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U.S. Army Corps of Engineers assists with ground water recharge to aide drought

Published March 7, 2014
Major reservoirs remain well below historical averages. USACE South Pacific Division continues to work closely with the California Department of Water Resources and other governmental agencies to monitor and manage the situation. Precipitation last week made very little positive impact on current drought and water management situation in the region.
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Major reservoirs remain well below historical averages. USACE South Pacific Division continues to work closely with the California Department of Water Resources and other governmental agencies to monitor and manage the situation. Precipitation last week made very little positive impact on current drought and water management situation in the region.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers San Francisco District moved its barge boat from Lake Sonoma to Lake Mendocino Feb. 27, passing through Hopland as part of its emergency operations for Redwood Valley County Water District to use as a floating platform to extend its ability to supply water to 4,000 residents. The 35-foot aluminum landing craft-style boat can operate in adverse weather and has speeds of 20 knots. Drought water levels are hovering around 30 percent of the Lakes 122,000 acre feet of capacity.
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U.S. Army Corps of Engineers San Francisco District moved its barge boat from Lake Sonoma to Lake Mendocino Feb. 27, passing through Hopland as part of its emergency operations for Redwood Valley County Water District to use as a floating platform to extend its ability to supply water to 4,000 residents. The 35-foot aluminum landing craft-style boat can operate in adverse weather and has speeds of 20 knots. Drought water levels are hovering around 30 percent of the Lakes 122,000 acre feet of capacity.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers San Francisco District maintenance crews use "old school" to construct a pierced-steel plank boat ramp with the circa World War II-era material used to make runways across the South Pacific. The boat ramp was built at Lake Mendocino Feb. 27 as part of its emergency operations for Redwood Valley County Water District to use as a floating platform to extend its ability to supply water to 4,000 residents.
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U.S. Army Corps of Engineers San Francisco District maintenance crews use "old school" to construct a pierced-steel plank boat ramp with the circa World War II-era material used to make runways across the South Pacific. The boat ramp was built at Lake Mendocino Feb. 27 as part of its emergency operations for Redwood Valley County Water District to use as a floating platform to extend its ability to supply water to 4,000 residents.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers San Francisco District loved its barge boat from Lake Sonoma to Lake Mendocino Feb. 27 as part of its emergency operations for Redwood Valley County Water District to use as a floating platform to extend its ability to supply water to 4,000 residents. Rains have helped raise the lake's water leve from the drought continues across California. The Corps operates 707 dams on 557 properties nationwide and produces 25 percent of the naiton's hydropower.
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U.S. Army Corps of Engineers San Francisco District loved its barge boat from Lake Sonoma to Lake Mendocino Feb. 27 as part of its emergency operations for Redwood Valley County Water District to use as a floating platform to extend its ability to supply water to 4,000 residents. Rains have helped raise the lake's water leve from the drought continues across California. The Corps operates 707 dams on 557 properties nationwide and produces 25 percent of the naiton's hydropower.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers San Francisco District maintenance crew unloads its barge boat at Lake Mendocino Feb. 27 as part of its emergency operations for Redwood Valley County Water District to use as a floating platform to extend its ability to supply water to 4,000 residents. With drought water levels hovering around 30 percent of capacity, gravel and circa World War II pierced-steel planks transformed the exposed lake bed into a temporary boat ramp. The 21st Engineers (Aviation) Regiment constructed a portable pierce-steel plank runway in 1941 which is the same system used during the Battle of Midway in the South Pacific.
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U.S. Army Corps of Engineers San Francisco District maintenance crew unloads its barge boat at Lake Mendocino Feb. 27 as part of its emergency operations for Redwood Valley County Water District to use as a floating platform to extend its ability to supply water to 4,000 residents. With drought water levels hovering around 30 percent of capacity, gravel and circa World War II pierced-steel planks transformed the exposed lake bed into a temporary boat ramp. The 21st Engineers (Aviation) Regiment constructed a portable pierce-steel plank runway in 1941 which is the same system used during the Battle of Midway in the South Pacific.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers San Francisco District unloads its barge boat at Lake Mendocino Feb. 27 as part of its emergency operations for Redwood Valley County Water District to use as a floating platform to extend its ability to supply water to 4; 000 residents. The drought has reduced water levels from a 22 percent capacity before much needed rains raised river and lake levels in Northern California.
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U.S. Army Corps of Engineers San Francisco District unloads its barge boat at Lake Mendocino Feb. 27 as part of its emergency operations for Redwood Valley County Water District to use as a floating platform to extend its ability to supply water to 4; 000 residents. The drought has reduced water levels from a 22 percent capacity before much needed rains raised river and lake levels in Northern California.

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Since the end of February, USACE has modified reservoir operations at Prado and Whittier Narrows Dams to help local agencies maximize ground water recharge.  Storms that swept across California Feb. 28 - March 1, provided short term relief, but 95 percent of the state remains in drought (Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture Drought Monitor).

Due to the California Drought State of Emergency, USACE deviated from the normal seasonal flood releases at Prado and Whittier Narrows Dams to help local agencies maximize ground water capture.

“USACE will continue to support the state of California and do all we can within our authorities to help mitigate the drought,” said Brig. Gen. David Turner, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers South Pacific Division. “I’ve spoken with California’s Emergency Management Agency Director and his message is clear: ‘Every drop of water counts.’”

By carefully controlling release rates, the Orange County Water District and the Los Angeles County Flood Control District were able to capture more than 22,000 acre feet of water in downstream spreading basins. Each district conserved approximately 11,000 acre feet.

While recent California rains are welcome, they fell far short of a March miracle necessary to alleviate the state’s third year of drought. The state of California reports that late February rains brought the snowpack up to the 1976-1977 level. Those two consecutive years of extremely low statewide precipitation were ranked among the five lowest ever recorded in California history.

USACE continues to evaluate opportunities to modify reservoir operations and to coordinate with agencies that have interests in how the California projects are operated (e.g., Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California Department of Water Resources and local water conservation agencies).

On the Russian River, USACE is working with the Redwood Valley County Water Agency (RVCWA) to prevent water service disruptions to more than 4,000 residents and 2,200 acres of farmland.  USACE and RVCWA have placed a platform at Lake Mendocino to connect a submersible pump to the water supply intake for Redwood Valley.

Effects of the drought will be felt differently around the state. USACE is prepared to work with the state of California and local water agencies to address drought issues.

USACE is reviewing the Russian River Flood Control and Water Conservation Improvement District’s formal deviation request to store more water to lessen drought impacts on communities, businesses and farmers in the future.  The Corps is reviewing to see if the deviation may be accomplished safely, because safety is our number one priority.


Contact
Victoria McAllister
415-503-6514
victoria.l.mcallister@usace.army.mil
or
Randy Gon
415-503-6517
randy.gon@usace.army.mil

Release no. 14-002