence of water in these Kings River canals and other water bodies in the Tulare Lake
Basin was evaluated by the CDFG in the mid-1980's for the White Bass Management Program
Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR).80 Table 18 in the FEIR (Table 6 in this report)
assigns a "dewatering code" to each waterway where white bass were found. The codes
suggest a relative ranking of the duration of water in the water bodies. In many cases the
dewatering code information in the FEIR is consistent with the flow duration indicated in Table
5 and in other cases (e.g. Blakely, Tulare Lake, Empire Westside, Lakeland Canal) the
78 California Department of Fish and Game, 1987.
79 Sampling conducted by CDFG indicated that white bass were found within these canals (see Table 18 of the FEIR)
at locations downstream of the fish barriers
80 California Department of Fish and Game, 1987.
20 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
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dewatering code suggest a longer duration of water. Table 6 provides supplemental duration
information but should not be compared to the flow duration information for the canals listed in
Table 5, which is based on diversions into the headgates for specific years.
4.2 Kaweah River
4,2.1 Hydrography
Terminus Dam, which was completed in 1962, separates the upper and lower watersheds of the
Kaweah River. The dam is located approximately 60 river miles above the Tulare Lakebed with
a contributing drainage area of 561 sq mi. Within a mile downstream of the dam, Dry Creek
(aka Limekiln Creek), flows into the Kaweah from the north. Dry Creek drains an 80 sq. mi
drainage basin and is the largest source of runoff below the dam, mainly during the winter
season. Yokul, Mehrten, Antelope and Cottonwood creeks are also tributary to the Lower
Kaweah distribution system, supplying highly seasonal rain runoff (see Figure 2, Kaweah River
Schematic).
The Kaweah River water supply distribution system begins immediately downstream of the
dam, where three ditches (Hawkeye, Lemoncove, and Foothill) divert relatively small amounts
of water from the river (less than 10 TAF per year total). About 1.5 rni (2.4 km) below the
dam, Wutchumna Ditch diverts water year-round to the north into Bravo Lake, a 4,000 acre-
foot regulating reservoir. The ditch flows out of the reservoir and crosses the Friant-Kern
Canal; water is occasionally pumped out of the ditch into the canal for transfer down-canal to
the Lindsay-Strathmore Irrigation District.81 The main river flow is divided into two branches
about 3 mi (4.8 km) downstream of the dam at McKays Point weir. The northern branch
becomes the St. John's River, carved in the 1862 flood, and the southern branch becomes the
Lower Kaweah River. The Friant-Kern Canal crosses the two branches approximately 2 mi (3.2
km) downstream of their split and can divert water into both branches. The Tulare Irrigation
District imports additional Friant-Kern Canal water to the Kaweah River distribution system from
The frequency of the pump-in is described on p. 27 at the end of the Kaweah River section.
21 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
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a turnout located up-canal from the St. John's River crossing. The St. John's River can also be
pumped into the Friant-Kern Canal to reduce downstream flooding during high runoff years.82
The St. John's River flows roughly parallel with the Lower Kaweah system until near Visalia,
where the channel turns to the northwest. Water is then distributed into a series of ditches and
canals that divert off both sides of the river. Longs Canal, Sweeney Ditch, Ketchum Ditch,
Packwood Canal, Tulare Irrigation District Main Canal, Jennings Ditch, Modoc Ditch, St. John's
Ditch, and Goshen Ditch begin on the south bank and flow west or southwest. Diversions that
originate on the north side of the river include Mathews Ditch, Uphill Ditch, and the Harrell
Ranch diversion; these diversions flow northwest towards Elbow Creek, which was one of the
original Kaweah distributaries, and Cottonwood Creek. The St. John's River becomes Cross
Creek about 2 miles east of Highway 99 where it turns to the southwest and is joined by
Cottonwood Creek. Cross Creek diverts flow into Lakeside Ditch and Lakeland Canal No. 2,
which distribute water to Tulare Lake and Kings River Delta water users.83 Cross Creek flow can
also be diverted into the Corcoran Reservoir. Once it reaches the historic Tulare Lakebed, Cross
Creek splits into three branches. The west branch terminates at the Tulare Lake Canal, and the
middle and east branches terminate at the Tule River Canal.
In addition to carrying Kaweah River runoff, Cross Creek and its tributary Cottonwood Creek
can receive outflow from the Alta Irrigation District system via the Cross Creek Wasteway, Sand
Creek, and potentially other irrigation ditches. After the high flows of 1983, CDFG constructed
barriers on Banks Ditch, Kennedy Schoolhouse Ditch, Button Ditch, Williams Ditch, and Sand
Creek to prevent the upstream migration of white bass into the Alta Irrigation District system
and potentially into the Kings River system (see the Table on Map 4 and discussion in Section
5.4.1).84 Barriers were also constructed on Lakeland Canal and Settlers Ditch, which carry
Kings River water, since their systems can potentially join with Cross Creek and by extension
82 Floodwater pump-ins to the Friant-Kern Canal since 1978 are documented in United States Bureau of Reclamation,
2004. Pump-ins from the St. John's River into the canal occurred in 1978, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1997, and 1998.
83 Lakeside Ditch serves Lakeside Irrigation District and Lakeside Ditch Company; Lakeland Canal serves Corcoran
Irrigation District and other Tulare Lakebed users. From Lakeside Ditch, Cross Creek flows can be diverted into the
Melga Canal, which flows into the Tulare Lakebed.
8/1 Water may move through other pathways from the Alta Irrigation District into Cross Creek and Cottonwood Creek
but that cannot be determined without a site visit.
22 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
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the rest of the Kaweah River system.85 The connectivity of the St. John's River and Cross Creek
system with Alta Irrigation District is further evaluated in the discussion of aquatic pathways in
section 5.6.1.1 and 5.6.2, below.
The Lower Kaweah River below McKays Point conveys water to a series of natural distributary
channels and constructed ditches, canals, and percolation basins. The principal diversions from
the Lower Kaweah and its extension, Mill Creek, in downstream order below McKays Point are:
Hamilton Ditch, Consolidated Peoples Ditch, Deep Creek, Crocker Cut, Tulare Irrigation
Company Ditch, Fleming Ditch, Packwood Creek, Oakes Ditch, Evans Ditch, Persian and Watson
Ditch.86 Outflow from the Lower Kaweah system occurs via a number of waterways including
Mill Creek, which joins Cross Creek, Elk Bayou, which joins the Tule River, and spill from the
Tulare Irrigation District into the Tule River.87
The Lower Kaweah and St. John's distribution system also intentionally allows water to
percolate into the ground using unlined channels and off-stream percolation basins. Currently
the Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District operates 40 basins with a combined area of
2,100 acres.88 In 1972, 36 percolation basins were identified as covering an aggregate area of
4,640 acres within the District.89
Channel capacities in the Kaweah River system are occasionally exceeded in high runoff periods
resulting in overland flood flows. High winter runoff from Cottonwood and Sand creeks
combined with excess flow in the St. John's River cause extensive flooding around their
confluence and also back water up into Cottonwood Creek.90 The Lower Kaweah distributaries
including Deep, Cameron, and Outside Creeks occasionally flood nearby farmland because of
85 A barrier was constructed on Clough Ditch since it appears to join with Lakeland Canal. The maps suggest this but
cannot be confirmed without a site visit.
86 Bookman-Edrnonston Engineering, 1972.
87 Fugro West, Inc., 2003. Bookman-Edmonston Engineering, 1972. The document also indicates outflow through
Cameron Creek, which flows southwest toward Corcoran and the Tulare Lakebed, but it is not clear which channel it
joins with. Topographic maps also suggest outflow could occur through Deep Creek and Bates Slough to the Tule
River.
88 Fugro West, Inc., 2003.
89 Bookman-Edmonston Engineering, 1972.
90 United States Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, 1972.
23 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
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their limited capacity for large amounts of winter runoff. Flooding also occurs where Elk Bayou
joins the Tule River.
4.2.2 Hydrology
Lake Kaweah can store up to 185,630 acre-ft of water. The recent addition of spillway gates
added 21 vertical feet and 42,600 acre-ft of storage capability. The dam is operated to
minimize downstream flooding of the Kaweah River and Tulare Lakebed, and to regulate
irrigation water supply for downstream water right holders.
Figure 3 displays daily inflow and outflow hydrographs for the Kaweah River for recent median
(2000), wet (1998), and dry (1988) years.91 Flood control requires that most of the reservoir
space be reserved for high rainfall and snowrnelt runoff and only a small amount of water can
be retained in storage from late fall through early spring, usually between 1 TAF and 10 TAF.
As a result, there can be very low reservoir outflow in winter (10 cfs or less) punctuated by
rapid increases for flood control purposes for periods of days to weeks, depending on rainfall
and snow pack accumulation. In drier years, storage for water supply begins in late winter and
releases are increased later in the spring and early summer to meet downstream demands. In
wetter years, storage must be reserved through the spring for snowmelt runoff and releases
may remain high (above 2,000 cfs) through the spring and early summer.92
The Kaweah River flow is split between the St. John's and Lower Kaweah River in accordance
with water rights entitlements. Fugro-West (2003) describes this split thusly:
The entitlement flow of Kaweah River at McKays Point is divided equally between
the Lower Kaweah River and St. John's River until the flow has once receded to
80 second-feet in the late summer months. Thereafter, the entire flow,
regardless of the amount, is diverted Into the Lower Kaweah River until such
time as it first exceeds 80 second-feet after October 1. In 1945, the Wutchumna
91 Appendix 1 explains why those years were chosen.
92 The ratio of Kaweah Reservoir storage to the mean annual river runoff is 39%, which is the lowest ratio of the four
Tulare Lake Basin rivers. The Tule River ratio is normally about 51% but it is temporarily at about 18% while
Success Reservoir is being managed at lower storages due to seismic concerns.
24 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
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Water Company entitlement on the St. John's River at Barton Cut (below
Mathews Ditch Diversion) was transferred to the head of Wutchumna Ditch on
Kaweah River above McKays Point. Thus an additional flow, in an amount equal
to the transferred Barton Cut entitlement, is diverted to the Lower Kaweah River.
It is not known how strictly this split was adhered to in the past or whether it is today. The
only daily records that were available to evaluate for the two rivers are for the 1976-80
period.93 In general there was more flow in the Lower Kaweah, especially in the very dry years
of 1976 and 1977. The St. John's River recorded zero flow for one or more months in the fall,
while the Lower Kaweah had water year round except at the end of 1977.
Using a combination of natural distributaries and constructed unlined ditches, the two branches
of the Kaweah River system distribute most of the Kaweah River runoff onto irrigated fields or
allow it to percolate into the ground. However, in at least 11 years with large runoff volumes
since the completion of Terminus Dam, including 1967, 1969, 1973, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1983,
1986, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2006 excess water was sent to the Tulare Lakebed or pumped into the
Friant-Kern Canal (records for pump-in begin in 1978).9'1 In 1970 and 1984, excess Kaweah
River water was sent to the Tulare Lakebed even though they were not considered high runoff
years.95 Those two years followed the extremely wet water years of 1969 and 1983,
respectively, and their early season runoff was considerably above average.96 In about 30% of
the years since 1962, excess Kaweah River water has reached the Tulare Lakebed.97 In 1983, a
record 550 TAP of Kaweah River is estimated to have reached the lakebed. The second-largest
contribution to the lake (430 TAP) occurred in 1969. The third-highest volume (194 TAP)
93 California Department of Water Resources, 1983, More recent daily data maintained from the Watermaster was
not available.
9/1 For the purpose of this report, high water year runoff is defined as any year the Kaweah River runoff exceeded
130% of the 1962-2006 average or 143% of the 1894-2006 average.
95 Johnson, W., 2004.
95 The USACOE's Johnson (2004) does not include 1995 in the years of excess Kaweah River runoff while a
compilation by Dan Steiner for URS (2003) includes 1995 but not 1970 or 1984.
97 Johnson (2004) states that "Based on the Kaweah River Basin, California, Hydrology Office Report, August 1990,
there is a 33% chance that 1,000 acre-feet of Kaweah River floodwater will reach Tulare Lakebed during any
particular year." Bookman-Edmonston Engineering, 1972., estimated Tulare Lakebed flood flows from the Kaweah
River in about 23% of the years using correlations of modern lakebed flooding with unimpaired runoff; the wet years
in the 1980's and 1990's increased the likelihood of Kaweah River floodwater reaching the Lakebed. The Kaweah
Reservoir storage enlargement should reduce the frequency and volume of the smaller flood events but not the
volume of the large floods.
25 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
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occurred in 1997, and the fourth largest (181 TAP) in 1998.98 The high flow to the lakebed in
1969, 1983 and 1998 were due to both winter rain and spring snowmelt events, while the 1997
flow occurred only in the winter.
Recent analysis by Fugro-West 2003 for the period 1981-99 indicate that about 144 TAP per
year on average are diverted from the St. John's River and about 215 TAP per year on average
are diverted from the Lower Kaweah system. About 35% of these diversions on average or
about 128 TAP per year are estimated to be lost in transit from headgate to fields and another
66 TAP per year occur as seepage losses in the Kaweah and St. John's River. Most of these
"losses" end up in groundwater storage." There are wide variations in these values depending
on the amount of runoff in the Kaweah River.
Table 6 (Kaweah River Water Distribution) shows the annual volume, peak magnitude, and
duration of flow in selected channels of the Lower Kaweah and St. John's River distribution
system in a very dry (1977), wet (1978), and average (1979), year using the data compiled by
the Kaweah and St. John's River Associations and published by the Department of Water
Resources.100 The duration of flow in the distribution system is related to the magnitude of the
runoff, ranging from no or little flow in the very dry year to practically year round flow in a wet
year. In an average year, water is made available in the spring and summer irrigation months.
Table 6 (reproduced from Table 18 in CDFG 1987) indicates most of the Kaweah system has
water in it seasonally for irrigation and some water bodies such as Elbow Creek and Bates
Slough have water in them for longer periods.101
The Kaweah and St. John's Rivers received the most water from the Friant-Kern Canal in the
near-average year (1979), since in wet years the river runoff is used to satisfy more of the
demand and the canal diversions into the rivers occur later in the summer when snowrnelt
runoff has subsided. Evaluation of more recent records of Friant-Kern canal releases into the
St. John's and Kaweah Rivers, from October 1994 through July 2004, indicates an average of
98 URS, 2002, for 1983 and 1997; and USBR 1970, for 1969.
99 An estimated 71 TAP per year on average is artificially recharged into the ground at the percolation basins.
100 The watermaster records were not available for 1988, 1998 and 2000 and therefore different years were chosen
to represent the range of hydrologic conditions.
101 Elbow Creek and Bates Slough may receive tailwater or shallow groundwater and have standing water but that
cannot be confirmed without a site visit.
2 6 2006-009 Revised Tutare Basin Rpt 2007
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about 8 TAP per year was released into each river.102 No releases were made in some of the
very wet and dry years. Releases were sporadic, and generally lasted for one to three weeks.
The highest annual releases occurred in years that were neither dry nor very wet, such as 1996
and 2000.103
The Wutchumna Ditch pump-in to the Friant-Kern canal has averaged 1,655 acre-feet in the last
decade, with a maximum annual amount of 4,262 acre-feet in 2003. The pump-in events are
sporadic occurring for a few days to a few weeks in the winter and spring. In recent years the
pump-in has occurred most often in May.104
4.3 Tule River
4.3.1 Hydrography
Success Dam, which was completed in 1961, separates the upper and lower watersheds of the
Tule River. The dam is located approximately 40 mi (64 km) upstream of the Tulare Lakebed
with a contributing drainage area of 391 sq mi.
The Tule River water supply distribution system, like the Kaweah River system, uses natural
channels, sloughs, and constructed ditches to supply water for irrigation and allow it to
percolate into groundwater storage. The Tule River alluvial fan is steeper and smaller than the
Kaweah system's alluvial fan, and flows are not distributed among as many channels or across
as wide an area. The Tule River distribution system also begins immediately downstream of
Success Dam. Pioneer ditch begins on the north side of the river, followed shortly by Porter
Slough, the largest of the diversions on the north side. The rest of the major ditches begin on
the south side of the River and include Campbell-Moreland, Poplar, and Woods-Central
102 Obtained from Friant Water Users Authority data on diversions into the rivers, and provided in response to a
request by the USACOE in May 2004.
103 It appears that less water may have been released into the St. John's and Kaweah River systems from the Friant-
Kern canal in the last decade than in the 1976-80 time period because Tulare Irrigation District was taking less water
into their system from the rivers and instead diverting it directly from the Friant-Canal into their canal system.
104 It is not known if this pump-in was generally greater in previous decades but the amount transferred in 1977,
12.7 TAF, is much higher than in the past decade.
27 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
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Ditches.105 The Friant-Kern Canal crosses under the Tule River and Porter Slough about 10 mi
downstream from the Dam; water can be released from the Canal into both waterways.
Downstream of the last major ditch diversion, the river channel is used to "sink" water, or hold
excess water and allow it to percolate.
The Tule River splits into two, then three branches downstream of Oettle Bridge, which is
considered the dividing point between upper and lower river users. Further downstream, water
flowing out from the Lower Kaweah River system through Elk Bayou and Deep Creek join the
Tule River. The Tule River crosses Lakeland Canal at Turnbull Weir, the last point of flow
measurement before entering the Tulare Lakebed. The river crosses under Highway 43 and
eventually becomes a straightened canal on the Lakebed. Cross Creek flows into it at a right
angle, and the canal then joins the Kings River South Fork Canal at the lowest point of the Lake
bottom.
4.3.2 Hydrology
Success Reservoir can store up to 82,300 acre-ft, but recently imposed restrictions on storage
due to seismic concerns limit the maximum storage to 29,200 acre-ft.106 The reservoir is
operated to minimize downstream flooding of the Tule River and the Tulare Lakebed, and to
regulate irrigation water supply for downstream water right holders.
Figure 4 displays daily inflow and outflow hydrographs for the Tule River for recent median
(2000), wet (1998), and dry (1988) years.107 There are no minimum release requirements, so
winter reservoir outflow can be less than 1 cfs at times. Similar to the Kaweah River, flood
control requires that most of the reservoir space be reserved for sudden high inflows, and only
a small amount can be retained in storage in the late fall and winter (usually less than 10 TAF).
As a result, most winters have higher flows for varying periods of time, from days to weeks,
separated by periods of very low outflows. In all but the wettest years, higher, longer duration
outflow is rnetered out in the spring and summer for water supply purposes; the drier the year,
105 Hubbs-Minor Ditch is a relatively small ditch on the north side downstream of Porterville.
105 During high runoff periods the USACOE temporarily allows higher storage.
107 Appendix 1 explains why those years were chosen.
28 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
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the shorter the duration of higher flow. In wet years like 1998, higher flows (> 500 cfs) persist
for much of the winter, spring and summer.
Because the Tule River watershed accumulates less snow pack than the Kaweah, under normal
operations, storage for water supply can begin earlier in the winter season. The newly imposed
storage restrictions for Success Reservoir will change the spring and summer outflow pattern to
more closely resemble the inflow pattern. Instead of using the storage to meter outflow to
more closely match downstream demand requirements, the restricted storage will create higher
outflow in the winter and spring and lower outflow later in spring and summer than under
previous reservoir operations.
The Tule River system has been able to distribute all of the runoff in at least two-thirds of the
years since 1961, either through delivery to irrigated land or by allowing it to percolate into the
ground. Since the completion of Success Dam, excess flow has reached the Tulare Lakebed
and/or been pumped into the Friant-Kern Canal in 1967, 1969, 1970, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1983,
1984, 1986, 1995, 1997, 1998, and 2006.108 The largest annual volume of excess flow occurred
in 1983 when about 295 TAP of Tule River water is estimated to have reached the Tulare
Lakebed. The next highest in volume is 1969 with 215 TAP and the third highest is 1998 with
189 TAP of flow reaching Tulare Lake.109
Table 7 (Tule River Water Distribution) shows the annual volume, the range of magnitude, and
duration of flow in the Tule River and the major ditches of the Tule River distribution system in
very wet (1998), below average (2000), and above average (1996) years using the data
compiled and published by the Tule River Association.110 The Tule River downstream of the
Porterville gage is below the last major ditch diversion. The duration of flow in the distribution
1QG Johnson, W., 2004., states that "Based on the Tule River Basin, California, Hydrology Office Report, August 1990,
there is also a 33% chance that 1,000 acre-feet of Tule River floodwater will reach Tulare Lakebed during any
particular year." The 13 years of excess flow since 1962 represent 29% of the years.
1091983 and 1998 values from URS, 2002. 1969 value from USBR 1970.
110 Appendix 1 explains why those years were chosen.
29 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
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system is related to the magnitude of runoff each year; sporadic flows occur in the drier years,
while flows are practically year-round in wet years.111
The Friant-Kern Canal diverts water into the Tule River system in all but the wettest years, such
as 1998, when about 100 TAP of water was pumped into the Canal to reduce the amount
flowing to the Tulare Lakebed.112 An evaluation of records from October 1994 through July
2004 indicates an average of approximately 8 TAP of Friant-Kern Canal water was released into
the Tule River per year. No releases were made during some of the drier years. Releases were
sporadic in most years, generally lasting from one to three weeks. The Lower Tule River
Irrigation District (LTRID) and Porterville Irrigation District take delivery of their Friant-Kern
Canal water supply at other turnouts. LTRID can take delivery of Canal water through a Deer
Creek release.
4.4 Kern River
4,4.1 Hydrography
The Kern River is the southern-most of the four major rivers in the Tulare Lake Basin. It has
the largest drainage basin area and carries the second-largest amount of runoff in the Basin.
Unlike the other three terminal dams that are located near the foothill-valley boundary, Isabella
Dam is located approximately 33 mi (53 km) east of the foothill boundary in a valley formed by
the junction of the mainstem and south fork of the Kern River.
Downstream from the Dam, the Kern River flows southwesterly through a deep canyon,
emerging at the canyon mouth northeast of Bakersfield. From there, the Kern River flows
about 12 mi (19 km), distributing water into relatively small diversions, to a point where the
111 Table 18 of CDFG 1987 indicates that the Tule River has water year round or can only be dewatered by pumping.
Without further information it is not possible to say why the Table 18 dewatering codes appear to be inconsistent
with flow information from the Watermaster reports. One possible explanation is that the Tule River may have water
in stretches even if there is little or no flow.
112 The records from the Friant Water Authority show that in July 2001, a dry year, about 600 acre-feet of Tule River
water were pumped into the Friant-Kern Canal. This may have been done as part of a water transfer and was not
done for flood control purposes.
30 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
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river's flow is measured (the "first point of measurement").113 Beyond this point the river flows
through the Bakersfield-Oildale area to a series of three weirs where much of the water is
diverted into canals. At Beardsley Weir, water is diverted north into the Beardsley-Lerdo canal
system; at Rocky Point Weir water is diverted south into the Kern Island Canal system. At
Galloway Weir water is diverted north into the Galloway Canal and south into a series of canals
that distribute water in the historic Kern River fan area and Buena Vista Lake bottom.114
Downstream of the major weirs, flows are present during wetter conditions when high river flow
exceeds the canal demands. Water is released to the channel downstream of the weirs mainly
for groundwater recharge operations. Flow also occurs through Bakersfield in the May-
September period for recreation purposes and groundwater recharge.115 The river also receives
water from the Friant-Kern Canal, which terminates at the river, when excess flow in the San
Joaquin, Kings, Kaweah, and/or Tule rivers is put into the canal. Friant-Kern Canal water is also
discharged into the Kern River for groundwater recharge operations and is also diverted into the
Arvin-Edison Canal for distribution into the Arvin-Edison Water Storage District to the southeast.
The Arvin-Edison Canal can receive Cross Valley Canal water, which transfers flow from the
California Aqueduct. Figure 5 shows the junction of the Kern River with the Friant-Kern, Arvin-
Edison, and Cross Valley canals.
High Kern River flow that is not used for groundwater recharge will flow either into the Buena
Vista Lakebed, into the Kern River Intertie and the California Aqueduct, or north toward Tulare
Lake via the Kern River Flood Canals. The Buena Vista Lakebed is normally dry and intensely
farmed. Kern River water can be diverted into the Buena Vista Lakebed through the Alejandro
Canal and the Kern River inlet canal; up to 30,000 acre-ft of floodwater can be stored in cells
per agreements between the landowners and Buena Vista Water Storage District.116 Excess
113 The flow at this first point of measurement is used to determine the water allocations to the major canal systems
downstream.
IM City of Bakersfleld Water Resources Department, 2003a. At the Galloway Weir water can be diverted on the south
side to join up with the Kern Island system and redistributed at the Four Weirs. Water can also be diverted into the
Carrier and Kern River Canal system, which roughly parallels the river.
115 City of Bakersfleld Water Resources Department, 2003a., and City of Bakersfleld. 2003. An agreement was signed
in November 1999 allowing flow in the summer months in most years through Bakersfield to Stockdale Highway for
recreational purposes.
116 Johnson, W., 2004.
31 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
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water in the Buena Vista Lakebed is occasionally sent north toward Tulare Lake through the
Kern River/Buena Vista Outlet Canal.
Extensive groundwater recharge occurs in and along the river and off-stream spreading basins
throughout the lower Kern River alluvial fan area. As noted above the Friant-Kern Canal and
Kern River supply recharge water. The Kern County Water Agency identifies 34 groundwater
recharge sites in the Southern San Joaquin Valley portion of Kern County.117 The California
Aqueduct also supplies water for recharge through the Kern Water Bank Canal and the Cross
Valley Canal. The latter two canals can also "reverse" flow and bring water from groundwater
banks back into the California Aqueduct.
4A.2 Hydrology
Lake Isabella Reservoir can store up to 568 TAP. Unlike the reservoirs on the Tule and Kaweah
Rivers, Isabella usually can hold water in conservation storage through the late fall and winter
and does not have to make flood control releases except in years of very high runoff.118 Other
than the years of high runoff volume, all of the Kern River water is used for irrigation,
groundwater recharge, or stored in Isabella Reservoir.
In years when potentially damaging flow to the Tulare Lakebed may occur, all or a portion of
the excess flow is diverted to the California Aqueduct via the Kern River Intertie. The excess
flow in the Kern River is from both Kern River runoff and from excess Friant-Kern Canal flow
discharged into the Kern River that is derived from the San Joaquin River and the Tulare Lake
Basin rivers that are pumped into the Canal. Since the Intertie was built in 1977, excess flow
has been sent to the California Aqueduct during 10 of the years: 1978, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984,
1986, 1997, 1998, 2005, and 2006.119 1983 had by far the largest volume with over 750 TAF of
inflow. Other large flows into the Intertie (>139 TAF) occurred in 1978, 1980, and 1998 when
117 Kern County Water Agency, 2003
118 Isabella storage has rarely dropped below 100 TAF in the last 10 years.
119 KWCA 2003 and Mike Nolasco, DWR, personal communication, Oct. 27, 2006. In March 1995 a major flood in the
Arroyo Pasajero north of Kern County caused the Intertie to be used in reverse and accept water from the California
Aqueduct. In 2006 the flow into the Intertie was mainly from excess Friant-Kern Canal water.
32 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
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Kern River exceeded 200% of average runoff.120 In 1969, prior to the construction of the
Intertie, it is estimated about 227 TAP of Kern River flow reached the Tulare Lakebed.121
Figure 6 displays daily inflow and outflow hydrographs for the Kern River for recent median
(2000), wet (1998), and dry (1988)) years.122 While watermaster data for the other rivers was
available, Kern River Watermaster records will not available to evaluate the magnitude and
duration of the diversion. However, records of the annual Kern River diversions were evaluated
for 1998 (a very wet year) and 1999 (a moderately dry year on the Kern River and above
average year for the SWP).123 In 1999 the Kern River unimpaired runoff was about 434 TAP, or
62% of the 1894-2001 average, and the total Kern River diversions below the first point of
measurement were about 462 TAP.124 Most of the river runoff went to water districts that
could divert river flow at one of first three weirs; a somewhat greater portion was diverted to
districts south of the river (e.g. Kern-Delta WD, Arvin-Edison WSD, Buena Vista WD) than north
of the river (e.g. Cawelo WD, North Kern WSD, Rosedale-Rio Bravo WSD). The Kern River
supplied water for groundwater recharge mainly in off-stream recharge areas (at least 232 TAP)
but a much greater amount of the recharge water was derived from the SWP (at least 660
TAP).125 In 1998 the unimpaired runoff was about 1,718 TAP, or 234% of the 1894-2001
average, and the total Kern River diversions below the first point of measurement were about
1,663 TAP including about 188 TAP that went into the California Aqueduct via the Kern River
Intertie.125 In 1998, much greater amounts of Kern River water and far less SWP water were
used for groundwater recharge than in 1999.
120 In the very wet years, the California Aqueduct cannot accommodate all of the excess flow and so the remainder is
routed to the Tulare Lakebed.
121 Johnson, W., 2004. Additional Kern River floodwater in 1969 was stored and percolated in the Jerry Slough and
pumped northward in the incomplete California Aqueduct.
122 See Appendix 1 for data sources and rationale for selected years.
123 Kern County Water Agency, 2002, and Kern County Water Agency, 2003.
1211 About 2.5 TAP were diverted above the first point of measurement.
125 Kern County Water Agency (2002) separates some of the recharge water by source (SWP, Kern River, Friant-Kern
Canal) but about 88 TAP was combined in 1999 so a full breakdown between sources cannot be compiled.
126 The diversions above the first point of measurement were 2,9 TAP.
33 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
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4.5 Tulare Lake
4.5.1 Tulare Lakebed Development
As irrigation infrastructure was built, the historical Tulare Lake was gradually cut off from its
sources of inflow and the lake shrank. The Tulare Lakebed was first reported to be dry in 1899.
The Lakebed has been farmed to a greater or lesser extent since the late 19th century.
Conversion of the Lakebed proceeded rapidly with formation of reclamation districts and
construction of levees in the first three decades of the 20th century.127 Following the 1906-1917
wet period when portions of the lakebed were under water, a long dry period from 1918-1935
allowed nearly full development of the historic lakebed.128
Prior to the construction of Pine Flat, Terminus, Success, and Isabella Dams, runoff during
years of average to wet water years flooded portions of the Tulare Lakebed. The lake had
water from 1937 to 1946 and again from November 1950 to June 1953.129 The Lake was
usually confined to cells located in T22S R20E, toward the west side of the lake, which were
designated for water impoundment earlier in the 20th century. Generally, Lakebed flooding has
occurred when the runoff volume contained by the lakebed canals exceeded about 5,000 acre-
ft. The innermost leveed cells failed frequently, spilling the contained flood flows into adjacent
cells. There was no regular sequence of flooding since levee failure depended on the lake
stage, which was affected by the prevailing wind direction.130 Because the Lakebed has
subsided substantially over the course of the 20th century, it is difficult to compare water
surface elevations from floods in the earlier parts of the 20th century with those in the later 20th
century.
127 Over 20 reclamation districts were formed between about 1896 and 1925. By 1940 there were 35 reclamation
districts. USBR 1970; Preston, W. L, 1981.
128 The Lakebed was dry from April 1919 through February 1937 (USBR 1970). During this period, excess runoff was
evaporated, absorbed by the soil or used for irrigation.
129 USBR 1970.
130 United States Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, 1996., and Preston, W. L., 1981.
34 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
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4.5.2 Modern Flow Management and Flood Events
The dams on the Kings, Kaweah, Tule, and Kern Rivers have reduced the volume and frequency
of minor and moderate floods into the lakebed.131 Under existing conditions, the Tulare
Lakebed area has an extensive levee and diversion system designed to manage irrigation flows
and flood flows from the four regulated watershed areas and the surrounding uncontrolled
drainage area. Floodwaters flow into the lakebed from the South Fork Kings River over Empire
Weir No. 2. During very large floods, such as the one in 1969, relatively small amounts of Kings
River floodwater come in from Peoples, Lakeland, Last Chance, and Lemoore Canals.132
Floodwaters from the Kaweah River system enter the Lakebed via Cross Creek, Melga Canal,
Lakeland Canal, and Turnbull Weir (via Elk Bayou). Floodwaters from the Tule are delivered to
the Lakebed via Lakeland Canal and Turnbull Weir. Additional floodwaters can come in from
the southwest via Deer Creek and from the Kern River south of the lakebed via the Kern River
Flood Canal and Goose Lake Canal (Map 5: Tulare Lake Bottom Hydrography}.
During the 20th century, a series of named storage cells on the lakebed were developed to
handle floodwaters, using a network of levees to separate the cells (see Figure 7). Under
current conditions floodwaters are managed using two different procedures, either using the
methods alone or in conjunction. One method is routing water through canals to specific
storage areas; the other method is to breach specific levees to flood certain cells and thus
prevent a larger area from flooding.133 When possible, floodwaters are pumped into the south-
end flood detention areas (the Wilbur cell and the three Hacienda cells) that encompass about
20,000 acres and store about 100,000 acre-ft.134 These four cells are dedicated flood detention
areas and are no longer used as agricultural land. Additionally, the cells can also be used to
store State Water Project supplies during non-flood periods.
When runoff volumes are high, such as the volumes that occurred in 1969, 1983, and 1997
(which had the third largest runoff volume), levees are breached and agricultural land in the
131 The two largest recorded water years and eight of the eleven largest water years since 1894 have occurred since
the projects were developed.
132 USBR 1970 estimates that 28,000 acre-ft of floodwaters came in from these canals.
133 Johnson, W., 2004.
131 United States Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, 1996.
3 5 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
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center of the Lakebed is flooded. Land is usually flooded starting with what is called the Basin
cell (7,550 acres) near the center of the lakebed where the Kings and Tule River meet. The
adjoining Brown (11,580 acres) and Cousins (13,260 acres) cells are usually flooded next, and
filled up to an elevation of 189 ft (58 m) above mean sea level.135 When high runoff is
distributed over a long period of time such as occurred in 1969 and 1983, the following cells will
also flood: RD 749 (27,500 acres), Lovelace (7,650 acres), Progressive and Stevens (together
comprising 5,890 acres), and Helm (6,530 acres). Up to 80,680 acres can be flooded in the
main Lakebed storage cells, which can store up to 931,100 acre-ft of floodwater (Figure 7).136
In all, up to 100,360 acres can be flooded in the main Lakebed and south area, holding as
much as 1,030,926 acre-ft of floodwater.137
The largest floods since the darns were completed, by both volume of water and surface area
flooded, occurred in 1969 and 1983. In 1969, 960 TAP of water was impounded, inundating
88,700 acres of land. On June 24, 1969, the lake reached its highest modern level at 192.5 ft,
138 The total estimated Lakebed inflow in 1969 was about 1.155 MAP, which includes measured
inflow from the Kings, Kaweah, Tule, and Kern River basins, and an estimated 93 TAP of
unmeasured inflow from other drainages.139 The 1983 four-river watershed runoff was even
higher than in 1969 and the estimated inflow volumes to the Lakebed from the Kings, Kaweah,
and Tule River were higher than in 1969 (1,069 MAP in 1983 for the three rivers compared to
0.840 MAP in 1969).M0 No comparable estimate for the total lakebed inflow in 1983 can be
made since no figures were obtained for the Kern River and other drainages' inflows but it is
assumed that the 1983 inflow into the Lakebed exceeded the 1969 inflow.141 The 1983 inflow
produced a peak lake stage of 191.44 ft and DWR stated that "officials estimate that 82,000
acres of prime agricultural land was taken out of production in 1983 because of the 880,000
135 USBR 1970, United States Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, 1996.
135 United States Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, 1996.
137 United States Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, 1996.
138 Tulare Lake Basin Water Storage District, 1981. USBR 1970.
139 USBR 1970. The inflow of 93 TAP from other drainages was estimated by the USACOE and presumably included
Westside drainages, Deer and Poso creeks although no drainages are named in USBR 1970.
m Although much of the floodwater entering the Lakebed can be measured, total Lakebed inflow in high water years
is an estimate and caution must be used when using those numbers.
M1 Even though 759 TAP of Kern River was routed into the California Aqueduct in 1983 via the Kern River Intertie,
and thus was prevented from flowing into the Lakebed, it is assumed that the combination of Kern River floodwater
and other drainage floodwater in 1983 combined with the 1,069 MAP of inflow from the other three rivers exceeded
the 1969 total of 1,155 MAP.
36 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
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acre-ft of water trapped in the Basin".142 USACOE (1996) stated that about 101,600 acres were
flooded in the lakebed in 1983, so it is likely that DWR estimates did not include the acreage
and impoundment in the south end (Wilbur and Hacienda) flood detention areas. It also
appears from aerial photos and maps drawn by the TLBWSD district that the area flooded in
1983 was slightly greater than the area flooded in 1969.m
In 1969 and 1983, evaporation and in-basin irrigation use could not dispose of all the water
within one year. Some agricultural land on the Lakebed stayed flooded for one or two years
afterward. In the other flood years, water was disposed of by evaporation or in-basin use.
Following the 1983 flood, a plan was devised to pump water from the Tulare Lakebed
northward to the San Joaquin River, to bring the flooded land back into agricultural production
more quickly. The plan as described by DWR was for the water to be lifted a total of 43 ft (13.1
m) in elevation in four stages over a distance of roughly 15 mi (24.1 km). Water was to be
pumped up the South Fork of the Kings River, where it would empty into the North Fork of the
Kings River and flow downstream via the James Bypass and Fresno Slough to the San Joaquin
River, and into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.14'1 The first series of pumps, with a capacity
of 1,300 cfs, was located at Nevada Avenue inside the Tulare Lakebed; the number 2 pumping
station, with a capacity of 1,150 cfs, was installed at Empire Weir No. 1. The third station at
Smith Crescent was capable of pumping 1,000 cfs; the final lift was at North Crescent with a
capacity of 1,000 cfs. The declining capacity toward the North Fork of the Kings River was
designed to allow pumping for local use during the peak irrigation season. The project was
designed to remove approximately 2,000 acre-ft of water per day from the flooded Tulare
Lakebed.145
Pumping began on October 7, 1983, and was intermittent until the program was terminated on
January 19, 1984. About 90 TAF of water was pumped northward.146 Pumping was stopped
earlier than scheduled, due to the potential for white bass to spawn and concern that white
H2 California Department of Water Resources, 1984.
H3 In an insert in TLBWSD (1981) a map is included showing "Conditions in the Tulare Lake Area since completion of
Pine Flat Dam" that includes flooded areas through 1984.
w California Department of Water Resources, 1984.
ws California Department of Water Resources, 1984.
w5 United States Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, 1996.
37 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Kpt 2007
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bass larvae would not be screened out and could enter the San Joaquin River system. The
Lakebed was not fully drained until water year 1985,
Since the completion of Pine Flat and Isabella Dams in 1954, floodwaters have entered the
Tulare Lakebed from one or more of the major rivers 16 times, including water years 1956,
1958, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1973, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1995, 1997, 1998, and
2006. Excess flow into the Tulare Lakebed has occurred in 14 years since the final flood control
dam, Terminus Dam, was completed in 1962, or in roughly 31% of the years from 1962 to
2006."7
In addition to the extremely high inflows of 1969 and 1983, when monthly inflow volumes
exceeded 200 TAP for several winter and spring months, significant winter rain-flood inflows of
over 80 TAP during one month occurred in January-February 1997, February-March 1986,
February-March 1980, April 1958 and December 1966. Snowmelt flood flows of over 50 TAP in
one month occurred in 1998 and 1967.MS Based on their evaluation of hydrology and reservoir
operations, the USACOE indicated that there was about a 1 in 3 chance that excess flow could
reach the Tulare Lakebed in any given year or that it would occur in roughly one out of every
three years.149 Some of the years of excess inflow would be of small enough volume to be
absorbed by the existing Lakebed channel capacity or flood detention cells and not cause any
damage to agricultural lands.150
In non-flood times irrigation water is brought into the Lakebed from the Kings River, Cross
Creek, Tule River, and the State Water Project.151 Kings River supply comes from the north via
the South Fork channel and Peoples and Last Chance Canals and from the southeast via the
Lakeland and Homeland Canal. The State Water Project supply comes in from the west via
Lateral A and Lateral B. The principal distribution canals in the Lakebed are: the Blakely Canal,
H7 A small amount of excess water may have entered the Tulare Lakebed in 2005 but that cannot be confirmed at
this time. Because the south end flood detention cells can absorb floodwaters and the storage volume of Lake
Kaweah was recently enlarged, it is likely that the frequency that agricultural lands on the lakebed will flood will
decrease in the future if the hydrology is similar to the last 45 years.
MB USBR 1970 and URS, 2002.
149 United States Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, 1996., and Johnson, W., 2004., citing USACOE 1990.
150 United States Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, 1996.
151 TLBSWD (1981) noted that landowners on the lakebed also have water rights to Deer Creek and Kern River
water, although the Kern River water rights have been traded to upstream interests.
38 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
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Tulare Lake Canal Company Canals, Wilbur Ditch, Gates-Jones Canal, Kings County and
Homeland Canal system, and the river channels of the Kings River, Tule River, and Cross
Creek.152 In the 1969 to 1980 period, the State Water Project and river runoff together
provided about 71% of the supply total for the Tulare Lake Basin Water Storage District;
groundwater and residual floodwaters provided the rest.
4.6 Tulare Lake Basin Imports and Exports
The following sections describe the major facilities used for the import and export of water, and
provide an overview of the amounts imported and exported. Water is imported into Tulare
Lake Basin using facilities of the California State Water Project (SWP) and the Federal Central
Valley Project (CVP). Water is exported from the Basin using the SWP and CVP facilities in
combination with those developed by local water districts.153 The facilities and pathways that
export Kings River water to the San Joaquin River are described in the Kings River hydrography
section and will not be repeated here.154
4.6,1 Import and Export Facilities
The CVP imports San Joaquin River water into the Tulare Lake Basin through the Friant-Kern
Canal, and imports Delta water into the Basin through the Delta-Mendota Canal and the San
Luis Canal. The San Luis Canal is the joint Federal/State facility that provides Delta water
mainly to the Westlands Water District, located in the northeast portion of the Tulare Lake Basin
152 Tulare Lake Basin Water Storage District, 1981. The documents notes: "The existing distribution system is, with a
few exceptions, set up for farming in "sections" of approximately 640 acres each. Distribution from the main canals
to individual fields is provided by smaller privately owned canals."
153 Stormwater runoff of the Fresno County Stream Group, including Big Dry, Redbank, and Fancher Creeks, can be
exported to the San Joaquin River. These creeks are in the Tulare Lake Basin and would naturally discharge their
flow onto the alluvial surface north of the Kings River. Big Dry Creek runoff can be directed through a diversion
canal into the Little Dry Creek channel which flows into the San Joaquin River about six miles downstream of Friant
Dam. The rural and urban stormwater runoff into the Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District service can be
directed into canals and other drainage features that discharge into the San Joaquin River. Fresno Metropolitan
Flood Control District. 2004.
154 Export of Kings River water to the San Joaquin River can occur through the North Fork of the Kings River and
James Bypass as well the Fresno Irrigation District canal system.
39 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
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lowland area.155 On maps 3 and 4, the San Luis Canal is included as part of the SWP's
California Aqueduct.
4.6.1.1 Delta-Mendota Canal
The Delta-Mendota Canal (DMC) brings Delta water from the Tracy Pumping Plant to its
terminus at Mendota Pool. The canal is about 117 mi (188 km) long and has an initial diversion
capacity of 4,600 cfs, which gradually decreases to 2,950 cfs at the terminus.156 Normally the
Mendota Pool is supplied by the DMC and groundwater pumped from the surrounding lands but
in wet periods the Pool receives inflow from the San Joaquin River from the east, Panoche
Creek and other local runoff from the west and the Kings River from the south. Mendota Pool is
created by Mendota Dam, located just downstream of the junction of the San Joaquin River and
the Fresno Slough; the Pool has a capacity of 3,000 acre-ft and a surface area of 1,200 acres
and is generally considered to extend to the south past the Mendota Wildlife Area (MWA) to the
terminus of the James Bypass.157 Pool water is diverted at its southern end to the users in the
Tulare Lake Basin by canals and pumping plants.158 Tulare Lake Basin users include the James
Irrigation District, Tranquility Irrigation District, Fresno Slough Water District, and the Westlands
Water District.1S9
4.6.1.2 Friant-Kern Canal
The Friant-Kern Canal carries water by gravity over 151.8 miles in a southerly direction, from
Millerton Reservoir on the San Joaquin River to the canal terminus at the Kern River, four miles
west of Bakersfield.150 The canal has an initial capacity of 5,300 cfs that gradually decreases to
155 San Luis Canal extends 102.5 miles from the O'Neill Forebay, near Los Banos, in a southeasterly direction to a
point west of Kettleman City.
156 United States Bureau of Reclamation, 2001. The design capacity is 3,200 cfs and the actual capacity is 2,950 cfs.
157 McBain and Trush, eds., 2002., and United States Bureau of Reclamation, 2001. The Mendota Wildlife Area is a
State of California managed wildlife area.
15B Most of Mendota Pool water is sent north in canals or released into the San Joaquin River for downstream
diversion. Although the area around much of the James Bypass drains into the San Joaquin River, it is included within
the Tulare Lake Basin.
159 James Irrigation District (ID) has a CVP contract of 45,000 acre-ft per year and Tranquility ID's CVP contract is for
34,000 acre-ft per year.
160 In addition to its import of San Joaquin River water, the Friant-Kern canal can also carry water from the Fresno
River that is diverted into the San Joaquin River through the Soquel diversion.
40 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
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2,500 cfs at the Kern River.161 There are approximately 110 points where water can be diverted
from the canal, primarily to serve irrigation and groundwater recharge needs.162 The canal can
discharge water into the following natural drainages, given in north to south order: Little Dry
Creek, Kings River, Cottonwood Creek, St. John's River, Kaweah River, Porter Slough, Tule
River, Deer Creek, White River, Poso Creek, and the Kern River.163'164
Water can be pumped into the canal at stations along the Kings River (800 cfs capacity), St.
John's River (900 cfs capacity), and Tule River (800 cfs capacity).165 These pumping stations
are used to divert excess river flow into the Friant-Kern Canal to other users along the canal, or
to the Kern River for use within the Basin or export into the California Aqueduct.166 The Tule
River pumps and platform are a permanent installation; on the Kings and St. John's rivers, the
pumping platforms are permanent but the pumps are brought in only when needed.167 A
permanent pumping facility at Wutchumna Dam occasionally pumps water into the Friant-Kern
Canal (see pages 21 and 27). Water can also enter the canal through small inlet drains and
pumps.158
The Friant-Kern Canal is used mainly to import water into the Basin for water supply purposes.
In wetter years the canal is used as a flood control facility to reduce high flows in the San
Joaquin River and to reduce flows into the Tulare Lakebed. The flood flows in the canal can be
discharged into the Kern River and exported out of the Basin via the Kern River Intertie and the
Cross Valley Canal into the California Aqueduct or can be used for water supply purposes within
the Tulare Lake Basin.169 Flood flows imported from the San Joaquin River are also occasionally
161 URS, 2002. A USBR web site states the initial capacity is 5,000 cfs decreasing to 2,000 cfs
http://www.usbr.gov/dataweb/html/friant.html
162 The canal can make deliveries to 20 long-term agricultural water contractors, three long-term municipal
contractors, 8 Cross Valley Canal contractors, and at least 17 short-term or temporary users. URS, 2002.
163 Gary Perez, Friant Water Authority, personal communication, April 13, 2005. The wasteway into Little Dry Creek
was built for maintenance and emergency purposes; no canal water has been discharged into Little Dry Creek for
past 25 years.
164 Jerry Pretzer, USBR, personal communication, May 2005.
165 Johnson, W., 2004.
166 See discussion of frequency of pump-ins in the following section on import and export amounts. Daily records of
the Friant-Kern Canal pump-ins are available for 1997 and 1998. In 1997 the Kaweah/St. John's River and Tule River
pump-ins occurred for 53 and 42 days, respectively, during the winter. In 1998 the Kaweah and Tule River pump-ins
occurred for 113 and 121 days in the winter and spring.
167 Gary Perez, personal communication June 29, 2006
158 Gary Perez personal communication, May 2005. At some of the locations where intermittent drainages enter the
canal, sump pumps are occasionally required to drain water that backs up into adjoining fields.
169 Currently water from the Friant-Kern canal enters the CVC through a gravity turnout from the Arvin-Edison Canal
located just downstream of that canal's intake at the Friant-Kern Canal. For accounting purposes, the flood flows in
41 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
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discharged back into the Kings River, such as occurred in late May and early June of 2005, and
routed back to the San Joaquin River via the North Fork of the Kings River and James Bypass.170
Hydrographic pathways for the possible conveyance of water from the Friant-Kern Canal to the
California Aqueduct also exist through its connection with the Arvin Edison Canal, the Kern River
Canal (which connects to the California Aqueduct through the Kern Water Bank Canal), the
Shafter-Wasco Irrigation District system (which connects to the California Aqueduct through
Semitropic Water Storage District), and Poso Creek (which connects with the Shafter-Wasco
system).171 These pathways are described in technical memoranda for the Friant-MWD
partnership but are currently not used for conveying water from the Friant-Kern Canal to the
California Aqueduct.172
4.6.1.3 California Aqueduct
The 444-mile-long California Aqueduct starts at the Delta Pumping Plants and flows south by
gravity into the San Luis Joint-Use Complex, which includes O'Neill Forebay, San Luis Reservoir,
the Gianelli Pumping-Generating Plant, Dos Amigos Pumping Plant, and the San Luis Canal.
The San Luis Canal section of the California Aqueduct serves both the SWP and the CVP; it ends
near Kettleman City, shortly before the Coastal Branch Aqueduct branches off of the main
California Aqueduct, Below Kettleman City, the main aqueduct has 40 turnouts and 4 pumping
plants in the Tulare Lake Basin.173 The last pumping plant, A.D. Edmonston, lifts the Aqueduct
water over the Tehachapi Mountains where the Aqueduct splits into the East and West
branches. In Southern California, the Aqueduct branches flow into four reservoirs: Quail,
Pyramid, Castaic, and Silverwood Lakes.
The California Aqueduct supplies water to five SWP contractors in the Tulare Lake Basin: County
of Kings, Dudley Ridge Water District, Empire West Side Irrigation District, Tulare Lake Basin
the Friant-Kern Canal that are routed to the California Aqueduct are normally derived from the pump-ins of the
Tulare Basin rivers while the San Joaquin River flood flows are assumed to stay in the Tulare Basin.
170 Kevin Richardson, USACOE, personal communication, June 2005. This routing of San Joaquin River high runoff
occurs relatively infrequently only when there is insufficient capacity in the San Joaquin River channel below Friant
Dam but sufficient capacity exists further downstream and exists in the Friant-Kern Canal and Kings River and James
Bypass.
171 SAIC, 2003a
172 SAIC 2003a and SAIC 2003b
173 California Department of Water Resources, 1999b.
42 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
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Water Storage District, and the Kern County Water Agency.174 The Aqueduct also transports (or
"wheels") CVP water to the Cross Valley Canal for use by the Cross Valley Canal contractors and
their exchange partners.175 In addition to its primary function as a facility to import water to
the Tulare Lake Basin, the California Aqueduct exports Tulare Lake Basin water received
through the Cross Valley Canal, Kern Water Bank Canal, Arvin-Edison Intertie, Kern River
Intertie, and Semitropic Water Storage District to Southern California.175
4.6.1.4 Cross Valley Canal
The Cross Valley Canal (CVC) is a locally controlled facility built in 1975 to transport water from
the California Aqueduct approximately 16 mi (26 km) through a series of seven pump lifts to the
east side of the Tulare Lake Basin near the City of Bakersfield. Water from the Kern River, the
Friant-Kern Canal and various water production wells can be introduced into the CVC, and
delivered by the normal eastward flow pumping operation, gravity reverse flow, or both at
once.177 Currently water from the Friant-Kern Canal enters the CVC through a gravity turnout
from the Arvin-Edison Canal located just downstream of that canal's intake at the Friant-Kern
Canal. CVC capacity into the California Aqueduct in the westward gravity flow direction is
currently 500 cfs, but this section can be bypassed by diversion to the Kern Water Bank Canal,
which can carry 630 cfs to the California Aqueduct.178
174 The Kern County Water Agency provides the SWP water to its 16 member units consisting of various types of
water districts.
175 Through exchange agreements the CVC water in the California Aqueduct may be diverted to users in the Tulare
Lake Basin prior to reaching the CVC.
176 In the 1987-92 drought, temporary siphons were used to put water into the California Aqueduct from the Buena
Vista Aquatic Lakes to export water to Southern California (Martin Milobar, Buena Vista Water Storage District,
personal communication, May 2005). That connection was described as a future potential pathway for water from the
Tulare Lake Basin to move into the California Aqueduct (SAIC, 2003a). During the dry winters of 1991 and 1994,
groundwater in the Westiands Water District was pumped into the California Aqueduct (Russ Freeman, Westlands
Water District, personal communication, December 5, 2006).
177 SAIC, 2003a. Water can be pumped eastward from the California Aqueduct at the same time water from the
Friant-Kern Canal flows westward. Friant-Kern Canal water can also be siphoned into the Cross Valley Canal flowing
to the east but since that operation interferes with the diversions into the Arvin-Edison Canal, it is rarely used (Gary
Perez, personal communication, Oct. 27, 2006).
178 There are plans and funding to build a permanent bi-directional connection directly between the Friant-Kern Canal
and the CVC and to increase the capacity of the CVC into the California Aqueduct.
4 3 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
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4.6.1.5 Kern Water Bank Canal
The Kern Water Bank Canal, which was completed in 2001, has a capacity of 750 cfs to convey
California Aqueduct flow east to recharge basins and can convey 630 cfs of recovered
groundwater or other water by "reverse" flow west to the California Aqueduct. The Aqueduct
turnout for the Kern Water Bank Canal is less than a mile south of the turnout for the Cross
Valley Canal but is in a different California Aqueduct check pool so that it has a greater capacity
for reverse flow.179 The Kern Water Bank Canal was designed to provide as much flexibility as
possible with flow in both directions and has the capability to divert flow to or from the Cross
Valley Canal. The Kern Water Bank Canal can receive water directly from the Kern River and is
also connected to the City of Bakersfield's Kern River Canal, which diverts and transports Kern
River water.
4.6.1.6 Arvin-Edison Intertie
The Arvin-Edison Water Storage District (AEWSD) recently constructed an intertie pipeline from
its delivery canal to the California Aqueduct as part of the AEWSD / Metropolitan Water District
Management Program. The water is pumped from the end of the canal into a 175 cfs capacity
4.5-mi (7.2 km) pipeline to the California Aqueduct.180 However, the current capacity is limited
to 150 cfs, which is the capacity of the AEWSD South Canal that conveys water to the Intertie
Pipeline.181
4.6.1.7 Kern River Intertie
The Kern River Intertie, completed in 1977, is located just downstream from the Buena Vista
Inlet Canal and consists of a sedimentation basin, a gated concrete lined diversion channel from
the sedimentation basin to the California Aqueduct and an emergency bypass channel from the
sedimentation basin to the Kern River/Buena Vista Outlet channel. It has a capacity of 3,500
cfs and is used only when very high flows on the Kern River cannot be utilized and has the
179 SAIC, 2003a.
180 The reverse gravity flow capacity from the California Aqueduct back to the AEWSD canal is 125 cfs.
181 A proposal to expand the South Canal capacity is currently being reviewed (Jeevan Muhar, personal
communication, Dec. 2006).
44 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
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potential to cause flooding on the Buena Vista or Tulare lakebeds, as previously described in the
Kern River Hydrology section of this report.
4.6.1.8 Semitropic Water Storage District
The Semitropic Water Storage District (SWSD) can convey water to the California Aqueduct at
an existing turnout. Currently SWSD can pump up to 300 cfs of banked groundwater back into
the California Aqueduct.182 SWSD can receive water from the Shafter-Wasco Irrigation District
(SWID) through a small, 25 cfs pipeline. SWID receives water from the Friant-Kern Canal and
from Poso Creek.183 The SWID-SWSD connection provides a potential pathway for a water
exchange program currently being evaluated between Friant Water Users Authority members
and the Metropolitan Water District.18'1
4.6.2 Import and Export Amounts
The annual amount of Tulare Lake Basin imports and exports varies with the amount of runoff
in the source and receiving hydrologic basins.185 Since 1990, imports from the SWP and CVP
are the highest when the source basin has above-average but not extremely high runoff, such
as occurred in 1993, 1996, 1999; especially if runoff in the Tulare Lake Basin is somewhat lower
than average, as in 1999. The imports are reduced in dry years because of limited runoff and
are reduced in the very wet years because the local Tulare Lake Basin supplies are abundant
and more economical to use than the imported supply. In average and drier years, the net
import of water from the San Joaquin River and the Delta is generally higher than the water
available from Tulare Lake Basin runoff.
Imports from the San Joaquin River via the Friant-Kern Canal occur year round and are
interrupted periodically in the late fall or winter for canal maintenance. The highest canal
diversions generally occur in the period from June to August.
182 Semitropic Water Storage District, 2004.
183 Poso Creek has seasonal runoff from its watershed and also receives Friant-Kern Canal water and Galloway Canal
water derived from the Kern River.
1B" SAIC, 2003a.
185 The Sacramento River Basin is the source basin for the SWP and the San Luis Canal and DMC deliveries of the
CVP. The San Joaquin River mainstem runoff is the source basin for the Friant-Kern Canal.
4 5 2006-009 Revised Tu/are Basin Rpt 2007
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The highest exports from the Tulare Lake Basin occur in the very wet years when Tulare
Lakebed flooding concerns require that Kings.River runoff be sent north to the San Joaquin
River; and Kings, Kaweah, and Tule River water is pumped into the Friant-Kern Canal and sent
south into the Kern River or the Cross Valley Canal for export to the California Aqueduct.
During the 1978-2006 period when records for the Kern River Intertie and Friant-Kern Canal
pump-ins are available, Kings River water was pumped into the Friant-Kern Canal on five
occasions, the Kaweah River was pumped in seven times, the Tule River was pumped in nine
times, the Kern River Intertie was used 10 times, and Kings River water was exported to the
San Joaquin River 14 times in the 29-year period.186 In 1978, 1980, 1983, 1986, 1998, and
2006 the combined export into the San Joaquin River and California Aqueduct was 700 TAF or
more. The combined export in 1983 was over 3 MAF, more than double the next higher
amount in 1998 of approximately 1.3 MAF.
In drier years, groundwater banked in Kern County is exported into the California Aqueduct.
These dry year exports occurred in 1991, 1992, 1994, 2001, and 2004 and are comparatively
much smaller than the wet year exports; in 2001 the total export was 158 TAF.187
Groundwater is pumped into the canal systems that connect with the California Aqueduct such
as those in Arvin-Edison and Semitropic Water Storage Districts, or the Kern Water Bank Canal.
It is also possible that surface water already in the systems is co-mingled with the groundwater
and transported into the Aqueduct.188
Table 8 shows the import and export amounts for the 1998, 2000, and 2001 water years. The
Tulare Lake, San Joaquin River, and Sacramento River Basins were all very wet in 1998; 2000
was above average in the Sacramento River Basin, about average in the San Joaquin River
Basin, and below average in the Tulare Lake Basin; 2001 was moderately dry in the Sacramento
River and even drier in the San Joaquin River and Tulare Lake Basin.
186 KWCA, 2003a, USBR, 2004 and Gary Perez, personal communication, June 29, 2006. The Tule River pump-in
during 1980 and the Kings River pump-in during 1995 were used within the Tulare Lake Basin according to KCWA
records.
157 Dan Peterson, DWR, personal communication, April 7, 2005.
1BB From an accounting standpoint, only the recoverd groundwater is exported, but the water that is actually
exported may include surface water from the Kern River or Friant-Kern Canal that is already in the distribution
system, although the type of water actually exported (groundwater or surface water) cannot be verified without a
site visit and further investigation. The accounting of the groundwater recovery and export programs is beyond the
scope of this report.
46 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
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The amount of Kings River irrigation tailwater discharged into the San Joaquin River through
the Fresno Irrigation District system is unknown but is likely less than 5 TAP in most years.
4.7 Summary of Surface Water Movement in the Tulare Lake Basin
In most years and in most areas, the quantity and movement of surface water in the lowland
Tulare Lake Basin is largely determined by irrigation and other water supply requirements, such
as moving water to groundwater recharge areas. In years of high winter rainfall and spring
snowmelt runoff, the movement of water is also influenced by flood control concerns. Surface
water is derived from a combination of Basin runoff and imported water from the San Joaquin
River and the Delta.
In the average and drier years, surface water moves throughout the Basin primarily by gravity
flow in natural stream channels and constructed canals or ditches. Pumping is needed in some
locations to distribute irrigation water and to drain water both on a large-scale level (such as
the Tulare Lakebed) and on the small-scale, farm level. Surface water generally does not leave
the Basin in average and drier years, except for occasional tailwater from the Fresno Irrigation
District and urban runoff from the Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District.189
In wet years, large amounts of runoff can exceed the capacity of numerous channels in the
Basin, allowing surface water to move over a more extensive area. During these years, water is
also exported out of the Basin into the San Joaquin River or California Aqueduct for flood
control purposes. Water in natural and man-made conveyance that connects, either by
pumping or gravity, with the Kings or Kern River systems has the potential to be exported in
the wetter years. Excess water that cannot be exported, stored or used for water supply
purposes is directed to the former lakebeds of the Basin (Kern Lake, Buena Vista Lake and
Tulare Lake). In the extremely high-runoff year of 1983, water was pumped out of the Tulare
Lakebed and out of the Basin.
109 Groundwater recovery (banking) programs in Kern County in drier years may also cause surface water to be
transported into the California Aqueduct. In past dry years such as 1991 and 1994, groundwater was also directly
pumped into the California Aqueduct from the Buena Vista Lakebed and from Westlands Water District.
47 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
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Table 9 (Hydrographic and Hydraulic Connections) summarizes the principal surface water
pathways that connect the four major watersheds of the Tulare Lake Basin to each other, to the
Tulare Lakebed, and to areas outside of the Basin. The table shows the river reaches, major
canals, and Tulare Lakebed facilities that are immediately connected to each other through
gravity or pumps, and identifies the frequency of that connection. In the cases where the
connection shown is not direct, the water body or bodies providing the connection are listed in
a footnote.
The principal pathways for water and organisms to move out of the Basin are listed in Table
lla. These pathways can also be traced step-by-step following the connections shown in Table
9. For example, water that flows into the San Joaquin River from the mainstem Kings River
passes first from the mainstem Kings to the North Fork Kings River/James Bypass, then to the
Mendota Pool and into the San Joaquin River. Another example shows how water can be
traced from the Kings, St. John's, or Kaweah rivers into the California Aqueduct: water is
pumped from these rivers into the Friant-Kern Canal, which flows to the Kern River; the Kern
River then connects via gravity-flow to the California Aqueduct through the Kern River Intertie.
Table lib identifies potential pathways for organisms that can swim upstream against the
current to move out of the Basin. In the following section, the potential for aquatic species and
toxicants to use these non-swimming and swimming pathways is evaluated.
5.0 POTENTIAL FOR MOVEMENT OF AQUATIC SPECIES AND TOXICANTS
OUT OF THE BASIN
5.1 Overview of Aquatic Species and Toxicant Movement
The remainder of this report describes the potential for aquatic organisms and toxicants to
move within the Tulare Lake Basin and potentially move or be transported out of the Basin
using the hydrographic pathways described in the previous section. This evaluation is confined
to the Tulare Lake Basin lowlands and the terminal reservoirs on the four principal rivers. West
side Tulare Lake Basin drainages were not included in this evaluation due primarily to their
48 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
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ephemeral nature and minimal runoff contribution to the lowlands relative to the major east
side drainages.
Aquatic organisms (both swimming and planktonic forms) and toxicants can potentially move or
be transported between river drainages via stream channels, canals, and other waterways in
the Basin. Limited information is available regarding the actual movement of aquatic organisms
within the Basin and between the Tulare and San Joaquin basins, and between the Tulare Lake
Basin and Southern California. In addition to the evaluation of natural and man-made water
conveyance systems, fisheries information obtained during and after the 1983 high water year
was used to describe the potential for movement within the Basin during high outflow
conditions. During the 1983-84 period, CDFG documented the escape and subsequent
distribution of white bass within the lowlands of the Tulare Lake Basin and the potential for
movement into the San Joaquin River system. Since 1983 represents the longest duration of
high runoff in the historical record and white bass were considered a potentially significant
threat to several fish species outside the Basin, 1983 appears to represent a "worst-case
scenario" relative to the potential for aquatic species (especially exotics) and toxicants to move
outside of the Basin.190
Potential movement pathways were evaluated for both non-swimrning organisms and toxicants
that move with the flow (gravity and pumping), and for swimming organisms (i.e. fish) that can
move with or against the flow. Specific movement pathways through natural and man-made
channels (e.g., connections between the St. John's/Kaweah and Kings rivers) were evaluated,
where possible, during a site visit conducted in 2006. Although some potential pathways
and/or connections were not evaluated, data were obtained from the literature and from
knowledgeable local experts. Movement corridors for mobile (swimming) organisms were
evaluated relative to the presence of potential fish barriers or other obstructions to fish
movement. A field visit was conducted on June 29 and 30, 2006 to evaluate some of the
hydrographic features within the Basin and examine potential pathways for aquatic organisms.
Potential pathways and connections that were evaluated during the field visit are provided in
190 Although larger winter floods occurred in other years, 1983 had the highest annual runoff volume including a
large, long duration spring snowmelt flood.
49 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
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Appendix 2. Relevant information on water movement and aquatic species issues within and
around the Basin was also obtained from various agencies (CDFG, DWR, and FWUA).
The following information on Tulare Lake Basin fish populations and associated aquatic habitats
was based primarily on information obtained from CDFG (1987), Moyle (2002), and from
personal communications with CDFG biologists Randy Kelly, Stan Stephens, and Jim Houk
(2004, 2005) from the Fresno, California office. The majority of the information regarding
white bass was derived from CDFG (1987), Moyle (2002), and from CDFG biologists Randy Kelly
and Stan Stephens.191
5.2 Aquatic Habitats and Fish Assemblages in the Basin
5.2.1 Aquatic Habitats
Aquatic habitats within the Basin generally favor warm-water fish species. Substantial water
diversions, stream channelization, and construction of canals and levees have dramatically
altered both aquatic and riparian habitats in this region. Of the three major basins in California
(Sacramento, San Joaquin, and Tulare) the most substantial alteration and loss of
aquatic/wetland habitats has occurred in the Tulare Lake Basin.192'193( m The extensive lake
bottom and associated marshes of historical Tulare Lake have been transformed to other land
uses and the native flora and fauna have primarily disappeared from this area.
Many of the stream channels and canals in the Basin are seasonally dry as a result of routine
irrigation and farming practices. When inundated, these altered rivers, streams, and canals still
provide acceptable habitat for many of the fish species that occur in the Basin. Canals and
stream sections that normally hold water year-round may support perennial fish populations,
though species composition may vary seasonally.
19J Randy Kelly and Stan Stephens, CDFG, personal communications, 2004, 2005, and 2006,
192 San Joaquin Valley Drainage Program (SJVDP), 1990.
193 The Bay Institute, 1998.
194 Davis, 1998a
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5.2.2 Fish Assemblages in the Tulare Lake Basin
Approximately 35 fish species are known to occur in the Basin, most of which are introduced
(both game and non-game species) and are also present throughout the Sacramento and San
Joaquin river drainages. A list of fish species that are known or expected to occur in the Basin
including the four major low-elevation reservoirs (see Map 4) is provided in Table 12. Minnows
comprise the majority of the remaining native fish species including Sacramento pikeminnow
(Ptychocheilus grandis}, Sacramento splittail (Pogonichthys macrolepidotus], Sacramento
blackfish (Orthodon microlepidotus], hardhead (Mylopharodon conocephalus], and California
roach (Lavinia symmetricus). Other native species in the Basin include Sacramento sucker
(Catostomus occidentalis}, riffle sculpin (Cottusgu/osus), threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus
aculeatus), western brook lamprey (Lampetra richardsoni), Kern brook lamprey (Z.. hubbsi), and
rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss} (which are transported downstream from higher elevation
areas during high flow periods).
5.2,3 Fish Species of the Lowland Tulare Lake Basin Rivers
Fish species compositions present in the Kings, St. John's/Kaweah, Tule, and Kern River
drainages downstream of their respective reservoirs are generally typical of most of the large,
low-elevation reservoirs on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada. Of the four large
reservoirs in the Basin, the most diverse fish assemblage occurs in Pine Flat Reservoir, which is
typically managed as a two-story fishery (warm-water species on top, cold-water species on the
bottom) in average or higher water years. Lake Isabella is also occasionally managed as a two-
story reservoir and has a relatively diverse fish population. Kaweah Reservoir and Lake Success
are too warm in the summer to support cold-water fish species, though trout are planted in
these two reservoirs during the winter. As a result, fish populations are typically less diverse in
the two reservoirs.195
In general, fish species compositions in the Kings, Kaweah, Tule, and Kern rivers downstream
of each of the above reservoirs are similar to the species assemblages present in the
195
Stan Stephens, CDFG, personal communication, July 2006.
51 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
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reservoirs.196 In average and drier years, fish assemblages below these reservoirs are
geographically restricted to the upper reaches below the dams for a substantial portion of the
year. During most of these years, the majority of the canals and waterways west of Highway
99 do not continuously hold water through the late summer and fall.197 The Friant-Kern Canal
may also be dry, at least in portions, for short maintenance periods each year, generally in the
late fall and early winter. However, according to CDFG, a small amount of water (several
inches deep) typically remains in the canal, even during these maintenance periods198. Water
also remains in most of the siphons, which can support a large fish population during
maintenance periods. At these times, fish die-offs can occur, usually as a result of low
dissolved oxygen concentrations. Fish that survive these periodic low water conditions are
available to repopulate the canal when water movement is reestablished.
In drier years during the summer/fall irrigation period, downstream areas on all four rivers may
have intermittent or minimal surface flows. In these years, the lower extent of continuous
surface flows on the four major rivers generally occurs around Highway 99. In this report, river
and stream reaches below Highway 99 are designated as "downstream areas" (see Map 4 -
Hydrography of the Lowland Tulare Lake Basin). Table 12 shows the fish species known to
occur within the Tulare Lake Basin, and expected presence in Pine Flat, Kaweah, Success, and
Isabella reservoirs and in downstream river reaches.
In higher runoff years, flows in the four major rivers extend well into the Basin, allowing fish
populations to move downstream and laterally into numerous canals and stream channels, and
eventually into the Tulare Lakebed. During irrigation periods, game and non-game fishes
present in the Basin can migrate upstream through canals, sloughs, and ditches that branch off
of the Kings River. Fish will often remain in these canals as long as water is present (see Table
6).
The Kings River, from Pine Flat Dam downstream to Kingsburg, supports a year-round cold-
water fishery that is maintained by CDFG. Historically, both Chinook salmon and steelhead
196 Jim Houk, CDFG, personal communication, May 2005,
197 Jim Houk, CDFG, personal communication, May 2005.
198 Stan Stephens, CDFG, personal communication, July 2006.
52 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
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occurred in the Kings River. The last documented sighting of Chinook salmon in the Kings River
system occurred in 1970 by Peter Moyle who observed juveniles near the mouth of Mill Creek, a
tributary just below Pine Flat Dam. Below Kingsburg much of the Kings River is commonly
dewatered when there are no irrigation or flood control requirements. As a result, fish are only
found seasonally in this middle reach and generally originate from upstream areas, though fish
may also move into this reach from downstream locations. The lower reach of the river above
Empire Weir No. 1 typically remains inundated year-round and provides habitat for many of the
fish species present in the drainage.
The St. John's/Kaweah River downstream of Terminus Dam primarily supports a warm-water
fishery. A cold-water trout fishery exists immediately below the dam during the fall and winter,
and is supported by trout moving out of Lake Kaweah. Summer water temperatures in this
area are too warm to sustain cold-water fish species throughout the year. Many of the same
fish species that occur in Lake Kaweah are also present in the river downstream of the lake.
The Tule River immediately below Success Dam supports a small fish community and limited
sport fishery. The river downstream of the dam is frequently dry, limiting the size of the
seasonal fish population. The composition offish species in this reach is similar to that found in
the lake.
The Kern River below Isabella Dam generally supports a similar assemblage of warm-water fish
species as those present in the rivers below Pine Flat Reservoir, Lake Kaweah, and other
locations within the Tulare Lake Basin. However, CDFG stocks rainbow trout below the dam,
where a relatively good cold-water fishery exists for a portion of the year. Further downstream
(below Bakersfield) the river is usually dewatered as a result of diversions for agriculture or
groundwater recharge.199 Very few fish are capable of surviving these seasonally dewatered
conditions.
199 In recent years, summer recreational flows have been maintained through Bakersfield.
53 2006-009 Revised Tuiare Basin Rpt 2007
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5.2.4 White Bass and Other Introduced Species
The majority of fish species present within the Tulare Lake Basin have been introduced. Many
of these introduced species can negatively affect native fishes, especially those species that are
in direct competition with native fish for available resources or those that may hybridize with
native fish. Most of the non-native species present within the Basin also occur in the San
Joaquin and Sacramento basins, as well as in other regions of California. However, white bass,
which were present in the Basin from the 1970's to 2000, represented a potentially significant
threat to some native and introduced fishes outside the Basin, especially in the Sacramento-San
Joaquin Delta.200
In 1983, high runoff caused substantial flooding within the Basin allowing white bass to escape
from Lake Kaweah and Pine Flat Reservoir. As a result, large numbers of fish were washed
downstream and rapidly became well established in Tulare Lake and in several other areas in
the Basin. During this period, CDFG became concerned that pumping operations to transport
water out of the Basin could potentially provide a pathway for white bass to leave the Basin and
migrate to the Delta. In response, fish barriers and pump screens were installed to contain
white bass, and eventually chemical treatment was employed to eliminate the bass altogether.
Due to the potential negative impact of white bass introductions into the San Joaquin and
Sacramento basins, this report uses the 1983 flood event and white bass incident as a worst-
case scenario for evaluating the current potential for swimming and non-swimming organisms
to move outside the Basin.
5.3 White Bass and Potential Impacts on Native Fishes
The following discussion provides information on: the life history of white bass; the distribution
of white bass within the Basin prior to, during, and following the 1983 flood event; and
potential impacts of white bass on native species in California, especially the Sacramento-San
Joaquin Delta.201
200 Moyle, P. B., 2002.
201 California Department of Fish and Game, 1987., and personal communications with CDFG fisheries biologists
Randy Kelly and Stan Stephens from the Fresno, California office, May 2005.
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5.3.1 General Life History of White Bass
White bass are native to the Great Lakes region, the Mississippi River system, and the southern
United States. White bass inhabit open waters of large lakes and reservoirs and slow-moving
rivers. Although this species prefers warm, slightly alkaline lakes and reservoirs, white bass are
highly adaptable and may be found in a wide variety of lakes and rivers, and in estuaries along
the Gulf of Mexico.202 They can tolerate salinities of 20 ppt, but are normally found at lower
salinities. Optimum water temperatures for white bass range from about 28-30 °C (82-86 °F),
but can tolerate water temperatures approaching 34 °C (93 °F) for extended periods of time.203
White bass tend to swim in schools and remain near the surface of the water. They are capable
of moving long distances in short periods, both upstream and downstream and quickly colonize
new areas. Tagged fish have been documented moving up to 131 mi (211 km) in 131 days.™
This species has also been known to contribute to tail-water fisheries below dams, especially
during the winter and early spring. White bass are voracious, visual piscivores (fish predators)
and feed primarily on small fish, though some rely almost entirely on zooplankton.
Spawning normally takes place in the late winter/early spring (mid-January to early May),
starting with 2-year olds. Spawning typically occurs in lakes at the mouths of inlet streams, and
preferentially in large streams where they have been found to migrate up to about 125 mi (200
km) to spawn. During spawning activities, white bass typically form large aggregations in the
water column and spawning groups will rise to the surface and release eggs and sperm. Eggs
are fertilized as they sink to the bottom and stick to the substrate. Larvae initially stay in
shallow water near spawning areas, but soon become planktonic. This species is highly fecund,
producing from about 61,000 to nearly 1 million eggs per female.205
202 Moyle, P. B., 2002.
203 Moyle, P. B., 2002.
2M California Department of Fish and Game, 1987.
205 Egg production can be highly variable between populations.
55
2006-009 Revised Tu/are Basin Rpt 2007
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5,3.2 Potential Impacts of White Bass on the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
The introduction of white bass into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta could potentially create
significant ecological and economic impacts to existing fisheries in both the Delta and in the
Sacramento and San Joaquin river systems.206 Existing Delta fish assemblages do not include
any species with life history characteristics comparable to white bass. Even though the effects
of such an introduction on Delta fisheries are unknown, it is likely that conditions in the Delta
would be highly favorable for white bass.207
The establishment of white bass in the Sacramento and San Joaquin river systems and in the
Delta could significantly affect existing sport and commercial fisheries for Chinook salmon and
striped bass.208 Negative impacts to native species including Central Valley steelhead,
Sacramento splittail, and delta smelt could also be substantial. Based on life history
characteristics, white bass would likely conflict with striped bass via competition, predation, and
hybridization. It is likely that the ecology and foraging behavior of white bass are sufficiently
different from those of striped bass that white bass would create additional predation pressure
on native fishes and their larvae.209 The presence of white bass in the Sacramento and San
Joaquin rivers and in the Delta could also have deleterious effects on the recovery of threatened
and endangered fish species and increase the likelihood of additional listings. In addition to
ecological impacts, economic losses (based on 1987 data) that could potentially result from the
establishment of white bass in these systems could exceed 14 million dollars annually.210
Based on information regarding white bass interactions with other fish species, white bass
adults would likely prey on young striped bass and the young of both species would be in direct
competition for limited food resources.211 The food base for young game fish in the Delta has
severely declined in recent years, and competition with white bass could substantially affect
survival of young striped bass and other fish.212
205 California Department of Fish and Game, 1987., and Moyle, P. B., 2002.
207 Moyle, P. B., 2002.
2DB California Department of Fish and Game, 1987., and Moyle, P. B., 2002.
209 Moyle, P. B., 2002.
210 California Department of Fish and Game, 1987.
211 Moyle, P. B., 2002.
212 California Department of Fish and Game, 1987.
55 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
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Chinook salmon would also be adversely affected, primarily due to predation on young salmon
by adult white bass. White bass, which have a tendency to migrate upstream and contribute to
tail-water fisheries, have also been known to concentrate on spawning riffles in the winter and
spring. This behavior would likely result in increased densities of predatory fishes in salmon
spawning habitats and increased predation on emerging salmon fry.
5.3.3 The History of White Bass in California
In 1965, CDFG introduced white bass into Lake Nacimiento within the Salinas River watershed
(San Luis Obispo County) to evaluate their suitability as a gamefish in other California
reservoirs. The Salinas River drainage was selected due to its isolation from other watersheds,
which would restrict potential movement to within the drainage. By 1970, white bass had
become well established in the reservoir and in the Salinas River above and below the reservoir.
In 1977, CDFG biologists verified the unexpected presence of white bass in Lake Kaweah
(Tulare County). Based on undercover investigations by law enforcement, several individuals
from Tulare County were found to be responsible for illegally introducing white bass into Lake
Kaweah over a period of years prior to 1977.213 By 1977, there was a self-sustaining population
of white bass in the lake.
For the next several years, CDFG considered a variety of options to eliminate or control the
spread of white bass. Finally, in 1983, CDFG management mandated a plan to stock Lake
Kaweah with sunshine bass, a hybrid cross between white bass and striped bass. CDFG was
aware that white bass and striped bass or their hybrids could successfully reproduce in the
laboratory, though successful spawning had not been documented in the wild. In addition, they
had been informed that this species was sterile.2" Although, available literature indicated that
a small percentage could be fertile. It was hoped that mature sunshine bass would compete
with white bass for food and space resources, resulting in decreased numbers of white bass.
However, white bass continued to thrive in the lake indicating that the experiment did not
reduce the numbers of white bass.215
213 California Department of Fish and Game, 1987.
2H Stan Stephens, CDFG, personal communication, July 2006.
215 California Department of Fish and Game, 1987.
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In the winter and spring of 1983, record rainfall in the Basin created high runoff conditions in all
four major river drainages. During this period, high runoff into Lake Kaweah created spill
conditions at Terminus Dam that lasted for several months. Water that spilled over the dam
and into the river below, as well as floodwaters from the other three major rivers, flowed
through streams, canals, and sloughs into the Tulare Lakebed. As a result, the Lakebed was
quickly flooded, inundating a total of 101,600 acres. This substantial level of flooding occurred
despite efforts by local reclamation districts to divert floodwaters into the Friant-Kern Canal, and
the export of over three million acre-feet of primarily Kings River and Kern River water out of
the Basin.
During the several months that Lake Kaweah spilled, large numbers of white bass escaped over
the spillway and moved downstream into the Tulare Lakebed. In a relatively short amount of
time, white bass became well dispersed throughout Tulare Lake and surrounding canals and
waterways. The population rapidly increased in numbers and a popular fishery for white bass
developed in the Basin. CDFG documented one-year-old white bass that had grown up to 12
inches in length in one year, and were reproducing.216
In 1986, white bass were also discovered in Pine Flat Reservoir. Anglers caught several bass,
and additional specimens were captured during intensive sampling efforts conducted by CDFG
and Fresno State University. Individuals that wanted to impair CDFG's attempts to control white
bass in Lake Kaweah were likely the source of this illegal introduction.217 Within the same
general time frame, several fishermen also documented a few white bass in Lake Success, also
a result of illegal introductions.
216 Randy Kelly and Stan Stephens, CDFG, personal communication, August 2006.
217 California Department of Fish and Game, 1987.
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5.4 White Bass Issues During and Following the 1983 Flood Event
The following section focuses on efforts by CDFG to restrict and manage the distribution and
movement of white bass within and potentially outside of the Basin during and following the
1983 flood event.218 The current status of non-native fishes within the Basin is also discussed.
5.4.1 Efforts to Restrict the Movement of White Bass
In 1983, the Tulare Lake Reclamation District developed a program to dewater Tulare Lake by
pumping floodwaters north into the South Fork Kings River and eventually into the San Joaquin
River system. The dewatering program was conducted to reclaim farmland within the lakebed
that had been inundated since the spring of 1983. Pumping was initiated in October 1983 and
continued intermittently until the program was terminated in January 1984, due to the onset of
white bass spawning activities. During the pumping program, the potential movement of white
bass out of the Basin was prevented by the efforts of the Tulare Lake Reclamation District No.
749 (TLRD No. 749), local farm companies, and several irrigation districts in cooperation with
CDFG and USFWS.
To prevent possible white bass movement north out of Tulare Lake, a large fish barrier was
constructed in the South Fork Kings River, approximately 5 mi (8 km) north of the lakebed (see
Map 5 - Tulare Lake Bottom Hydrography}. The barrier, which was installed near Empire Weir
No. 1, was designed to prevent passage of fish one-inch in length or longer. Additionally, 18
temporary barriers were installed in selected irrigation canals and ditches north of the Tulare
Lakebed and the St. John's/ Kaweah River system (see Map 6: Lowland Kaweah-Kings
Hydrography) that CDFG believed were hydraulically connected to the Kings River.219
Several types of temporary barriers were installed, including perforated plate drop structures,
inclined perforated plate screens, grate drop structures, head gates, and electrical fields. In
addition to the above barriers, six existing irrigation structures also functioned as barriers, and
218 California Department of Fish and Game, 1987., and personal communications with CDFG fisheries biologists
Randy Kelly and Stan Stephens, May 2005.
219 California Department of Fish and Game, 1987.
59 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
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restricted the northward movement of white bass out of the flooded lakebed and the St. John's
River and Cross Creek systems. These structures were all located on canals that could provide
a hydraulic link to the Kings River.220 White bass were found within these canals at locations
downstream of the barriers. The locations and types of fish barriers installed in the 25 canals
and ditches are presented on Map 4.
In January 1984, at the beginning of the white bass spawning period, pumping was
permanently halted to avoid the potential for moving small larval white bass (less than one-inch
in length) past screens that were designed to preclude passage of juvenile and adult fish.
CDFG continued to maintain the 25 fish barriers for several years following the dewatering of
the Lakebed. According to CDFG, the barriers functioned properly to restrict the movement of
white bass northward or upstream in these canals.221 By 1987, the barriers had been improved
to include more permanent structures that were maintained during normal irrigation and high
runoff periods. As part of this white bass containment program, CDFG also required that all
permits to physically divert or pump water out of the Basin would incorporate the use of the
fish barriers and seasonal pumping restrictions.
5.4.2 Potential White Bass Movement
Based on information obtained during the 1983 flood event and during subsequent dewatering
activities, CDFG determined that at least three mechanisms or situations existed for white bass
to move out of the Basin.222 These conditions and pathways included the following:
1) During the period that Tulare Lake and surrounding areas were flooded, CDFG
concluded that additional flooding would provide a hydraulic link that could allow white
bass to swim up the South Fork Kings River to the mainstem or North Fork Kings River.
The Kings River provided a direct link to the San Joaquin River and Delta via Fresno
Slough and the James Bypass.
220 California Department of Fish and Game, 1987.
221 California Department of Fish and Game, 1987.
222 California Department of Fish and Game, 1987.
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2) Several suspected hydraulic links between the St. John's/ Kaweah River and the Kings
rivers exist in a number of irrigation canals that deliver Kings River water to Alta
Irrigation District and Tulare Lake that could provide access for white bass into the Kings
River. As a result, CDFG installed and maintained 25 barriers in these canals and
ditches (see Map 4) to prevent the upstream and northward movement of adult white
bass. Without these barriers, CDFG determined that these canals provided the
pathways for fish to swim upstream into the Kings River and eventually into the San
Joaquin River and Delta.
In addition to the canals between the St. John's/ Kaweah and Kings rivers, the northern
section of the Friant-Kern Canal (operated by the USBR) could potentially provide a
pathway for white bass to enter the Kings River through a turnout located upstream of
the Kings River siphon. To restrict potential fish movement at this location, CDFG and
USBR negotiated an agreement to operate the Kings River Turnout and Siphon to
prevent escape of white bass into the Kings River. The head differential and velocity
gradient established at the turnout during normal operation create turbulent conditions
that fish would not actively move into.
3) Individuals can plant or introduce white bass (and other fish species) into aquatic
habitats throughout the state. Introductions of non-native fish species into aquatic
habitats have occurred throughout the state. As a result of CDFG efforts to control
white bass following the 1983 flood event, CDFG received threats from several
individuals regarding planting of white bass into the Delta. To deter the intentional
introduction of white bass, the State Legislature increased the penalties for possessing
and transporting live white bass.
5,4,3 CDFG White Bass Management Program
In 1987, CDFG finalized the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the White Bass
Management Program as required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). This
report described the history of white bass in California, the spread of white bass in the Tulare
Lake Basin during and after the 1983 flood, and the control methods used to restrict white bass
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movement northward out of the Basin, The report also addressed the potential repercussions
of introducing white bass into the Sacramento and San Joaquin river systems and the Delta,
and provided an evaluation of several alternatives designed to either control or eliminate white
bass in California. Based on this assessment, CDFG proposed the use of Alternative 4 (of the
EIR) to control white bass in the Tulare Lake Basin. This alternative involved the use of
chemical treatments (rotenone) only to remove white bass from Lake Kaweah and from Tulare
Lake Basin drainages known to contain white bass. According to CDFG, the success of the
containment and rotenone program would require the cooperation of irrigation districts and
farm companies as well as a stable manpower and funding base.223 CDFG did not consider the
elimination of white bass from California to be feasible or necessary.
The preferred alternative required three separate actions to ensure removal of all white bass
from these systems:
1) short-term continuation of CDFG's containment program using fish barriers, as described
in the EIR's Alternative 3 (containment alternative);
2) chemical treatment of all waters within Lake Kaweah and the Tulare Lake Basin that
might contain white bass; and
3) post-treatment monitoring for the presence of white bass. The containment program
would be continued for the duration of chemical treatment and for a limited monitoring
period following treatment. A discussion of the containment program is provided in the
previous section of this report.
5.4.3.1 Rotenone Control of White Bass
In 1987, CDFG applied Noxfish (rotenone as the active ingredient) to Lake Kaweah and Bravo
Lake, the entire drainage area downstream of Lake Kaweah, the lower Tule River, the Friant-
Kern Canal, and Tulare Lake Basin canals and irrigation ditches. Barrier operation and
223 California Department of Fish and Game, 1987.
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maintenance continued through the chemical treatment period and for a short period following
treatment, until CDFG determined that white bass had been eliminated from the canal systems
below these barriers. This decision was based on successfully meeting at least one of the two
following criteria: 1) the canal system was chemically treated and all fish were dead; or 2) the
canal system was dry with no remaining aquatic habitat.224
Approximately one year later, CDFG also chemically treated Lake Success to remove potential
white bass that had been previously reported by fisherman. Even though CDFG was not able to
confirm the presence of white bass in the lake, they were not willing to risk presence given the
illegal introduction into Pine Flat Reservoir.225
Following the chemical treatments and associated monitoring efforts, CDFG dismantled some of
the 18 temporary fish barriers, and the irrigation districts removed the remaining barriers. The
only barrier still in operation occurs at Empire Weir No. 1, where a dam (approximately 12 feet
high) limits the upstream migration of fish from the Lakebed and associated canals into the
South Fork Kings River.226 Although, according to CDFG, there may be a potential pathway
around Empire Weir No. 1 through the lateral canals in the Tulare Lakebed that connect with
canals that bypass the weir on the west side.227
5.4.4 Current Status of Non-Native Fish in the Basin
Based on an evaluation of the fish species that occur or have occurred within the Basin, white
bass still represents the only known species that could potentially pose a threat to existing
fisheries outside of the Basin, especially fish assemblages in the Sacramento and San Joaquin
river systems and Delta.228 White bass life history characteristics and the potential for
substantial negative effects on both native and non-native fishes in California, make this species
particularly troublesome. All other fish species that currently occur or are known to occur in the
Basin are typical of fish species assemblages present throughout much of the Sacramento and
224 Randy Kelly, CDFG, personal communication, July 2004.
225 Stan Stephens, CDFG, personal communication, July 2006.
226 Randy Kelly, CDFG, personal communication, May 2005.
227 Randy Kelly, CDFG, personal communication, August 2006. However, due to time constraints this pathway could
not be verified during the site visit.
228 According to CDFG, Lake Nacimiento currently contains the only known population of white bass in California.
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San Joaquin river systems and the Delta. According to Moyle, white bass may still be present in
Pine Flat Reservoir.229 However, white bass have not been caught in Pine Flat Reservoir in
organized angling tournaments, captured during CDFG routine sampling, or reported by anglers
since 2000.230
Monitoring results from the white bass rotenone program indicated that white bass were
eliminated from Lake Kaweah, and from the drainages, farm ponds, and private waters
downstream of the dam. Bravo Lake and the Friant-Kern Canal were also chemically treated.
CDFG has conducted annual sampling (gill nets, electro-fishing, seines, etc.) for white bass in
both Pine Flat reservoir and in the river below the dam for the last 10+ years, and white bass
have not been captured in the last seven years. In addition, sport-fishing tournaments have
been held in the reservoir annually and white bass have not been observed.231 Based on the
results of CDFG sampling efforts and fishing derbies conducted over several years in Pine Flat
Reservoir, it is unlikely that breeding populations still exist in the reservoir. Additionally,
spawning habitat within the reservoir is highly limited due to the cold-water input from the
Kings River during the spawning period.232 White bass have not been observed in Lake
Kaweah, Bravo Lake, or the Friant-Kern Canal since they were chemically treated in 1987.
Because white bass reproduce quickly and have large numbers of young, can occupy numerous
aquatic habitats, and have a propensity to migrate long distances in short periods, caution
should be exercised regarding the potential for this species or other similar species to move out
of theTulare Lake Basin.
Currently, the only remaining known population of white bass in California occurs in Lake
Nacimiento and in the Salinas River watershed below the lake. This population is considered to
be isolated, since the Salinas River drains into the Pacific Ocean.
There is also a potential for other fish species to be established in the Basin via illegal
introductions (e.g., northern pike in Lake Davis). The potential effects of introductions of other
229 Moyle, P. B., 2002.
230 Stan Stephens and Randy Kelly, CDFG, personal communications, January 2005.
231 Stan Stephens, CDFG, personal communication, July 2004.
232 Stan Stephens, CDFG, personal communication, July 2006.
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species into the Sacramento and San Joaquin river system would depend on species-specific life
history characteristics, behavioral issues, migration and swimming ability, species interactions,
and other factors.
5.5 Potential Planktonic Organisms and Toxicants of Concern in the Basin
There were no non-swimming aquatic organisms (planktonic species) identified within the Basin
that pose a potential threat to aquatic resources of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers or
the Delta.
Both manufactured and naturally occurring toxicants occur in the Basin. The most common
compounds include a wide variety of chemical fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, and petroleum
products. These chemicals and many others are commonly transported by trucks on surface
roads and by railway within the Basin and to locations outside the Basin. Many of these
chemicals are also applied to crops within the Basin. As a result, chemical spills could
potentially enter natural and man-made waterways and be transported to other locations. In
addition, elevated concentrations of naturally occurring trace elements are also present in
shallow groundwater in portions of the Basin including arsenic, boron, selenium, molybdenum,
uranium, and vanadium.233
When flow is present in stream channels, sloughs, canals, and other waterways in the lower
portion of the Basin, water borne toxicants could potentially be transported through a variety of
hydraulic pathways by gravity flow and by pumping. In general, aerial and ground applications
of chemicals are the most likely sources of toxicant releases into Basin waterways. Accidental
spills associated with the movement or transportation of chemical products within and through
the Basin is also possible. Depending on the magnitude and duration of seasonal flows in a
given year and associated water distribution/management requirements and needs in the Basin,
toxic chemical spills could potentially be transported for substantial distances via stream
channels, sloughs, canals, and other waterways.
233
U.S. Geological Survey, 1998.
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5.6 Known and Potential Pathways for Aquatic Organisms and Toxicants to
Move Outside of the Basin
The following discussion focuses on two primary conditions that affect the distribution of water
within the Basin: gravity flow conditions in streams channels, canals, and other waterways, and
associated routine pumping activities during average or drier runoff periods; and high runoff
conditions with non-routine pumping patterns. These conditions were evaluated relative to
potential pathways for swimming organisms (i.e., fish) and non-swimming (planktonic)
organisms and toxicants to move within and outside the Basin.
Detailed information regarding the major hydrographic connections within the Basin (both
gravity and pumped) including frequency of occurrence is provided in the hydrology and
hydrography section of this report, and is summarized in tables 10 and 11. Some of these
connections provide direct distribution pathways for water to move from one location to
another, while others involve the movement of water through one or more canals or irrigation
systems where mixing of water from several river systems may occur. As a result, fish from
one river system can move into other drainages through inter-connecting canals and
distributaries.
The hydrographic connections and potential pathways for swimming and non-swimming
organisms or toxicants identified in this report, and the potential for fish to migrate or be
transported outside the Basin is based largely on surface water distribution patterns associated
with both high runoff and average or drier runoff periods. This information includes irrigation
water distribution, pumping activities, and natural/gravity flow conditions in the Basin. The
white bass management program report prepared by CDFG234 and CDFG fisheries biologists
Randy Kelly and Stan Stephens from the Fresno, California office provided the majority of the
information on documented and suspected movement of white bass within the Basin during and
following the 1983 flood. Randy Kelly also assisted in identifying possible pathways and
connections for fish to move or be transported within and out of the Basin.
234 California Department of Fish and Game, 1987.
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Many of the potential fish movement pathways and connections identified below have been
verified on the ground. Some barriers (e.g., weirs) or obstructions to upstream movement may
be present in one or more of these potential hydrographic pathways that could preclude the
passage of fish. In addition to the larger permanent canals, the locations of minor canals and
pumps can change periodically and seasonally depending on crop requirements and land use
patterns. During extremely high runoff periods, major changes in water movement can occur
as a result of natural high flow events and land management activities. As a result, some
potential pathways could not be verified during the site visit or through personal
communications with knowledgeable individuals.
5.6.1 Hydrographic Pathways and the Potential Movement of Non-Swimming (Planktonic)
Organisms or Toxicants Outside of the Basin
5.6.1.1 Gravity Flow Pathways
In average and drier years, most of the water from the four major rivers, including regulated
and unregulated ancillary sources, is distributed within the Basin. This distribution is primarily
via gravity flow through natural stream channels and constructed canals and ditches, along with
routine pumping of surface water into canals and rivers within the Basin. In general, surface
waters do not leave the Basin in average and drier years, except for occasional tailwater
releases into the San Joaquin River from FID canals and small stream and urban storm-water
runoff regulated by the Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District. However, surface waters in
the Kern Water Bank and Cross Valley Canal may be mixed with pumped ground water that
occasionally flows to the California Aqueduct in drier years.
Kings River water from below Pine Flat Dam is diverted north and south via numerous canals
into the Kings River delta and the remaining water normally flows through the South Fork Kings
River to the canals in the Tulare Lakebed. Gravity flow pathways out of the Basin are present
at the Gould and Fresno canal diversions on the Kings River (at or above the Friant-Kern Canal),
from the Fresno County Stream Group, and from the Kern River, Kern Water Bank, and the
Cross Valley Canal. The Gould and Fresno canals operate throughout much of the year, flows
from the Fresno County Stream Group are seasonal, and the Kern Water Bank and Cross Valley
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Canal connections to the California Aqueduct are restricted to drier periods. Kings River water
can also flow to the St. John's River and Cross Creek via the Lakeland Canal and the outflow
from the Alta Irrigation District distribution system. During average and drier years, water does
not normally flow from the mainstem Kings River into the North Fork Kings River.
Water distribution patterns within the Basin are generally similar during average and drier
years. Waters from the St. John's River and Cross Creek commonly flow to the Tule River Canal
and other canals serving the Tulare Lakebed. Lower Kaweah River water can flow into Cross
Creek via Mill Creek, and to the Tule River via Elk Bayou and the Tulare Irrigation District
outflow. San Joaquin River water in the Friant-Kern Canal is diverted into the mainstem Kings,
St. John's, lower Kaweah, Tule, and Kern rivers as well as Deer and Poso creeks, and Porter
Slough. During average or drier years, the Tule River only occasionally flows into the Tulare
Lakebed canals; and Kern River water does not connect with any of the other three major rivers
in the Basin.
In addition to the gravity flow connections that typically occur during average or drier runoff
years, high runoff periods often necessitate the use of other gravity flow pathways. During
these periods, excess water flows out of the Basin through three pathways: the Kings River to
James Bypass to the Mendota Pool and the San Joaquin River; the Friant-Kern Canal to the
Kern River and Cross Valley Canal connections to the California Aqueduct, and the Kern River
directly into the California Aqueduct.235 In general, during wetter years, flows in channels and
canals that connect with either the Kings River or Kern River have the potential to be exported
out of the Basin. Excess water that cannot be exported or used for water supply purposes is
transported to the Tulare Lakebed and stored in the south end flood detention cells and
eventually flows onto agricultural land during very high runoff periods. In years of extremely
high runoff (i.e. 1983) water can be pumped out of the Tulare Lakebed and out of the Basin.
In addition to the normal gravity flow pathways used to transport water during high runoff
periods, extensive pumping can occur to help control and re-direct the movement of water
235 Water from the Kings River has flowed into the Mendota Pool and the San Joaquin River in 20 out of the 53 years
since Pine Flat Dam was completed (1954). Since 1977 water from the Friant-Kern Canal and the Kern River has
been exported into the California Aqueduct in 10 out of the 30 years.
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within the Basin. High runoff can also exceed the capacity of both natural and man-made
channels in the Basin allowing surface waters to spread over larger areas.
5.6,1.1.1 Potential for Non-Swimming Organisms or Toxicants to Move Outside of the Basin
through Gravity Flow Pathways
In general, there is limited potential for non-swimming organisms or toxicants, which only move
with the flow, to move out of the Basin through surface channels during average and drier
years, due primarily to the relatively short durations (up to several days) that these flow
connections occur. However, in high runoff periods, the flow durations may last from weeks to
months, increasing the potential for non-swimming organisms or toxicants to leave the Basin.
In most years, water that enters the Kings River from the release at the base of Pine Flat Dam,
from the Friant-Kern Canal, and from tributary streams above the diversions for the Gould and
Fresno canals may provide potential pathways for non-swimming organisms or toxicants to
move out of the Basin. In addition, the Kern River Intertie and the Cross Valley Canal also
provide potential pathways for non-swimming organisms or toxicants to leave the Basin.
Based on the limited duration that water flows out of the Basin during average and drier years,
it is unlikely that non-swimming organisms or toxicants pose any real threat to water bodies
outside of the Basin. However, in wet years, longer duration outflows increase the likelihood of
non-swimming organisms or toxicants leaving the Basin.
Depending on the location, it could be extremely difficult or impossible to isolate toxicant spills
or releases into stream channels, sloughs, canals, and other waterways during large flood
events.
The movement of swimming organisms (i.e. fish), which can also move around the Basin via
these gravity flow connections, is addressed in Section 5.6.2.
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5.6.1.2 Pumping Pathways - Routine and Non-Routine
In addition to the gravity flow pathways described in the previous section, routine pumping is
used during average and drier years to move water around the Basin; and non-routine pumping
is utilized during high runoff years to help control and re-direct excess water to areas within
and outside of the Basin. These pumping pathways provide additional opportunities for aquatic
species to move or be transported within and potentially outside of the Basin.
In average and drier years, pumping of water is generally not necessary to distribute runoff
within the Basin. However, Kaweah River runoff in the Wutchumna Ditch is occasionally
pumped into the Friant-Kern Canal for downstream distribution. Pumping is also used on the
Tulare Lakebed to distribute irrigation water, move drain water into evaporation ponds, and
transport water out of the south end storage cells. In general, these routine pumping
operations, which occur in most years, can potentially move organisms around the Tulare
Lakebed. In addition, water may also be pumped out of the Basin. In drier years, surface
water in the Arvin-Edison system, from the Friant-Kern Canal, and from the Kern River may
potentially co-mingle with groundwater pumped into the California Aqueduct through the Arvin-
Edison Intertie although this cannot be verified without additional investigation. Similarly, the
recovered groundwater that Semitropic Water Storage District pumps into the California
Aqueduct in drier years could potentially be co-mingled with surface water.236
During high runoff periods, pumping at the major facilities located along the Friant-Kern Canal
and at the other river and canal locations can substantially alter routine flow pathways and
directions. Three major facilities on the Friant-Kern Canal can pump water into the canal from
the mainstem Kings, St. John's, and Tule rivers. In very wet years, Kings River water flowing
into the Mendota Pool is occasionally pumped into the California Aqueduct via the Lateral 71
Canal. As a result of the high runoff in 1983, water was pumped north out of the Tulare
Lakebed and up the South Fork Kings River/Crescent Bypass to Crescent Weir. At Crescent
236 Again without additional investigation, it is unknown whether surface water from the Kern River system and from
the Friant-Kern Canal can mix with pumped groundwater that is discharged into canals and transported to the
California Aqueduct.
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Weir, water was pumped into the North Fork Kings River/James Bypass and allowed to flow
downstream into Mendota Pool and eventually into the San Joaquin River.237
5.6,1.2.1 Potential for Non-Swimming Organisms or Toxicants to Move Outside of the Basin
through Pumping Pathways
The potential for non-swimming organisms or toxicants to move outside of the Basin in average
and drier years is unlikely due to the general short duration of the pumped flows and the lack of
verification of a temporal link between the time water enters the Friant-Kern Canal and
eventually leaves the Basin. The only Tulare Basin water present in the Friant-Kern Canal in
average and drier years is the Wutchumna pumped water and potentially several seasonal creek
inputs along the Canal.
In high runoff years, water in the Friant-Kern Canal generally moves through the system rapidly
and a continuous link is established to pathways outside the Basin. During these periods there
is an increased likelihood for non-swimming organisms or toxicants to move outside of the
Basin.
5.6.2 Hydrographic Pathways and the Potential Movement of Swimming Organisms (i.e.,
Fish) Outside of the Basin
In addition to potentially utilizing the gravity flow and routine pumping pathways identified for
non-swimming (planktonic) organisms, fish (and possibly other swimming organisms such as
aquatic reptiles and amphibians) can also potentially move out of the Basin by swimming
upstream through canals and other waterways, and via non-routine pumping pathways or a
combination of the two.
Even though the hydrographic connections identified in this report are linked to the potential
movement pathways for fish, most of the connections do not result in a complete pathway for
237 CDFG indicated that water from the Tulare Lakebed can be transported to pumping locations adjacent to the
California Aqueduct and pumped into the Aqueduct for downstream transfers; though, this pathway could not be
verified.
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fish to move out of the Basin. In many instances, the presence of structural barriers and/or
other physical obstructions preclude upstream movement along these potential pathways.
In most years, fish in the Tule River system can potentially swim upstream to the lower Kaweah
River system via Elk Bayou, Tulare Irrigation District spill, Lakeland Canal, and Cross Creek
(extension of the St. John's River). Fish in the lower Kaweah and Tule river drainages can
potentially access the St. John's River/Cross Creek system; however, it is not known if upstream
fish movement is hindered by drop structures or other obstructions. Within the St. John's
River/Cross Creek system, fish can potentially migrate into the Lakeland Canal and the Alta
Irrigation District distribution system using Cottonwood Creek and the Cross Creek Wasteway.
These waterways and canals were identified by CDFG as hydrographic links between the Kings
River and St. John's River/Cross Creek system during the 1983 high runoff year (see Map 4 and
inset barrier information table).238 However, based on observations made during the site visit,
upstream fish passage within these canals is likely hindered in all conditions (except during
periods of over bank flooding) by the numerous drop structures present along these canals.
Most of the drop structures observed during the field visit varied from approximately 1.7 to 6 ft
(0.5 to 1.8 m) in height and may or may not be equipped with grate structures. Fish can move
upstream through many of the drop structures that are low in height [< 2 ft (0.6 m)] and lack
grate structures, even if the canals are relatively full. Upstream fish passage at the higher drop
structures (> 2 ft) is unlikely for warm-water fish species (which are generally poor jumpers)
due to the increased height, water velocities, and turbulence. The presence of grate structures
on most of the higher drop structures further decreases the potential for fish to move
upstream. Additionally, it is unknown whether jump pools below these structures have
sufficient depth and size to allow fish to pass upstream. Fish populations within these canals
consist primarily of warm-water fish species, though rainbow trout could be present during the
winter and spring. Salmonids are likely the only species occurring in the Basin that could
potentially migrate upstream through some of the higher drop structures. In the event that a
few fish were able to move past these apparent barriers, it is unlikely that sufficient numbers of
the same species would be able to complete this journey to maintain the population. This is
especially true for those species that are group spawners, such as white bass.239
230 California Department of Fish and Game, 1987.
239 Moyle, P. B., 2002.
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During high runoff periods, many of the stream channels, canals, sloughs, and waterways in the
lower portion of the Basin may be used to transport floodwaters. During wet years when the
Kings, Kaweah, Tule, and Kern rivers are flowing into the Tulare Lakebed, a hydraulic
connection between these rivers is established allowing fish from one drainage to move into
other systems without any barriers, except for some irrigation structures. As documented by
CDFG240 during the 1983 flood event, fish present in the upper reaches of these four major
rivers (below the reservoirs) were distributed downstream throughout much of the Basin. A
large number of these fish eventually moved into the flooded Tulare Lakebed. It is highly likely
that this same downstream movement of fish occurs, to a greater or lesser extent, during all
high runoff events. When flows in natural and man-made channels exceed maximum capacities
and flood adjacent lands, fish can move to new locations that may have previously been
isolated. In general, these flooded areas provide additional hydrographic connections for fish to
disperse within the Basin that were not present during average or drier runoff periods. Natural
channels in the lower Kaweah and St. John's river system are particularly susceptible to over
bank flooding. In high runoff periods, foothill streams north of the Cottonwood Creek/St John's
system that flow into the lower Kings River could provide a pathway from the Lower Kaweah/St
John's system into the Kings River. This pathway, which is generally of short duration,
bypasses the barrier at the intake structure on the Alta main canal.
In years of high runoff (including non-routine pumping patterns), known hydrographic
connections and potential fish pathways show that several potential routes exist for fish to
move out of the Basin by gravity and pumping depending on the magnitude, duration, and
timing of high runoff events. Fish can potentially leave the Basin via the Kings River to the
James Bypass to the Mendota Pool and the San Joaquin River. Fish can also potentially leave
the Basin at several locations along the California Aqueduct where water enters from the Kern
River, Kern Water Bank Canal, and the Cross Valley Canal. This water may originate from the
Kern River or from the Friant-Kern Canal, which mainly carries San Joaquin River water and
possibly Kings, St. John's, and Tule river water. Even though these hydrographic links have
been verified, the hydrographic pathway from the Friant-Kern Canal to the California Aqueduct
was not evaluated on the site visit for potential fish passage issues.
1 California Department of Fish and Game, 1987.
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During most flow conditions, fish present in the Friant-Kern Canal can move out of the canal
through many of the 110 turnouts located along its length and into numerous drainages and
channels within the Basin.241 The design of each turnout and associated hydraulic properties
vary with location, and the ability of fish to pass through these turnouts is likely site specific.
In most years, fish can generally only enter the Friant-Kern Canal from Millerton Reservoir on
the San Joaquin River.242 However, fish may also occasionally enter the canal at the pumping
stations, and possibly at several other locations where gravity flow of water into the canal
occurs via drains and inlets.243 Turnout structures at locations where water is diverted from the
Friant-Kern Canal to lateral canals generally have vertical drops greater than 4 ft (1.2 m) high
with attendant high water velocities and turbulence.244 Grate structures are also present at
these locations. Based on the hydraulic characteristics observed at these diversions, it is highly
unlikely that fish could move upstream into the Friant-Kern Canal through any of the turnouts.
The population of fish in the Friant-Kern Canal varies annually. The lowest numbers of fish
likely occur following periodic canal dewatering and associated routine maintenance activities,
which include the use of algaecides and other chemicals. Other than losses due to predation
and potentially low dissolved oxygen levels in some of the siphons, a large number of fish
appear to survive canal-dewatering operations.245 As the canal drains, fish tend to move into
the numerous siphons located along its length, which provide deeper water and adequate
cover.246 Depending on water quality conditions in the siphons, fish could potentially survive for
relatively long periods. As the canal is re-filled, fish can move out of these siphons and into the
turnouts. When the turnouts are operated, fish present in the structure can potentially move
directly into the Kings, St. John's, and Tule rivers and into numerous other stream drainages
along the canal. Since the hydraulic barrier at the Kings River turnout was only operated in
association with the 1983 white bass issue, fish that move from the Friant-Kern Canal into the
M! Randy Kelly, CDFG, personal communication, May 2005.
242 Occasionally in average or drier years, Wutchumna Ditch water and less frequently Tule River water is pumped
into the Friant-Kern Canal for transport to other locations.
243 However, these drains and inlets are associated with ephemeral drainages that likely do not contain viable fish
populations. The frequency, magnitude, and duration of these additional flows via drains and inlets were not
available; though, these potential fish pathways likely only occur during high runoff conditions.
2<M Gary Perez, Friant Water Users Authority, personal communication, July 2006.
2'15 Stan Stephens, CDFG, Personal Communication, July 2006.
2<16 Stan Stephens, CDFG, personal communication, July 2006.
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Kings River can potentially reach the San Joaquin River. During this filling period, fish can
easily move both north and south along the canal. At the northern end of the canal, fish could
potentially pass through the turnout at Little Dry Creek and move directly into the San Joaquin
River, though this turnout has not been used in the last 25 years.247
Fish present in the Friant-Kern Canal can also move to the California Aqueduct via the Kern
River, the Cross Valley Canal, Kern Water Bank Canal, Arvin-Edison Intertie, and the Kern River
Intertie. Once in the California Aqueduct, fish can swim upstream (north toward the
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta) or downstream (south) toward Southern California. However,
the Dos Amigos pumping plant on the California Aqueduct, located west of the Mendota Pool
complex, represents a barrier to fish movement north of this facility. Normal pumping
operations transport water south to Southern California; though, on one occasion water was
pumped north to the San Joaquin River drainage."8 This activity could potentially provide a
pathway for fish to enter the Delta. Fish that swim upstream could potentially leave the
Aqueduct through one of the turnouts south of the Dos Amigos Pumping Plant and potentially
move through lateral canals and other waterways adjacent to the Aqueduct, eventually reaching
the Mendota Pool complex or the San Joaquin River.249 These potential connections have not
been verified on the ground and the actual pathways to the Mendota Pool complex or the San
Joaquin River has not been evaluated.
5.6.2.1 Potential for Swimming Organisms to Move Outside of the Basin
In general, there is an increased potential for swimming organisms to move within and outside
the Basin during high runoff periods, relative to average and drier runoff years. This increase is
primarily due to the greater geographic extent that water distribution systems are utilized, the
substantially larger volumes of water that are transported during these periods, and the
alternative pathways (including pumping) that are utilized during periods of high runoff.
2'17 Jerry Pretzer, USBR, personal communication, May 2005. It is unknown if the turnout has ever been used.
2<1G Randy Kelly, CDFG, personal communication, May 2005.
2-19 Lateral 7L in the Westlands Water District connects the California Aqueduct (aka as the San Luis Canal in this
reach) with the Mendota Pool.
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The potential for fish to move from the Kings River to the San Joaquin River is increased during
high runoff periods. Fish in the Kings River can move downstream from below Pine Flat Dam or
upstream from the South Fork Kings River and potentially move out of the Basin via Fresno
Irrigation District diversions (Gould and Fresno canals) or down the North Fork Kings River to
the San Joaquin River. However, the potential for fish to move through the Fresno Irrigation
District canals to the San Joaquin River has not been ground verified and potential barriers to
downstream movement may be present. There is a much lower probability of fish moving out
of the Basin from the St. John's/Kaweah or Tule rivers through the Kings River, due to the
longer travel/swimming distance; the numerous drop structures (some of which function as
barriers to upstream movement) present in Lakeland and Alta Irrigation District canals between
the St. John's/Kaweah rivers and the Kings River; and the relatively short period of time that
water is transported north to the San Joaquin River.250 In general, fish that move to the Kings
River via any pathway could potentially be moved out of the Basin during high runoff periods.
The only other major pathway for fish or other swimming organisms to move out of the Basin
involved Kings River and Tulare Lake floodwaters that were pumped from the South Fork Kings
River to the North Fork Kings River via the Crescent Bypass. Fish that enter the North Fork
Kings River can move directly to Mendota Pool and the San Joaquin River. This pathway was
only used from October 1983 to January 1984, and will likely not be used again.251
Even though existing water distribution systems have the ability to move water around the
Basin, there is a relatively high potential for fish or other aquatic organisms to leave the Basin
during most high runoff periods. Since Pine Flat Dam was completed in 1954, Kings River water
has flowed into the San Joaquin River and out of the Basin in over one-third of the years and
since 1977, outflow to the San Joaquin has occurred in 14 years or nearly half of the years.
Since the Kern River Intertie was completed in 1977, it has been utilized to export Tulare Lake
Basin water in 33% of the years. During large floods, the potential for fish to be pumped or to
move out of the Basin increases, due primarily to: the higher volumes of water that must be
moved around the Basin to minimize flooding; the increased number of pathways used to
250 In above average runoff years, high flows in the James Bypass normally last for days to weeks; however, in wet
years flows may persist for many months during the winter and spring.
251 Representatives from the Tulare Lake Basin interests at the November 2004 meeting in Fresno, California,
indicated that this type of pumping operations would likely not occur in the future.
76 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
image:
transport water; and the potential for creating new hydraulic connections between previously
isolated drainages or channels.
5.7 Summary of the Potential for Swimming and Non-Swimming Organisms or
Toxicants to Move Outside of the Basin
The major hydrographic connections within the Basin (both gravity and pumped) including
frequency of occurrence is summarized in tables 10 and 11.
In average and drier years, the majority of the water from the four major rivers (Kings, St.
John's/Kaweah, Tule, and Kern) including regulated and unregulated ancillary sources is
distributed primarily within the Basin. Based on available information, the only verified gravity
flow pathways for non-swimming and swimming organisms (i.e., fish) to move out of the major
rivers of the Basin during these periods occur at the Kings River diversions to the Gould and
Fresno canals. Water is generally present within the Gould and Fresno Canals during most
months of the year, but the tailwater release into the San Joaquin River is intermittent. In drier
years, surface water from the Kern River and possibly the Friant-Kern Canal may also co-mingle
with recovered groundwater and be moved to the California Aqueduct via pumping or by gravity
flow. However, these potential pathways were not verified during the field visit.
Fish access to diversions on the mainstem Kings River in average and drier years can occur via
three pathways: the Kings River and associated tributaries upstream of the Gould and Fresno
canal diversions, the Kings River drainage downstream of the diversions, and the Friant-Kern
Canal. It is also possible for fish from the St. John's, lower Kaweah and Tule river drainages to
potentially access the Kings River via the canals and natural drainages between the Kings River
and St. John's River/Cross Creek system. However, in these years, there is a very low
probability of fish moving from these drainages out of the Basin via the Kings River due to the
longer travel distance, the presence of numerous drop structures in the Lakeland and Alta
Irrigation District canals which hinders or precludes the upstream movement of fish, and the
relatively short period of time that water is directed north to the San Joaquin River, if at all.
During high runoff periods, many of the stream channels, canals, sloughs, and waterways in the
lower portion of the Basin may be used to transport floodwaters. During these periods, fish and
77 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
image:
other aquatic organisms present in the upper reaches of the four major rivers (below the
reservoirs) are typically re-distributed downstream throughout much of the Basin via these
waterways.
Fish in the Kings River can potentially move downstream from below Pine Flat Dam or upstream
from the mainstem and South Fork Kings River and out of the Basin to the San Joaquin River
via the Gould and Fresno canal diversions. Fish in the Kings River may also move down the
North Fork Kings River to Mendota Pool and the San Joaquin River. In addition, fish present in
the lower Kaweah and Tule river drainages can access the St. John's River/Cross Creek system,
and potentially migrate into the Lakeland Canal and the Alta Irrigation District distribution
system and into the Kings River. However, the probability of fish moving out of the Basin from
the St. John's/Kaweah or Tule rivers through the Kings River is likely relatively low due to: the
long travel/swimming distance; the numerous drop structures (some of which are high enough
to function as barriers to upstream movement) present in Lakeland and Alta Irrigation District
canals; and the relatively short period of time that water is transported north to the San
Joaquin River.
In high runoff years, fish and other organisms can also move out of the Basin through
connections between the Friant-Kern Canal and the California Aqueduct including the Kern River
and Cross Valley Canal, and from the Kern River to the California Aqueduct through the Kern
River and Arvin-Edison interties and the Kern Water Bank Canal. Additionally, pumping of Kings
River and Tulare Lake floodwaters from the South Fork Kings River to the North Fork Kings
River to the San Joaquin River via the Crescent Bypass provides another potential pathway for
fish and other organisms to move out of the Basin. Even though this pathway was utilized
during the 1983 flood event, it is unlikely that this avenue will be used again during future flood
events.252
Based on available information, fish can potentially migrate out of the Tulare Lake Basin in most
years, especially during periods of high runoff. However, with the exception of fish present in
the Kings River below Pine Flat Reservoir and in the Friant-Kern Canal and potentially other
252 Tulare Lake Basin water associations and irrigation districts stated that this pumping pathway would not be
proposed in future flood events.
78 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
image:
Tulare Lakebed canals that move water to the California Aqueduct, it is unlikely that sufficient
numbers of fish of the same species would be able to migrate out of the Basin in most years to
maintain viable populations. During large flood events, increased hydrographic connections
allow for easier movement of fish from one location to another within the Basin and potentially
to locations outside of the Basin.
79 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
image:
6.0 REFERENCES
Alexander, Lieut. Col. B. S., Maj. G. H. Mendell, and Prof. G. Davidson. 1874. Report of the
Board of Commissioners on The Irrigation of The San Joaquin, Tulare, and Sacramento
Valleys of the State of California. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C.
Anonymous. 1873. Irrigation in California, The San Joaquin and Tulare Plains: A Review of the
Whole Field. Record Steam Book and Job Printing House, Sacramento, CA.
Bookman-Edmonston Engineering. 1972. Report on Investigation of the Water Resources of
Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District. Glendale, CA.
Bookman-Edmonston Engineering. 1979. Water Resources Management in the Southern San
Joaquin Valley California. Prepared for the San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Water
Committee. Glendale, CA.
California Department of Fish and Game. 1987. Final Environmental Impact Report White Bass
Management Program. Sacramento CA.
California Department of Public Works (CDPW). 1931. San Joaquin River Basin. Bulletin 29.
California Department of Water Resources. 1983. Kaweah River Flows, diversions and Storage
1975-80. Bulletin 49-F. Sacramento, CA.
California Department of Water Resources. 1984. California High Water 1982-83. Bulletin 69-
83. Sacramento, CA.
California Department of Water Resources. 1999a. California Water Plan Update, Volume 1.
Bulletin 160-98(1). Sacramento, CA.
California Department of Water Resources. 1999b. California State Water Project Atlas.
Sacramento, CA.
City of Bakersfield. 2003. Kern River Parkway 2003 Recreational Flow Guide. Retrieved May
2005 from http://www.bakersfieldcity.us/cityservices/water/index.htm
City of Bakersfield Water Resources Department. 2003a. The Kern River Purchase. Retrieved
May 2005 from http://www.bakersfieldcity.us/cityservices/water/
City of Bakersfield Water Resources Department. 2003b. The Kern River Parkway Recreational
Flow Guide for 2003. Retrieved May 2005 from
http://www.bakersfieldcity.us/cityservices/water/
Clapp, W. B. and F. F. Henshaw. 1911. Surface Water Supply of the United States. 1909.
Department of the Interior, United States Geological Survey. Water Supply Paper 271.
Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.
80 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
image:
Cloern, J. E. and F. H. Nichols, eds. 1985. Temporal dynamics of an estuary: San Francisco
Bay, Dr. W. Junk Publishers, Dordrecht. (Original work published in 1985 in
Hydrobiologia, v. 129.)
Coulter, T. 1835. Notes on Upper California. Journal of the Royal Geographical Society of
London 5:59-70.
Davis, F. W., D. M. Stoms, A. D. Hollander, K. A. Thomas, P. A. Stine, D. Odion, M. I. Borchert,
J. H. Thorne, M. V. Gray, R. E. Walker, K. Warner, and J. Graae. (1998a). The California
Gap Analysis Project-Final Report. Santa Barbara, CA. University of California.
Davis, G. H., J. H. Green, F. H. Olmsted and D.W. Brown. 1959. Ground-Water Conditions and
Storage Capacity in the San Joaquin Valley, California. U.S. Geological Survey Water-
Supply Paper 1469.
Farquhar, F. P., ed. 1932. The Topographical Reports of Lieutenant George H. Derby, Part II.
Report on the Tulare Valley of California, April and May 1850. California Historical
Society XI(2):247-265.
Farquhar, F. P., ed. 1974. Up and Down California in 1860-1864: The Journal of William H.
Brewer. Third edition. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA. (Original work
published 1861, by Brewer, W.H.)
Fredrickson, David A. 1983. Buena Vista Lake (CA-KER-116) Revisited. Coyote Press Archives
of California Prehistory, 6:75-81, 1986. (Original work published 1983 in Symposium: A
New Look at some Old Sites. Papers from the Symposium Organized by Francis A.
Riddell. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for California Archaeology,
March 23-26, 1983, San Diego, California.)
Fremont, J. C. 1964. Geographical Memoir upon Upper California in Illustration of his Map of
Oregon and California by John Charles Fremont. Newly Reprinted from the Edition of
1848 with Introductions by Allan Nevins and Dale L. Morgan and a Reproduction of the
Map. The Book Club of California, San Francisco, California. (Original published in 1848.)
Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District. 2004. 2004 District Services Plan.
Fugro West, Inc. 2003. Water Resources Investigation of the Kaweah Delta Water
Conservation District.
Graumlich, L. J. 1987. Precipitation variation in the Pacific Northwest (1675-1975) as
reconstructed from tree rings. Annals of the Association of American Geographers
77:19-29.
Grunsky, C. E. 1898a. Irrigation near Bakersfield, California: U.S. Geological Survey Water
Supply Paper 17.
81 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
image:
Grunsky, C. E. 1898b. Irrigation near Fresno, California: U.S. Geological Survey Water Supply
Paper 18.
Hall, W. H. 1886a. Physical Data and Statistics of California: Tables and Memoranda. State
Engineering Department of California, Sacramento, California.
Hall, W. H. 1886b. Topographical and Irrigation Map of the San Joaquin Valley. California State
Engineering Department, Sacramento. The Dept, 1887. San Francisco, California.
Lithographers: Britton & Rey.
Hall, W. H. 1887. Topographical and Irrigation Map of the Great Central Valley of California:
Embracing the Sacramento, San Joaquin, Tulare and Kern Valleys and the Bordering
Foothills. California State Engineering Department, Sacramento. The Dept., 1887. San
Francisco, California. Lithographers: Britton & Rey.
Ingerson, I. M. 1941. The hydrology of the Southern San Joaquin Valley, California, and its
relation to imported water supplies. Pages 20-45, American Geophysical Union
Transactions, Part I, Reports and Papers (A). Section of Hydrology, National Research
Council, Washington, D.C.
Johnson, W. 2004. Water Connections Tulare Lake Basin. USACOE, Sacramento District Office
Report.
Kings River Conservation District and Kings River Water Association. 1994, The Kings River
Handbook
Kings River Water Association. 1980. Watermaster Report 1978-79
Kings River Water Association. 1989. Watermaster Report 1987-88
Kings River Water Association. 1996. Watermaster Report 1994-95
Kern County Water Agency. 2003. Water Supply Report 1999.
Kern County Water Agency. 2002. Water Supply Report 1998.
Latta, F. F. 1937. Little Journeys in the San Joaquin.
Mayfield, Thomas Jefferson. 1993. Indian Summer Traditional Life Among the Choinumne
Indians of Califronia's San Joaquin Valley. Heyday Books, Berkeley, California.
McBain and Trush, eds. 2002. San Joaquin River restoration study background report.
Prepared for Friant Water Users Authority, Lindsay, California, and Natural Resources
Defense Council, San Francisco, California.
Mendenhall, W. C., R. B. Dole, and H. Stabler. 1916. Ground Water in San Joaquin Valley,
California. USGS Water Supply Paper 398.
82 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
image:
Moyle, P. B. 1976. Inland Fishes of California. University of California Press, Berkeley,
California.
Moyle, P. B. 2002. Inland Fishes of California. University of California Press, Berkeley
California.
Page, R. W. 1986. Geology of the Fresh Ground-Water Basin of the Central Valley, California,
with Texture Maps and Sections. U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1401-C.
Preston, W. L. 1981. Vanishing Landscapes: Land and Life in the Tulare Lake Basin. University
of California Press, Berkeley, California.
Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley Region. September 2004. Amendments
to the Water Quality Control Plan for the Sacramento River and San Joaquin River Basins
for the Control of Salt and Boron Discharges into the Lower San Joaquin River. Final
Staff Report.
SAIC. 2003a. Existing East Side Conveyance and Exchange Facilities. Technical Memorandum
for Task 807. Prepared for the FWUA/MWD Partnership.
SAIC. 2003b. Existing West Side Conveyance and Exchange Facilities. Technical Memorandum
for Task 806. Prepared for the FWUA/MWD Partnership.
San Joaquin Valley Drainage Program (SJVDP). 1990. Fish and Wildlife Resources and
Agricultural Drainage in the San Joaquin Valley, California, Volume I.
Schroeder, R. A. et al. 1988. Reconnaissance Investigation of Water Quality, bottom Sediment,
and Biota Associated with irrigation Drainage in the Tulare Lake Bed Area, Southern San
Valley, California, 1986-87. USGS Water-resources investigation Report 88-4001.
Semitropic Water Storage District. 2004. Groundwater Banking FAQ. Retrieved June 2005,
from http://www.semitropic.com/GndwtrBankFAOs.htm
Stine, S. 1990. Late Holocene fluctuations of Mono Lake, eastern California. Palaeogeography,
Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 78:333-381.
Stine, S. 1994. Extreme and persistent drought in California and Patagonia during mediaeval
time. Letters to Nature, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies,
California State University, Hayward, California, v. 369.
Stine, S. 1996. Climate, 1650-1850. Sierra Nevada Ecosystem Project (SNEP): Final Report to
Congress. Vol. II: Assessments and Scientific Basis for Management Options. University
of California. Wildland Resources Center Report No. 37. University of California, Davis,
California.
The Bay Institute. 1998. From the Sierra to the Sea: The Ecological History of the San
Francisco Bay-Delta Watershed. Novato, California.
83 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
image:
Tulare Lake Basin Water Storage District. 1981. Report on Irrigation, Drainage, and Flooding
in the Tulare Lake Basin.
Tule River Association. 1989. Annual Report 1988 Water Year.
Tule River Association. 1997. Annual Report 1996 Water Year.
Tule River Association. 1999. Annual Report 1998 Water Year.
URS. 2002. Water Supply Study Development of Water Supply Alternatives for Use in Habitat
Restoration for the San Joaquin River. Prepared for FWUA and NRDC Coalition.
United States Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District. 1972. Flood Plain Information
Sand and Cottonwood Creeks and the Lower Kaweah River Visalia California.
United States Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District. 1996. Kaweah River Basin
Investigation, California Final Feasibility Report and EIS/EIR.
United States Bureau of Reclamation. 1970. A Summary of Hydrologic Data for the Test Case
on Acreage Limitation in Tulare Lake. Sacramento, California.
United States Bureau of Reclamation. 2001. Mendota Pool Exchange Agreement Draft
Environmental Assessment.
United States Bureau of Reclamation. 2004. Reclamation District 770 Pump-In Project
Environmental Assessment.
U.S. Geological Survey. 1998. Environmental Setting of the San Joaquin-Tulare Basins,
California. Water Resources Investigations Report 97-4205. Sacramento, California.
Vorster, Peter. 1985. A Water Balance Forecast Model for Mono Lake, California. Earth
Resources Monograph No. 10, USDA United States Forest Service.
Warner, R. F. and K. Hendrix. 1985. Riparian Resources of the Central Valley and California
Desert, A Report On Their Nature, History and Status with Recommendation For Their
Revitalization and Management. Final Draft, California Department of Fish and Game.
Williamson, Lieutenant R. S. 1853. Corps of Topographical Engineers Report of Explorations in
California for Railroad Routes, to connect with the routes near the 35th and 32nd
parallels of north latitude. War Department: Washington, D.C. 1855.
Williamson, A. K., D. E. Prudic, and L A. Swain. 1985. Ground-Water Flow in the Central
Valley, California. USGS Open-File Report 85-345.
Williamson, A. K., D. E. Prudic, and L A. Swain. 1989. Ground-Water Flow in the Central
Valley, California. USGS Professional Paper 1401-D.
84 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
image:
Yoshiyama, R. M., E. R. Gerstung, F. W. Fisher, and P. B. Moyle. 1996. Historical and present
distribution of Chinook salmon in the Central Valley drainage of California. Sierra
Nevada Ecosystem Project. Final report to Congress, Vol. II: Assessments,
Commissioned Reports, and Background Information. Wildland Resources Center
Report No. 37. University of California, Davis, California.
85 2006-009 Revised Tu/are Basin Rpt 2007
image:
7.0 TEXT FOR FOOTNOTE REFERENCES
Alexander, Lieut. Col. B. S., Maj. G. H. Mendell, and Prof. G. Davidson, 1874.
Alexander et. al., 1874.
Anonymous, 1873.
Bookman-Edmonston Engineering, 1979.
Bookman-Edmonston Engineering, 1972.
California Department of Fish and Game, 1987.
California Department of Water Resources, 1983.
California Department of Water Resources, 1984.
California Department of Water Resources, 1999a.
California Department of Water Resources, 1999b.
City of Bakersfield Water Resources Department, 2003a.
City of Bakersfield Water Resources Department, 2003b.
City of Bakersfield. 2003.
Clapp, W. B. and F. F. Henshaw, 1911.
Cloern, J. E. and F. H. Nichols, eds., 1985.
Coulter, T, 1835.
Davis, 1998a.
Davis, G. H., J. H. Green, F. H. Olmsted and D.W. Brown, 1959.
Davis et. al., 1959.
Farquhar, F. P., ed., 1932.
Farquhar, F. P., ed., 1974.
Fredrickson, David A., 1983.
Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District. 2004.
Fugro West, Inc., 2003.
Graumlich, L J., 1987.
Grunsky, C. E. 1898a.
Grunsky, C. E. 1898b.
Hall, W. H., 1886a.
Hall, W. H., 1886b.
Hall, W. H., 1887.
Ingerson, I. M., 1941.
Johnson, W., 2004.
Kings River Water Association, 1996.
Kings River Water Association, 1980.
Kings River Water Association, 1989.
Latta, F. F., 1937.
Kern County Water Agency, 2003.
Mayfield, Thomas Jefferson, 1993.
McBain and Trush, eds., 2002.
Mendenhall, W. C., R. B. Dole, and H. Stabler, 1916.
Mendenhall et. al., 1916.
Moyle, P. B., 1976.
Moyle, P. B., 2002.
Page, R. W., 1986.
86 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
image:
Preston, W. L, 1981.
Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley Region, September 2004.
SAIC, 2003a.
SAIC, 2003b.
San Joaquin Valley Drainage Program (SJVDP), 1990.
Schroeder, R. A. et ah, 1988.
Stine, S., 1990.
Stine, S., 1994.
Stine, S., 1996.
The Bay Institute, 1998.
Tulare Lake Basin Water Storage District, 1981.
Tule River Association, 1999.
Tule River Association, 1997.
Tule River Association, 1989.
URS, 2002.
United States Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, 1972.
United States Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, 1996.
United States Bureau of Reclamation, 1970.
United States Bureau of Reclamation, 2001.
United States Bureau of Reclamation, 2004.
U.S. Geological Survey, 1998.
Vorster, Peter, 1985.
Warner, R. F. and K. Hendrix, 1985.
Williamson, Lieutenant R. S., 1853.
Williamson, A. K., D. E. Prudic, and L A. Swain, 1985.
Williamson et. al., 1985.
Williamson, A. K., D. E. Prudic, and L A. Swain, 1989.
Williamson et. al., 1989. Yoshiyama, R. M., E. R. Gerstung, F. W. Fisher, and P. B. Moyle, 1996.
Yoshiyama et. al., 1996.
87 2006-009 Revised Tulare Basin Rpt 2007
image:
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Kings River Hydrograph
Figure 2: Kaweah Delta Channels Schematic
Figure 3: Kaweah River Hydrograph
Figure 4: Tule River Hydrograph
Figure 5: Intersection of the .Cross Valley Canal and Kern River
Figure 6: Kern River Hydrograph
Figure 7: Tulare Lake Bottom Storage Cell Map
image:
Figure 1: Kings River Hydrograph
u
C
O
U
u
w
3
a
u.
u
18000
16000
14000
12000
10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
Kings River at Pine Flat Reservoir
Unimpaired Inflow and Actual Outflow
For Dry, Wet and Median Water Years
Wet
(«18°/o exceedance)
Median
(s50% exceedance)
Dry
(a89% exceedance)
Water Year:
Annual Inflow*:
1988
319,947 AF
1998
2,981,242 AF
2000
1,500,621 AF
*Long-term average annual inflow for period of record 1962-2006 is 1,791,366 AF
Source: USACOE data
image:
Figure 2: Kaweah Delta Channels Schematic
SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM OF CHANNELS AND DIVERSIONS IN KAWEAH DELTA
BOOKMAN ant EDUOIISTON
FEBRUARY 1972
image:
Figure 3: Kaweah River Hydrograph
6000
Kaweah River at Lake Kaweah
Unimpaired Inflow and Actual Outflow
For Dry, Wet and Median Water Years
Wet
rs7°/o exceeda~n~«0
Dry
(«89% exceedance
Wator Your:
Annual Inflow*:
2000
369,379 AF
*Long-term average annual inflow for period of record 1962-2006 is 473,636 AF
Source: USACOE data
image:
Figure 4: Tule River Hydrograph
5500
5000
Tule River at Lake Success
Unimpaired Inflow and Actual Outflow
For Dry, Wet and Median Water Years
12
u
u
01
U)
u
a
0)
u.
.0
U
Water Your:
Annual Inflow*:
(a54% exceedance)
Dry
(K86°/o exceedance)
2000
107,534 AF
*Long-term average annual inflow for period of record 1962-2006 is 155,503 AF
Source: USACOE data
image:
Figure 5: Intersection of the Cross Valley Canal and Kern River
^^jffl^MaBaBSSi California StaleU^rsl^t Bal^stield^^
^^^^^^^^^^^v^^^^^^i^K
'^^K^^^^^^W^-1^ T-
.!_• a. jjSr-^Cifeoijn •^fltt^ss?^"--"-' '•' "•••'-.si
Photo Courtesy Kern County Water Agency.
Management and conjunctive use o* water supplies from Central Valley Project, State Water Project and Kern
River are made possible by water transfers in interconnecting water conveyance facilities westerly of
Bakersfield.
image:
Figure 6: Kern River Hydrograph
8000
Kern River at Isabella Lake
Unimpaired Inflow and Actual Outflow
For Dry, Wet and Median Water Years
Median
(»59°/o exceedance)
Water Your.
Annual Inflow*:
1998
1,717,967 AF
a.
zaotft
476,195 AF
*Long-term average annual inflow for period of record 1962-2006 is 802,384 AF
Source: USACOE data
image:
Figure 7: Tulare Lake Bottom Storage Cell Map
" " "Hrv* 6Jrty tSrW LVirtf 5" " "
Hrm cart/ ana Lnion c
TWarn latabod bouiKlBy
TUO (tederdo Eva poof ton &idn
So irtti Ann Ffood Colls
I<AV\£A1-I RIVER BASIN INVESTIGMION
CAUFORNIA
TULARE LAKEBED
SACRAMENTO CKSTTilCT COWS C*= ENGIf JEEns
OC1OBER 1PP5
image:
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Drainage Areas and Mean Annual Runoff
Table 2: Runoff Totals for the Four-Tu!are Basin Rivers
Table 3: Minor Stream Runoff
Table 4: Reservoir Information
Table 5: Kings River Water Distribution
Table 6: Bodies of Water in the Kaweah-Tulare Lake Basin that Contain White Bass
(reproduced from CDFG 197)
Table 7: Kaweah River Water Distribution
Table 8: Tule River Water Distribution
Table 9: Tulare Lake Basin Water Imports and Exports
Table 10: Summary of Hydrographic and Hydraulic Connections
Table lla: Hydrographic Pathways Out of the Tulare Lake Basin for Non-Swimming
Organisms and Toxicants
Table lib: Potential Hydrographic Pathways Out of the Tulare Lake Basin for
Swimming Organisms
Table 12: Fish Species of the Tulare Lake Basin
image:
Table 1: Drainage Areas and Mean Annual Runoff
KINGS RIVER
Above Pine Flat Dam1
Mill Creek near Piedra2
COTTONWOOD CREEK
Near Elderwood
KAWEAH RIVER
Above Terminus Dam - Lake Kaweah
Dry Creek near Lemoncove
at McKay Point
rULE RIVER
Above Success Dam
DEER CREEK
Near fountain springs
WHITE RIVER
Near Ducor
POSO CREEK
Near Oildale
KERN RIVER
Above Isabella Dam
Near Bakersfield (Kern River at first point of measurement)
CALIENTE CREEK
At Caiiente
LOS GATOS CREEK
Above Nunez Canyon near Coalinga
At 1-5
Drainage area (sq mi)
1,545
127
60
561
80
647
391
83
91
230
2,074
2,407
322
96
514
Mean Annual Runoff (MAR) (AF)
1,790,536
30,625
9,484
475,223
15,783
158,911
23,892
6,842
32,218
813,400
1,636
2,563
1 Four river runoff above reservoir is mean annual unimpaired runoff for the 1962-2001 period.
2 All other stream runoff is for 1974 calendar year, which was an approximately average runoff year (109% of the 1962-2001
average).
2006-009 Table 1
image:
Table 2: Runoff Totals for the Four Tufare Basin Rivers
Year
1891
1895
1395
1897
1898
1899
1900. .
1901
1902
1903
1904 ..
1905
1906
1907
. HOB. .
1909
- - 19 JO
1911
1912, ...
1913
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
..' 192*
1925
192S
1927
.. '1928
1929
' 1930
1931
_1932 ,
1933
'1934
1935
1936
1937
1938
1939
1910
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
1948 ."
1949
'1950
1951
' :: : 1951. ._.
1953
1954"
1955
' '1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
196-1
1965
1966
1967
196B
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
19B2
1983
1984
1985
19B6
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
Kinus
TAF % of OVB
1459
2242
1536
1948
, .^..
1278
1307
2956
1505
1640
1687
1448
"~ 3900
2733
997
2742
1718
274S
: .567
940
2475
1795
2938
1862
1349
1190
1392
1507
2167
1535
392
1275
1024
1941
959
848
857.
466
2038
1176
"" 647
1599
-.1829
2273
3181
962
1T17
2465
1980
1973
1149
2018
1599
1098
'.".'. .389
953
127J
IS76
.... 2751
1146
1300
1100
2516
1246
2154
610
713 .
555
1B37
1B55
B56
1930
1197" ~~
3225
822
1198
1298
1156
849
20B5
2056
1558
535
386
3363
1701
2992
1028
30S3
4287
1935
1236
3190
764
820
697
684
1061
699
2479
867
87%
134%
91%
116%
52%
76%
78%
176%
90=4
98%
100%
86%
232%
163%
59%
163%
.. .102%
164%
58%
56%
147%
107%
. ..175%
111%
80%
71%
83%
90%
129*
91%
23%
76%
61%
116%
57%
51%
51%
28%
121%
70%
39%
95%
109%
135%
190%
57%
102-^,
147%
I1B%
118%
68%
120%
95%
65%
59%
57%
76%
94%
. _ 164%
68%
77%
66%
15Ki
74%
146%
48%
.42-ii,
33%
109%
111%
51%
115%
71% '
192%
49%
250%
77%
69%
51%
124%
122%
93%
32ft
23%
200",
101%
178%
61%
182%
255%
115%
74%
190%
46%
49%
53%
41%
63%
42%
148%
52%
Kawcah
TAF Ve at Bvg
352
579
377
500
194
274
277
6BO
360
382
385
348
1149
609
257
B02
409 _
546
207
221
' ' 486
370
762 _.
471
228
259
350 ...
348
461
363
102
325
219
483
203 .
223
218
114
520
284
131
358
487
677
871
247
513
6-12
491
671
315
551
356
265
361
219
301
421
825
308
306
276
725
295
640
155
180
117
401
191
230
488
248
1025
220
1271
359
293
168
616
490
3B4
147
94
034 ~
416
885
218
772
1402
517
332
BIS
192
186
215
141
252
149
5-19
192
82%
135%
88%
117%
45%
64%
65%
159%
84%
89%
90%
81%
268%
142%
. 60% '
187%
95%
127%
48% "
51%
113%
86%
178%
110%
53=4,'
60%
... 82%
81%
108%
85%
24%'
76%
51%
113%
47%
52%
51%
27%
121%
66%
30%
83%
!M%
158%
203%
58%
120?*
150%
Il4ta
157%
74%
12B%
83%
62%
61r;t
51%
70%
98%
192-Vj
72%
71%
64%
.169%
69%
149%
36%
42%
27%
93%
115%
54%
114%
58%
239%
51%
296%
84%
68%
39%
144%
114%
89%
34vi
22%
194%
97%
206%
58%
150%
327%
121%
78%
190%
45%
43%
50%
33%
59%
35%
128%
45%
Tulc
TAF %of.ivg
104
208
117
177
38
4B
45
174
104
101
99
105
469
203
. 110
284
156
184
43 "
46
159
84
. 310 .
133
53
71
86
97
IB
99
24
85
57
164
59
48
SI
25
138
80
ao
89
171
306
355
83
211
236
136 "
364
102 .
203
94
52
64
49
62
154
320
99
89
65
209
65
223
32
48
25
86
120
60
138
47
374
67
504
122
84
35
225
157
122
42
16
273
114
330
80
230
615
187
112
247
57
46
55
30
60
31
140
45
75%
149%
84%
127%
27%
34%
"32%
125%
75%
72%
71%
75%
337%
149%
79%
204%
112%' "
132%
31%
33%
114%
60%
223%
96%
38%
51%
62%
70%
89%
71%
17%
61%
41%
117%
43%
34%
37%
18%
'99% . .
57%
15%
64%
122%
219%
255%
60%
151%
169V.
97%
262%
73%
146%
67%
37%
46%
35%
44% '
111%
230%
71%
64%
46%
'ISOFA'
47%
160%
23%
" 35%
18%
62%
86%
43%
99%
34%
2687,
48%
362%
88%
60%
15%
162%
112%
88%
3K-.
11%
156%
82%
237%
58%
165Va
411%
134%
60%
177%
41%
33%
39%
21%
43%
22Hi
101%
33%
Kern
TAF % of avn
533 ,
1023
6KT
893
252; :
339
332"
880
553
546
~" WIT •
532
1901
991
499 "
1839
6S9
1013
387
36B
1114
645
2520 --•
823
539
499
'"BOf
510
. ., J6i
501
..-.Jffl
166
' ' " 367 '
793
:..' 3»
323
350
186
.. 738 1
441
228
474
796
1260
1359
461
789
1401
772 .
1221
626
938
- 651 __
407
330
303
601
442
Tsbi
549
528
444
841
444
1105
258
300
178
698
801
339
720
679
1396
454
2461
SSI
427
268
980
319
565
249
197
1654
673
1640
449
1271
2189
822
672
1445
376
295
397
204
406
297
B54
336
73%
140%
85%
122%
34%
46%
: 45%
120%
75%
74%
67%
73%
259%
135%
«%"
251%
"9CW,
138%
. ^r
50%
152%
88%
341%
112%
74%
68%
82% '.."
70%
T; 117%
68%
_ 26%
64%
50%
10B%
"43%
44%
"48%
25%
ww
60%
31%
65%
109%
172%
185%
63%
108%, ,
191%
105%
167%
85%
128%
"89%
56%
45%
41%
82%
60%
205-%
75%
72-%
61%
115%
61%
151%
35%
"41%
24%
95%
109%
46%
98%
93%
190%
6'2=.i
336%
60»=
58%
37%
134%
112%
77%
34%
27%
226%
92%
224%
61%
173%
310%
112%
92%
197=.i
51%
40%
54%
28%
55%
41%
116%
46%
Total
TAF
2448
4052
2650
3518
1365
1939
1961
4690
2522
2669
266-1
2433
7419
4541
1863
5667
2942
4492
" 1604
1574
4233
2B94
6531
3290
2168
2018
2428.
2461
3613
2498
706
2152
1667
3381
1534
1442
1476
79!
3431
1980
1026
2519
3283
4516
5766
1754
3229
4743
3378
4230
2193
3709
2700
1822
1615
1521
2236
2593
5397
21D2
2223
18B4
4591
2050
4-122
1254
1241
875
3021
3268
1485
3275
2171
6020
1564
8434
2369
1960
1320
3906
3521
2629
974
693
6124
2904
5846
1806
5326
8793
3460
2352
5697
1389
1347
1561
1059
1779
1177
4023
1441
1894-2001
% of avg
82%
136%
89*
118%
46%
65%
t&%
157%
85%
90%
89%
82%
249%
152%
63%
190%
99%" '
151%
54%
53%
142%
97%
219%
110%
73%
68%
81%
83%
121%
84%
24%
72%
56%
113%
51%
48%
50%
27%
115% ..
66%
34%
857.
110%
152%
193%
59%
108%
159%
113%
142%
74%
124%
91%
61%
55%
51%
75%
87%
181%
71%
75%
53%
144%
69%
148%
42%
42%
29%
101%
110%
50%
110%
'73%
202%
52%
283%
80*,
66%
44%
131%
118%
GB%
33%
23%
205%
97%
196%
617=
179"i
2957=
116%
797=
1911:-,
47%
45H-C
52%
36%
60%
39%
13S%
46%
1962-2001
Vocfnvq
76%
125%
82%:
109%
42% "
60%
61%
145%
" 78%
82%
82%
75%
229%
140%
SSn
175%
91%
139%
50%
49%
' 131% "
B9%
'202%
102%
67%
62%
7~S%" '
76%
112% _
77%
22%
66%
"51%
104%
- 47%
45%
16%
24%
106%
61%
32%
78%
101% .
139%
178%
54%
ioo%
14614
104%
131%
68%
115%
83%
56%
SJ'.b
47%
69%
80%
167%
65%
58%
133%
63%
137%
39%
38%
27%
93%
101%
46%
101%
67%
186%
48%
260%
73%
6!%
41%
121%
109',u
81%
30%
21%
183%
90%
181%
56%
1647.
272%
107%
737.
176%
437,
42%
4B7s
33%
55%
36%
124%
44ii
image:
Table 2: Runoff Totals for the FourTulare Basin Rivera (Continued)
Year
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
Klnqs
TAP
3371
2062
2563
2931
1242
1501
1002
<Vb oravg
,. 201%
123%
. ' 153*
178%
... 71%
89%
60%
Kziwcah
TAP
556
528
764
934
266
369
262
% of am
202%
123%
17B%
218%
62%
86%
61%
Tulc
TAP
252
169
357
461
97
109
S9
% of avo
181%
121%
2S73i
331%
70%
77%
•12%
Kcm
TAF 1 % of nvg
1385
1038
1182
1718
,w ~
476
' 381" " '
189%
142%
161%
234%
H%""
65%
: saw
Total
TAF
5874
3796
4866
6095
. 2039 .
2454
1704
1894-2001
% of avo
197%
127%
163%
205%
68%
B2%
'57%
1962-2001
% or avq
IBltt
117%
150%
1BB%
63%
76%
53%
1894-2001 Averac 1.6B1 430 MO 735 2,985
1962-2001 Avcrac 1.789 477 161 816 3.244
Notes
1. Percent of average is Tar Uie 1354-2001 iona-term averaac
2. Kirtas. Kaweah. and Tule-1909-2000 from USAGE data; 1B94-J908 from USER 1970 which uses USGS and USAGE data for Kings and coiretation for Kaweah antJ Tule; 2001 data frooi DWR CDEC web site
3, KenLdata from 1694 j&99from K\VCA lgg_9_watetsypolv report; 2000 and 2001 from CDEC; 1916 runoff total of 2.5 HAF is suspect since U5GS gaging station only shows about 2.0 MAP
image:
Table 3: Minor Stream Runoff
4-river runoff % of average
Minor Stream
Mill Creek
Cottonwood Creek
Sand Creek
Dry Creek
Deer Creek
White River
Poso Creek
Caliente Creek
Los Gatos Creek
Calendar Year
1977
23%
Runoff (AF)1
2,165
94
25
796
3,504
557
1,853
109
449
1978
205%
Runoff (AF)
88,328
27,946
11,801
42,716
36,345
16,869
50,752
24,761
28,815
1979
97%
Runoff (AF)
25,412
7,747
3,077
12,163
15,856
4,967
22,734
3,374
2,758
1983
295%
Runoff (AF)
143,352
51,621
20,924
86,156
107,876
34,028
155,660
N/A2
34,100
1 From USGS records available on-line, calendar year values.
2 N/A - not available.
2006-009 Table 3
image:
Table 4: Reservoir Information
KINGS RIVER
Pine Flat Dam - Pine Flat Lake
Courtwright Reservoir
Wishon Reservoir
KAWEAH RIVER
Terminus Dam - Lake Kaweah
Spillway raise
TULE RIVER
Success Dam - Success Lake
Temporary storage restriction
KERN RIVER
Isabella Dam - Lake Isabella
Year completed
1952
1958
1957
1961
2004
1951
2004
1953
Capacity (AF)
1,000,000
123,300
128,600
143,000
185,630
82,300
29,200
568,000
Operator
USACOE
PG&E
PG&E
USACOE
USACOE
USACOE
2006-009 Table 4
image:
Table 5: Kings River Water Distribution
Location
Gould Canal
Fresno Canal
Consolidated Canal
Alta Canal
Peoples Canal
Lakelands Canal
Lemoore Canal
Last Chance Ditch
Westlake Canal
Empire Westside Canal
Stratford Canal
Empire Weir #2 (over weir)
Blakely Canal
Tulare Lake Canal
Friant-Kern Canal into River'1
Fresno Slough
Total Diversions3
19791- 102% of average
Volume
(TAP)
157.8
475.1
492.4
210.6
234.4
34.3
107.8
107.9
13.3
17.1
7.3
14.3
43.1
55.2
191.0
11.8
2223.5
Flow (cfs) and period3
< 419 cfs; Oct-Sep, no flow mid-Nov
to early Dec
< 1406 cfs; Oct-Nov, late Feb-Sep
< 1934 cfs; Oct-Nov, Feb-Sep,
continuous Apr-Jul
< 939 cfs, Oct, mid-Apr to Aug
< 768 cfs; Oct-Sep; continuous mid-
Dec to early Sep
< 340 cfs; Apr-Sep discontinuous
< 469 cfs, iate Jan to Sep; no flow in
mid May
< 379 cfs, Oct-Sep; continuous mid-
May to Aug
< 57 cfs, Oct-Sep; continuous mid May
to Aug
< 87 cfs, Oct-Sep; continuous mid Apr
to early-Sept
< 65 cfs, Oct-Sep discontinuous
< 149 cfs, Oct-Sep; discontinuous
< 215 cfs, Nov-Aug discontinuous
< 337 cfs, Oct-Sep discontinuous
Oct, Nov, Feb-Apr, Jul, Aug
< 984 cfs; Feb-Jul discontinuous
Year round, June and July maximum
1988 - 49% of average
Volume
(TAP)
94.1
331.0
80.2
59.3
100.5
18.9
76.6
31.2
2.9
4.5
4.0
9.2
14.1
17.8
45.1
0
857.2
Flow (cfs) and period
< 426 cfs; late Dec to early Aug; Apr,
May discontinuous
< 1538 cfs; late Feb to Sep; Apr, May
discontinuous
< 1535 cfs; Jan, May-Aug,
discontinuous
< 670 cfs, Jun-July
< 783 cfs; Feb-Sep; continuous June
to mid-Sep
< 170 cfs; Jun-Aug
< 448 cfs, mid-Feb to early Apr, Jun to
early Sep
< 433 cfs; Jan, Jun-July
< 61 cfs, Jun-Aug discontinuous
< 68 cfs, Feb, Jun-Aug;
< 65 cfs, Mar, Jun-Aug discontinuous
< 149 cfs, Jan, Feb, Jun-Aug;
discontinuous
< 217 cfs, Jun-Aug; discontinuous
< 356 cfs, Jan, Feb, Jun-Aug
discontinuous
May-July
N/A
Dec-Sep, June and July maximum
19952 - 203% of average
Volume
(TAP)
101.1
399.0
441.2
235.5
210.4
53.0
79.2
102.3
1.4
6.0
6.1
56.6
23.2
48.2
58.9
586.5
2080.9
Flow (cfs) and period
< 426 cfs; Oct-Sep, Mar discontinuous
< 1510 cfs; Feb, Mar, Apr-Sep
<1850 cfs; Jan, Mar, Apr-Sept
< 945 cfs, Apr-Sep;
< 927 cfs, Jan-Sep;
< 478; May, July-Sep
< 410 cfs, Jan-Sep; continuous mid-
Mar to Sep
< 415 cfs, Jan-Sep; continuous mid-
Mar to Sep
< 52 cfs; Aug only
< 50 cfs, Apr-Sep; continuous June to
mid-Sept
< 60 cfs, Apr-Sep; continuous June to
mid-Sept
< 677 cfs, Apr-Sep; continuous June
to early Sept
< 197 cfs, Apr-Sep; continuous June
to early Sept
<413 cfs, Apr-Sep; continuous June to
early Sept
Feb, Mar, Sep
< 3994 cfs; Mar-Aug
Year round, May and July maximum
11979 followed wet 1978; fall and early winter water reflects antecedent conditions.
2 1995 followed very dry 1994; fall and early winter lack of water reflects antecedent conditions.
3 Cfs is max flow; all periods listed have continuous flow unless noted otherwise; discontinuous signifies that 2 or more days in month have 0 flow.
4 Friant-Kern Canal discharge into the river through the Kings River wasteway. Does not indude additional deliveries up-canal into FID system.
5 Total River diversions minus Fresno Slough flow.
2006-009
image:
Table 6: Bodies of Water in the Kaweah-Tulare Lake Basin that Contain White
Bass (reproduced from CDFG 1987)
Body of Water
TULARE COUNTY
Dewatering
Code
Volume
(acre-feet)
Rotenone
Required (gallons^
Kaweah Reservoir
Kaweah River—
below reservoir
St. Johns River
Cross Creek to Hwy 99
Cottonwood Creek
Wutchumna Ditch
Bravo Lake
Borrow Pits—
Lone Star Industries
Lindsay-Strathmore
Irrigation District
Canal
Tule River from
Road 192 to Hwy 43
Subtotal
3
2
2
5
2
5
8000
180
0-680
0
5
20
1000
845
5333
117
0-442
3
13
650
550
30
10,080-10,760
20
6,686-7,128
Alta Irrigation District Canals Below Barriers
Banks Ditch 3 2
Cross Creek Wasteway 2 0
Wiese Ditch 2 0
Kennedy Schoolhouse
Ditch 2 0
Button Ditch 2 0
Williams Ditch 3 1
Clough' Ditch 2 0
Sand Creek 2 0
Leyendekker's Ditch 3 3
Meyer's Pond 4 18
Subtotal 24
2
1
16
Kaweah Delta Water Storage District Percolation Ponds
Basin
Basin
Basin
Basin
Basin
Basin
Basin
SI
#3
Hd
is
#6
#8
#9
3
2
2
3
2
2
3
4
0
0
100
0
0
3
70
image:
Table 6: Bodies of Water in the Kaweah-Tulare Lake Basin that Contain White
Bass (reproduced from CDFG 1987) (Continued)
Dewatering Volume Rotenone
Body of Water Code facre-feet) Required (gallons)
Basin #10
Basin #11
Basin #13
Basin #17
Basin #19
Basin #18
Basin #21
Basin #22
Basin #24
Basin #28
Basin #29
Basin #30
Subtotal
2
2
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
Kaweah Delta Water Storaqe
Consolidated People's
Ditch System
Johnson Slough
Locust Grove Ditch
Extension Ditch
Davis Ditch
Catron Ditch
Rice Ditch
Outside Creek
Gray Ditch
Hutchinson Ditch
Inside Creek
Elk Bayou
Deep Creek
Negro Slough
Farmers Ditch
Tulare Colony Ditch
Mill Creek
Tulare Irrigation
Canal
Fleming Ditch
Packwood Creek
Evans Ditch
Persian Ditch
Watson Ditch
Long Canal
Ketchum Ditch
Packwood Canal
Matthews Ditch
Jennings Ditch
Modoc Ditch
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
0
0
11
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.
118
District Canals
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0-20
0
0
0
15
0-35
0-5
0-4
0
0
0-35
0
0-25
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
—
8
1
0.5
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
84 .5
--
--
—
—
—
—
—
0-13
--
—
—
10
0-23
0-3
0-3
—
—
0-23
--
0-16
—
—
—
--
--
—
—
--
—
image:
Table 6: Bodies of Water in the Kaweah-Tulare Lake Basin that Contain White
Bass (reproduced from CDFG 1987) (Continued)
Dewatering Volume Rotenone
Body of Water Code (acre-feet) Required f gal Ions)_
Uphill Ditch
Goshen Ditch
Elbow Creek
Tulare Irrigation
District Canal
Cameron Creek
Miot Ditch
Kaweah Canal
Cardoza Ditch
Bates Slough
Subtotal
KINGS COUNTY
2
2
3
2
2
2
2
2
3
0
0
5
0-80
0-45
0
0
0
22
44-293
- 3
0-52
0-29
—
—
—
14
24-190
South Fork Kings River
below Weir 1 4 425 . 276
Tule River downstream
from Hwy 43 4 700 455
Blakely Canal 4 150 98
Stratford Canal 30
Tulare Lake Canal 4 165 197
Gates-Jones Canal 4 210 137
Wilbur Ditch 4 115 75
Empire Wes'tside Canal 4 25 16
Hacienda Main Canal 4 65 42
Westlake Farms Canal 4 25 16
Sand Ridge Canal 4 30 20
Homeland Canal 4 340 221
Lovelace Canal 3 80 52
Lemoore Main Canal 20
McGlassen Ditch 20
Settler's Ditch East 20
Settler's Ditch West 20
Peoples Ditch 20
Last Chance Ditch 20
Lakeside Ditch 20
East Lakeside Ditch 2 0
Lakeland Canal 3 185 120
Cross Creek below Hwy 99
Middle Branch 4 145 94
East Branch 4 55 36
West Branch 3 20 13
Sweet Canal 4 110 72
Lamberson Canal 4 100 67
image:
Table 6: Bodies of Water in the Kaweah-Tulare Lake Basin that Contain White
Bass (reproduced from CDFG 1987) (Continued)
Dewatering Volume Rotenone
Body of Water Code (acre-feet) Required (gallons^
Tulare Lake Storage District Water
Lateral A 2 0
Lateral B 2 0 - —
Melga Canal 20
Kings County Company Canal
Lateral A 3 . 40 27
Lateral B 2 0
Lateral C 20
Tulare Lake Drainage District
Main Drain 3 100 67
North Percolation Pond 3 660 429
Corcoran Irrigation
District Pond 3 200 130
South Wilbur Area 10
Hacienda Ponds
East 25 3
West 10
Middle 1 o_ —
Subtotal 3950 2663
KERN COUNTY
Kern River from
Interstate 5 to
Sand Ridge Canal 3 130 85
Subtotal 130 85
TOTAL 14,346-15,275 9,558-10,167
DEWATERING CODE
1 -- Dry except under flood conditions
2 — Usually dry in late summer; dry for extended period
3 — Dewatered periodically for maintenance or other reasons
4 — Dewatered-only by pumping
5 — Retains water year-round
image:
Table 7: Kaweah River Water Distribution
Location
Wutchumna Ditch
Wutchumna Ditch for transfer1
St Johns below McKay Pt.
Lower Kaweah below McKay Pt.
Deep Creek
Packwood Creek
Mill Creek
Elk Bayou to Tule River
Lakeside ditch2
Cross Creek from Kaweah River 3
Friant-Kern Canal into St. John's
Friant-Kern Canal into Lower Kaweah
1977 - 20% of average
Volume
(TAP)
27.6
12.7
12
49
0.65
0
5.4
0
0
0
0
0
Flow (cfs) and period
< 173 cfs, Oct- Sep
< 166 cfs, Jun- Sep
No flow in Nov and Dec,
otherwise year-round
No flow in Nov and Dec,
otherwise year-round
No flow most of the year
<100 cfs June-Aug
1978 - 176% of average
Volume
(TAP)
78.0
0
381
402
85.4
31.5
42.7
13.8
98
3.6
32.5
38.9
Flow (cfs) and period
< 342 cfs, Oct- Sep
No flow in Nov, otherwise year-round
Year-round
100-300 cfs most of the year
50-200 cfs winter, spring and early
summer
50-200 cfs most of the year;
peak flows May-July
Winter and spring pulse
100-400 cfs most of the year
Feb-Mar pulse
1979 - 88% of average
Volume
(TAP)
64.8
0
146.4
210
55.2
8.5
32.4
0.03
64
0
61.7
76.9
Flow (cfs) and period
< 309 cfs, Oct- Sep
No flow in Sept, otherwise year-
round
Year-round
Winter pulse;
100-200 cfs April-Aug
Winter pulse;
10-100 cfs late May-June
50-100 cfs year-round
100-300 cfs Jan-Aug; occasional
low/0 flow In winter, July-Aug
1 Assume Transfer into Friant-Kern Canal.
2 Receives mostly St, John's Water, smaller amounts of Kings River water, Cottonwood Creek, Alta ID tailwater.
3 Assume other water in Cross Creek from St. John's River, Cottonwood Creek or Alta ID tailwater.
2006-009 TaUe 7
image:
Table 8: Tule River Water Distribution
Location
Tule River below Success2
Tule River below Porterville6
Tule River atTurnball Weir
Friant-Kern into Tule
Friant-Kern into Porter Slough
Porter Slough Headgate
RD 770 pump into Friant-Kern
Ditches
Pioneer
Cambell and Moreland
Hubbs and Miner
Poplar
Woods-Central
1998 - 297% of average
Volume
(TAP)
435
1847
60
0
0
30.5
95 to 103 a
3.7
4.1
1.2
49.2
55.1
Flow (cfs) andjjeriod1
Year round3
Continuous after 12/9; usually above
150 cfs
Mid-Jan through Sep;
up to 800 cfs
50 to 100 cfs; mid-Jan to Sep
200 - 700 cfs from 2/26 to 6/19
Year round, <1 cfs Nov - early April;
up to 19 cfs Apr-Oct
8 -19 cfs, May-Sep
3 -10 cfs, March-Sep discontinuous
50 - 100 cfs nearly year-round, zero
in Nov and early Jan
50 -200 cfs; Dec-Aug
2000 - 69% of average
Volume
(TAP)
96.9
24.3
4.7
5.9
3
4.8
0
5.4
5.5
1.5
19.3
22.6
Flow (cfs) and period
Year round1
Mid-March pulse (<=150 cfs);
June-Aug (100-200 cfs)
< 135 cfs; Late Feb to mid-March; June
pulse
< 148 cfs; Mid-Mar to early April
< 21 cfs Late Mar-Sep; Apr, May, Aug,
Sep discontinuous
< 118 cfs; mid-Feb to mid-Mar
Year-round
Mid-Mar to-Sep; discontinuous in Mar
and Apr; nearly continuous after late
Apr
Apr-Sep; discontinuous
Feb-Sep; nearly continuous from Apr-
Sep (2 days of zero flow in May)
Feb-Mar pulse; late June to Aug
1996 - 108% of average
Volume
(TAP)
168.7
54.9
8.4
13
1.2
30.6
0
5.8
7.8
1.8
40.8
13
Flow (cfs) and period
Year round5
50 - 300 cfs, Oct-Apr; Dec, Jan July,
Aug discontinuous
10 -50 cfs; late Feb-mid April;
sporadic May-July
< 115 cfs; Nov and May; 1 to 10 days
in all other months except 0 in Jan &
Sep
< 30 cfs; Apr-Sep, sporadic
< 108 cfs; Oct to early Dec, mid-Jan
to early Apr, mid-June to mid-Sept
All year except winter
Most of year except for zero cfs in Dec
& Jan and short period of no flow in
Apr, Jul, Sep
Mid-Mar to Sept discontinuous
All year except for Dec to early Feb
Feb-Mar, Aug
1 Unless otherwise noted flow is continuous for the period given. A note of "discontinuous" indicates no flow for less than 15 days per month during the period; a note of "sporadic"
indicates no flow for more than 15 days per month during the period.
2 1998 and 2000 Tule River below Success plotted as outflow in Rgure 1
3 Storage above conservation pool from November through July; flood control releases from 12/3/97 to 7/5/98
'' Storage above conservation pool from late Jan to mid-April; flood control release from 2/17/00 to 3/19/00
5 Storage above conservation pool from November to mid-April; periodic flood control release during that period
6 Rockford station
7 0 pre-rain; some diversion in winter but still peaks; steady but declining flow through summer
8 7 pumps 90 to 100 cfs capacity; Watermaster value (95) different than FWUA value (103)
2006-009 Table 8
image:
Table 9: Tulare Lake Basin Water Imports and Exports
Imports2
1. CVP
a. Friant
b. San Luis Canal
c. DMC- Mendota Pool
d. CVC
2. SWP3
Total
Exports
1. Kings River
a. James Bypass
2. Kern River Interitie
a. Friant-Kern canal
b. Kern River runoff
3. Pumped water into CA Aqueduct
Total
Water Year
1998
189%'
(TAR
882
1065
42
0
1296
3286
984
59
130
0
1173
2000
76%
(TAP)
1272
1020
107
0
2073
4472
0
0/ND
0/ND
0
0
2001
53%
(TAP)
790
992
106
14
900
2802
0
0/ND
0/ND
158
158
1 % of 1962-2006 long-term average
2 6% of the volume is added for seepage and evaporation on SWP, San Luis, and CVC.
3 SWP represents net import; additional water in the Aqueduct is passed through to regions south and west.
0/ND - No Data but assumed 0
2006-009 Table 9
image:
Table 10: Hydrographic Connections within the Tulare Lake Basin and to the San Joaquin River and California Aqueduct1
£
From
Upper/Mainstem Kings River
North Fork Kings River/James Bypass
South Fork Kinqs River
Upper Kaweah River
Wutchumna Ditch
St. John's River/Cross Creek
Lower Kaweah River
Tule River
Kern River
San Joaquin River above Mendota Pool
Mendota Pool
San Joaquin River below Mendota Pool
Frlant-Kern Canal
CA Aqueduct
Cross Valley Canal
Arvin-Edison Canal
Kern Water Bank Canal
Tulare Lakebed channels and canals
Tulare Lakebed Flood Cells
ainstem Kings River
ID
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Connectivity symbols
G gravity connection
P pumped connection
LEGEND
Color-coded frequency indicator
rare (i.e. severe flood or 1983 flood only)
infrequent (primarily in wet or dry years only)
common (majority of years)
1 Does not include the connections from the Friant-Kern Canal and Poso Creek to the California Aqueduct via the Shafter-Wasco I.D. and Semi-Tropic W.S.D, systems or the connection of the Coast Range creeks (on the West side of the Basin) to the California Aqueduct
2 Via Lakelands Canal and Alta Irrigation District distribution system,
3 Via FID irrigation system.
4 Via Kings Distribution system, documented In 1969 flood; possibly a connection in other wet years,
5 Joins channelized Tule River on Tulare Lake Bottom; see connection to Tulare Lakebed channels and canals.
6 Via Elk Bayou and Tulare Irrigation District spill.
7 Via Kern River Intertie
B Via Kern River Flood Channel and Goose Lake Canal.
9 Via Chowchilla Eastside Bypass.
10 Via Lateral 7L
11 Potential for Gravity connection via Little Dry Creek Wasteway, constructed for maintenance purposes to flush sand out of the Friant-Kern Canal but not used to-date.
12 Currently (2007) via Arvin-Edison Canal; new bi-directional connection being constructed
13 Via Lateral A.
14 Water moves by gravity from the Aqueduct into the CVC but pumping is required to move water to the east to the first demand area
15 Via Lateral B. Water from the California Aqueduct is also stored in the south end flood cells during non-flood years.
16 Via Arvin-Edison Intertie
image:
Table lla: Principal Hydrographic Pathways Out of the Tulare Lake Basin for Non-Swimming Organisms and Toxicants
Pathway
Frequency of Flow
Gravity or Pump
Comments
Upper Kings-FID system-SJR
Upper Kings-Lower Kings-James Bypass-SJR
Upper Kings- Lower Kings- James Bypass-Mendota Pool - CA
Fresno stream group- Fresno flood control- FID- SJR
Upper Kings- Lower Kings-Tulare Lakebed -SJR;
Upper Kings- F-K Canal- Kern River or CVC -CA;
Upper Kaweah- F-K Canal- Kern River or CVC -CA;
Upper Kaweah—Wutchumna Ditch- F-K Canal- CVC or Arvin-Edison Canal -CA;
Upper Tule- F-K Canal- Kern River or CVC -CA;
Kern River - CA
Kern River - Kern Water Bank or Arvin-Edison canals- CA,
most years, sporadic
high runoff periods with flood
control releases in average and
wetter years
high runoff periods in wet years
high runoff periods
1983 only
high runoff periods in wet years
high runoff periods in wet years
non-wet years, sporadic
high runoff periods in wet years
high runoff periods in wet years
drier years
gravity
gravity
gravity, pump at end
gravity
gravity, pump, gravity
pump then gravity
pump then gravity
pump then gravity or purnp
pump then gravity
gravity
gravity and pump
irrigation and winter runoff
tailwater
occurred in 14 out of 30 water
years since 1977
occurred in 1995, 1998 and 2006
occurred in 4 out of 30 water
years since 1977
occurred in 7 out of 30 water
years since 1977
occurred in 9 out of 30 water
years since 1977
occurred in 10 out of 30 years
since 1977
surface water may be in canals
when groundwater is pumped into
canal for export
Notes:
CA- California Aqueduct
CVC- Cross Valley Canal
RD- Fresno Irrigation District
F-K- Friant-Kern
SJR- San Joaquin River
"Upper" river reach is above and "Lower" is below the Friant-Kern Canal
The Kern River Intertie was completed in 1977 so that year is used as the common base year for all pathways out of the Basin
2006-009 Figures lla and lib Hydrogrvphic pathways
image:
Table lib: Potential Hydrographic Pathways Out of the Tulare Lake Basin for Swimming Organisms
Pathway
Frequency of Flow
Gravity or Pump
Comments
Upper Kings-F-K Canal- Lower Kings
Upper Kaweah-F-K Canal- Lower Kings
Upper Kaweah—Wutchumna- F-K Canal- Lower Kings
Lower Kaweah/St. John's- Alta ID system-Foothill streams- Lower Kings
Lower Kaweah/5t. John's- Alta ID system- Lower Kings
Upper Tule- F-K Canal- Lower Kings
Lower Tule-Lower Kaweah/Cross Creek-Alta ID-Lower Kings
Tulare Lakebed canals-Lower Kings
high runoff periods in wet years pump
high runoff periods in wet years pump
non-wet years, sporadic pump
high runoff periods
high runoff periods and irrigation
season
high runoff periods in wet years pump
high runoff periods and irrigation
season
high runoff periods and irrigation
season
requires flow in foothill streams; likely barriers in
non-flood conditions
likely barriers in non-flood conditions
likely barriers in non-flood conditions
CADFG indicates that canal connections may allow
fish to swim around the Empire Weirs 1 and 2.
These have not been verified.
Notes:
F-K- Friant-Kern
"Upper" river reach is above and "Lower" is below the Friant-Kem Canal
2006-009 Table 11 a and lib Hydrographic pathways
image:
Table 12: Fish species of the Tulare Lake Basin
Fish Species of the Tulare Lake Basin
Common Name
Largemouth bass
Smallmouth bass
Spotted bass
White bass1
Striped bass
Bluegill
Redear sunfish
Green sunfish
White crappie
Black crappie
Bigscale logperch
Threadfin shad
Hardhead
Sacramento blackfish
Sacramento splittail
Sacramento pikeminnow
Hitch
California roach
Golden shiner
Goldfish
Common carp
Channel catfish
White catfish
Brown bullhead
Chinook salmon
Rainbow trout
Brown trout
Inland silversides
Sacramento sucker
Riffle sculpin
Threespine stickleback
Mosquitofish
Western brook lamprey
Kern brook lamprey
Scientific Name
Micmpterus salmoides
Micropterus dolomieu
Micmpterus punctulatus
Morone chrysops
Morone saxatilis
Lepomis macrochirus
Lepomis micmlophus
Lepomis cyanellus
Pomoxis annularis
Pomoxis nigromaculatus
Percina macrolepida
Domsoma petenense
Mylophamdon conocepnalus
Orthodon micmlepidotus
Pogonichthys macrolepidotus
Ptychocheilus grandis
Lavinia exilicauda
Lavinia symmetricus
Notemigonus crysoteucas
Carassius auratus
Cyprinus carpio
Ictalurus punctatus
Ameiurus catus
Ameiurus nebu/osus
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Oncorhynchus mykiss
Salmo trutta
Menidia beryllina
Catostomus ocddenta/is
Cottus qulosus
Gasterosteus aculeatus
Gambusia affinis
Lampetra richardsoni
Lampetra hubbsi
Pine Flat
Reservoir
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
L *
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X3
X
X
X
X
X
Lake
Kaweah
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Lake
Success
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Lake
Isabella
X
X
X2
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
1 The last known occurrence of this species within the Basin was documented at Pine Flat Reservoir in 2000. Since white bass have
not been observed or captured for the last six years, this species is likely absent from the Basin (Stan Stephens and Randy Kelly,
CDFG, personal communication, August 2006).
2 Redear sunfish x green sunfish hybrid
3 Both reservoirs have been planted by CDFG.
2006-009 Table 12
image:
LIST OF MAPS
Map 1: Site and Vicinity
Map 2: San Joaquin Valley Historical Surface Hydrography
Map 3: San Joaquin Valley Current Hydrography
Map 4: Hydrography of the Lowland Tulare Lake Basin
Map 5: Tulare Lake Bottom Hydrography
Map 6: Lowland Kaweah-Kings Hydrography
image:
Pacific
Ocean
Map Features
USGS Hydrologic Unit Boundary
| | County boundary
Lowland regions
Upland regions
Map 1: Site and
Vicinity
• Miles
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Historical Lake (Alexander & al 1817
from TBI 1998 and Hall 1887 from USBR)
Historical Rivers (TBI)
Basin Classifications (USGS HUC Database)
Lowland regions
Upland regions
Map 2: San Joaquin Valley Historical
Surface Hydrography —=
1:1,500,000
is
i Miles
30
Map Projection Information: California Teale Albers Projection NAD83
Grid Information: Lat/Long 1° 30' 00"
IECORP Consulting, Inc.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS
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TBI1998 and Hall 1887 from USSR)
\ Lakes and reservoirs
Hydrologic Unit Boundaries (USGS HUC Database)
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Tulare Basin
Basin Classifications (USGS HUC Database)
Lowland regions
Upland regions
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I
Note: The outlines of the historical lake boundary and overflow lands are approximate, derived from sJ**.1^ made Pjrtof
Shown Tulare Lake boundary Is at elevation 210 feet or above and does not represent any legally recognized bal
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Map 3: San Joaquin Valley
Current Hydrography 5'
1:1,700,000
I Miles
25
50
Map Projection Information: California Teale Albers Projection NAD83
Grid Information 1° 30' 00"
ECORP Consulting, Inc.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS
image:
Map 4: Hydrography of Lowland Tulare Lake Basin
image:
Water Pathways
Webs
Hydrologic Features (USES HUC Database)
Major river
River or stream
Major canal
Bass Barriers
Rsh barrier created by operational procedures
O Rsh barrier constructed during 1983 flood event
A Existing structural barrier
Gravity flow
Pumping path for 1983-81 floodwaters
'/// Main lakebed flood area (EPA)
Bass Barrier ID
Known and suspected distribution of white bass
during the 1983 flood event (Extrapolated from CDFG data)
Minor canal
Historical Lake (Alexander et al 1847 from
TBI199SanA Hall 1887 from USBR)
~\ South end flood detention area (EPA)
'California Department of fish and Game. 19B7. White Bass Management Program Final EIR - SCH 84032611
Note: The outlines of the historical late boundary and overflow lands are approximate, derived from surveys made prior to 1886.
Shown Tularc Lake boundary is at elevation 210 feet or above and does not represent any legally recognized boundary.
Potential white bass movement during 1983 flood event
Map 5: Tula re Lake Bottom
Hydrography
1:240,000
: Miles
2.5
Map Projection: California State Plaze Zone IV NADB3
Grid Information: Lat/Long 15* 00"
ECORP Consulting, Inc.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS
image:
Map Features
Water Pathways
Pumping station
Pumped flow
Hydrologlc Features (USGS HUC Database)
Major river
River or stream
Major canal
Minor canal
'Bass Barriers
I I Fish barrier created by operational procedures
O fish barrier constructed during 1983 flood event
A Existing structural barrier
FRu
iSangei
Bass Barrier ID
Known and suspected distribution of white bass during
the 1983 flood event (Extrapolated from CDFG data)
Potential white bass movement during 1983 flood event
Kingsburg
iberty Millrnce Canal
St. Jo/if!' >*.
California Department of Rsh and Game. 1987. White Bass Management Program Rnal BR - SCH 84032611
Map 6: Lowland Kaweah-Kings
Hydrography —
1:175,000
i Miles
2.5
Map Projection: California State Plaza Zone IV NADB3
Grid Information: List/Long 15' 00"
ECORP Consultingjnc.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS
image:
LIST OF APPENDICES
Appendix 1: Summary of Hydrologic Information
Appendix 2: Site Visit Log of Trip to Tulare Lake Basin (June 29 and 30, 2006)
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APPENDIX 1
Summary of Hydrologic Information
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Appendix 1: Data Sources and Rationale for Chosen Years in the Daily Flow
Figures and Tables
The following table compiles the data sources and the chosen years in the daily flow
compilations of Figures 1, 3, 4, and 6 (Unimpaired Inflow and Actual Outflow) and
Tables 5, 6, 7 (Lowland Water Distribution).
Figures 3, 4, and 6 graphically display the seasonal and annual range of unimpaired and
actual daily river flow into the Tulare Lake Basin Lowlands at the terminal reservoirs
using the same very dry (1988) and wet (1998) and median (2000) year-type in each
figure.
Tables 5, 6, and 7 compile the annual volumes and seasonal variation of daily flows in
the lowland water distribution systems (river and canal) in a range of year types from
dry to wet. The water distribution records are generally only published in the
watermaster reports for each river. We were not able to obtain those reports directly
from the watermasters and thus had to rely on the reports available from the EPA or the
Water Resources Archives Library. As demonstrated in the following table, the years of
available data were different for each river system.
Figure or
Table
Figure 1 -
Kings River
Figure 3 -
Kaweah
River
Figure 4-
Tule River
Figure 6-
Kern River
Data Displayed
Pine Flat Reservoir
unimpaired inflow
and actual outflow
Kaweah Reservoir
unimpaired inflow
and actual outflow
Success Reservoir
unimpaired inflow
and actual outflow
Isabella Reservoir
unimpaired inflow
and actual outflow
Years Chosen
1988 (dry) 1998
(wet) 2000
(median)
1988 (dry) 1998
(wet) 2000
(median)
1988 (dry) 1998
(wet) 2000
(median)1
1988 (dry) 1998
(wet) 2000
(median)
Data source
USACOE
USACOE
USACOE
USACOE
Notes
data compiled by
Sacramento
district and sent
on CD
data compiled by
Sacramento
district and sent
on CD
data compiled by
Sacramento
district and sent
on CD
data compiled by
Sacramento
district and sent
on CD
image:
Figure or
Table
Table 5-
Kings River
Water
Distribution
Table 6-
Kaweah
River Water
Distribution
Table 7-
Tule River
Water
Distribution
Data Displayed
Annual Volume
and seasonal flow
amounts
Annual Volume
and seasonal flow
amounts
Annual Volume
and seasonal flow
amounts
Years Chosen
1979 (average)
1988 (dry) 1995
(wet)
1977 (dry) 1978
(wet) 1979
(average)
1996 (average)
1998 (wet) 2000
(dry)1
Data source
Kings River Water
Association
Watermaster
Reports
Kaweah River
Flows, diversions,
and Storage,
1975-80. CADWR
Bulletin 49-F
Tule River Water
Association
Watermaster
Reports
Notes
From University of
California Water
Resources
Archives
From University of
California Water
Resources
Archives
From EPA San
Francisco office
1 The water year 2000 runoff was close to a median year (54% exceedance value) but it was
only 69% of the average runoff from 1962-2006. It was the driest year of the Watermaster
reports available from the EPA although it is not nearly as dry as the years chosen for the Kings
(1988) or Kaweah (1977) Rivers.
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APPENDIX 2
Site Visit Log of Trip to Tulare Lake Basin (June 29 and 30, 2006)
image:
Site Visit Log of Trip to Tulare Lake Basin
Date: June 29, 2006
Stop 1 Gould Canal and Friant-Kern Canal
• Observed turn-out structure that discharges water from Friant-Kern
Canal (FKC) into the Gould Canal and Enterprise Canals.
Stop 2 Fresno Canal, Kings River, and Friant-Kern Canal (Photo 1)
• Observed turn-out structure on FKC that moves water into Fresno
Canal and Kings River.
• Observed weir diversion from Fresno Canal into the Kings River.
Stop 3 Kings River pump-in into the Friant-Kern Canal
• Observed pump-in location from Kings River (Alta Slough/76 Channel)
into the Friant-Kern Canal.
Stop 4 Alta Slough
• Observed the cobble Weir that diverts water into Alta Slough (aka 76
Channel).
Stop 5 Alta Canal and Frankwood Avenue (Photo 2)
• Observed Alta Irrigation District head gate
Stop 6 Wutchumna Ditch and Friant-Kern Canal
• Observed pump location from Wutchumna Ditch into FKC.
Stop 7 St. John's River and Friant-Kern Canal
• St. John's River at pump-in to FKC.
• FKC siphon under St. John's River
• Observed FKC turn-out structure that discharges water into St. John's
River.
Stop 8 FKC Discharge to Tulare Irrigation District Canals
Stop 9 Tule River and Friant-Kern Canal (Photo 3)
• Observed permanent pumps in Tule River Wasteway used to pump
water from Tule River into FKC.
• Turn out from FKC to Tule River.
Stop 10 Deer Creek and Friant-Kern Canal at County Road 208
• FKC turn-out into Deer Creek west of County Road 208 (downstream
side).
Stop 11 White River and County Road 208
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Stop 12 Poso Creek and County Road 208
Stop 13 Terminus of Friant-Kern Canal at Coffee Road (Photos 4 and 5)
• Terminus gates at end of FKC, channel connecting FKC to Kern River,
and Kern River.
• FKC turn out into Arvin-Edison Canal.
• Connection from FKC to Cross Valley Canal (CVC).
Date: June 30, 2006
Stop 14 St. John's River at Alta Avenue Bridge
Stop 15 Cottonwood Creek at Alta Avenue Bridge
Stop 16 Banks Ditch near intersection of Alta Avenue and Avenue 360
• Observed drop structures in canal
Stop 17 Banks Ditch before Rd. 52 (Photo 6)
• Observed drop structure in canal
Stop 18 Lakeland Canal and Denver Avenue
Stop 19 Unnamed Canal near People's Ditch (Photo 7)
• Observed flume on unnamed ditch near People's Ditch
Stop 20 People's Ditch (Photo 8)
• Observed drop structure in canal
Stop 21 People's Ditch and Riverside Ditch
• Observed drop structure in canal
Stop 22 Kings River and People's Ditch
• Observed drop structure in canal
Stop 23 Lakeland Canal and unpaved road
• Observed drop structure in canal
Stop 24 Lakeland Canal and Corcoran Ponds (Photo 9)
• Water level in Corcoran Ponds
Stop 25 Empire Weir Number 2 on Kings River near Highway 41 Bridge
(Photos 10 and 11)
• Observe three-way division of water at Empire weir: Tulare Lake
Canal, Kings River Canal, and Blakely Canal.
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• Observed drop structures
Stop 26 Kings River at Empire Weir Number One
Stop 27 Fresno Slough at Mt. Whitney Road Crossing (Photo 12)
• Water level in Fresno Slough
Stop 28 Fresno Slough at Elkhorn Grade Road Crossing
• Water level in Fresno Slough
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Friant-Kem Canal gate that moves water info Fresno"canal and the Kings River.
06.29.2006 13:14
Permanent pumps in the Tule River Wasteway used to move water from the Tule River
into the Friant-Kern Canal.
Alta Canal head gate.
06.29.2606 15:02^
Channel connecting the Friant-Kern Canal to the Kern River.
Selected Site Visit Photos
j ECORP Consulting, Inc.
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Friant-Kern Canal turn out into the Arvin-Edison Canal and siphon connection to the Crass Valley Canal.
06.30.2006 11:24
..' ••:-'
Flume on unnamed canal near People's Ditch
Drop structure in Banks Ditch.
Drop structure in People's Ditch.
Selected Site Visit Photos
ECORP Consulting, Inc.
MENTAT CONS IH.TAM S
'."OOP
image:
Kings River Canal south of structure on Kings River at Empire Weir No. 2.
Empire Weir No. 2 on the Kings River Canal near the Highway 41 Bridge.
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Fresno Slough at Mt. Whitney Road Crossing.
Selected Site Visit Photos
ECORP Consulting. Inc.
11 >J V 11« J N M !'. N I A I. C (1M .S I ff.T A \' 1 .'i
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