around the Bay Area rely on the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water Should be fixed at some point. A truly excellent project. Similar findings are described in theUC Davis studyRe-Assembling Hetch HetchyandUS Bureau of Reclamation study. Water is such a fascinating topic and Id hate to have to be a water manager making a decision on how much to release to avoid reservoir flooding. What rates am I paying? A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the Add a button to convert the row heights to log scale. Absolutely zero reason to be releasing this much water from these reservoirs. Restore Hetch Hetchys subsequent appeal to the ruling was I do not see Diamond Valley Lake Resevoir on this page. While the rainfall has been bad for many people, I am happy to see Californias reservoirs are benefiting slightly, Amen! Last week, I paid a visit to Hetch Hetchy. Python is used to extract the data from this page hourly and wrangle the data in to a clean format. Kellie has held many leadership roles for the Asian American Journalists Association, including most recently a board member for the San Francisco chapter. http://www.tuolumnerivermanagementplan.com. 1 kaf is the amount of water that would cover 1 acre in one thousand feet of water (or 1000 acres in water in 1 foot of water). The water treatment facilities are Tesla Ultraviolet Treatment Facility, disinfecting the Hetch Hetchy supply; Sunol Valley Water Treatment Plant, treating the water from the Calaveras and San Antonio supply as well as the stored Hetch Hetchy supply; and Harry Tracy Water Treatment Plant, treating the water from the Crystal Springs and San Andreas supply. Great Job on this site! Due to its high-altitude location at 3,900 feet above sea level I am new to the state. Lake ShastaLevel before the storm on Oct. 22: 882.57 feetLevel after the storm on Nov. 1: 885.47 feetTotal rise: 2.9 feet, Storage before the storm: 970,859 acre-feetStorage after the storm: 1,001,879 acre-feetTotal storage increase: 31,020 acre-feet, Lake OrovilleLevel before the storm: 630.80 feetLevel after the storm: 661.20 feetTotal rise: 30.4 feet, Storage before the storm: 799,638 acre-feetStorage after the storm: 982,263 acre-feetTotal storage increase: 182,625 acre-feet, Hetch HetchyLevel before the storm: 3,729.68 feetLevel after the storm: 3,750.99 feetTotal rise: 21.31 feet, Storage before the storm: 221,500 acre-feetStorage after the storm: 257,800 acre-feetTotal storage increase: 36,300 acre-feet, Trinity LakeLevel before the storm: 2,209.55 feetLevel after the storm: 2,213.22 feetTotal rise: 3.67 feet, Storage before the storm: 648,675 acre-feetStorage after the storm: 672,930 acre-feetTotal storage increase: 24,255 acre-feet, Folsom LakeLevel before the storm: 370.28 feetLevel after the storm: 390.33 feetTotal rise: 20.05 feet, Storage before the storm: 214,225 acre-feetStorage after the storm: 318,577 acre-feetTotal storage increase: 104,352 acre-feet, New Melones LakeLevel before the storm: 916.28 feetLevel after the storm: 917.09 feetTotal rise: 0.81 feet, Storage before the storm: 822,619 acre-feetStorage after the storm: 827,786 acre-feetTotal storage increase: 5,167 acre-feet, Don PedroLevel before the storm: 723.96 feetLevel after the storm: 727.41 feetTotal rise: 3.45 feet, Storage before the storm: 970,226 acre-feetStorage after the storm: 995,836 acre-feetTotal storage increase: 25,610 acre-feet, McClureLevel before the storm: 663.70 feetLevel after the storm: 672.27 feetTotal rise: 8.4 feet, Storage before the storm: 180,900 acre-feetStorage after the storm: 198,467 acre-feetTotal storage increase: 17,210 acre-feet. diversion of water? Restore Hetch Hetchy claimed the phrase had But tearing down O'Shaughnessy Dam in order to restore Hetch Hetchy Valley would be a disaster. One acre-foot is the equivalent of one acre of land covered in one foot of water. The amount stored is increasing, just not by a lot. For example, Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in Yosemite National Park provides 85 percent of San Francisco's total water needs. I think the problem is with the CDEC database (as the LakesOnline website also has had incorrectly high information). Email: kalexander@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kurtisalexander. Hetch Hetchy is one of nine reserviors in a water system that serves San Francisco and other Bay Area communities. And while one storm didn't come close to ending the drought, some reservoirs in Northern California, especially those that fell right in the path of the storm, saw significant gains. Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in Yosemite was 69 percent full on Tuesday, 150 percent of normal for this time of year. In response to the Bay-Delta Plan, the SFPUC and the Modesto and Turlock Irrigation Districts have proposed the Tuolumne River Voluntary Agreement, a combination of flow and non-flow measures sufficient to improve all life-stages of native fish populations in the lower Tuolumne River. Before returning to the Bay Area, she held roles as transportation reporter and trending news reporter at the IndyStar in Indianapolis. Spring snowmelt runs down the Tuolumne River and fills Hetch Hetchy, the largest reservoir in our water system. Climbers Timmy O'Neill (left) and Lucho Rivera atop a wall overlooking Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. Hetch Hetchy Water System The system originates more than 100 miles from its primary customers, in Yosemite National Park. I find myself coming back to this every few days to check on our water . The water travels through a series of pipelines before it reaches the Bay Area and blends with five local reservoirs. 1 covering up to $875 million and much of the rest coming from federal loans to water suppliers. Lake Mendocino, which has a capacity of 122,400 acre feet, saw the biggest boost from 17% of storage capacity in December to 35% in January. It used to be full (and beyond). DWR is one of many local, State and Federal entities that dictate water releases. Navigation and Navigable Waters 33.208.82 Hetch Hetchy, Cherry Valley, and Don Pedro Dams and Reservoirs. If we reach 100% after the current rains and then it stops raining for the season, then our percentage will start going down. This website along with another shows that Eastmans level is still rising even though we have not had rain in more than a week. She is also an alumna of Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting Investigative Fellowship and The New York Times Student Journalism Institute. over the past few days. 2151 River Plaza Drive, Suite 205 I know this might be difficult to display but Im very curious on the actual amounts of water consumed on a monthly basis and if this is somehow processed in a certain between what is agricultural and what is non-commercial etc? She has been with SFGATE for more than 10 years. provides water to 2.7 million residents and businesses in the San California reservoir levels: . Congress had to approve the project because it was Lake Oroville. How Fast Are California Reservoirs Filling Up? The question was, what constitutes unreasonable method of For the higher elevations, more of their water comes directly from snowmelt. This is a great and very thoughtfully designed web site! In 2021, the SFPUC and the Modesto and Turlock Irrigation Districts launched a proactive pilot program with the U.S. Data have been checked by the reporting agency. How Much Water is in California Reservoirs? The judge also noted the provision of the state Its water supply Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, in the Sierra Nevada is 80% full, . Part of the lake is on the California side, but it has zero California water impact beyond the immediate Tahoe residents. This system encompasses more than 1,250 miles of distribution pipelines, as well as 12 in-City reservoirs and eight water tanks with a total storage capacity of approximately 413 million gallons. This is the best one out there. in 2018. word for a type of wild grass. According to the SFPUC, the upper reaches of the Tuolumne River have received about 36 inches of rain since the start of the water year in October, almost as much as what the area averages in a year. Hours: Year-round, but only accessible by car when the Hetch Hetchy Road is open. Its promising, but too early to let our guard down, said Joseph Sweiss, spokesman for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, the citys water purveyor, in an email to The Chronicle. Whats going on with the water level at Oroville? So on Jan 10 were at 82% of the average for Jan 10. The Water Education Foundation is a nonprofit, tax-exempt, At times, nearly 90% of the flow of the Tuolumne River is piped off by the SFPUC and other water agencies in the region. Hetch-Hetchy predicted to fill by end of the snowmelt period 2020-2021 Winter season continues to be dry 2019-2020 was dry, although key differences Feb. 2020 was unusually warm, which impacted snowfall levels and water demands; Feb 2021 was cooler, and hence snowfall level higher and water use lower Tracy Barbutes, Freelance / Special to The Chronicle, Heres where California reservoir levels stand after this weeks rains. After record snowfall in December was followed by a dry January, there are renewed concerns of drought. Hetch Hetchy is Monitoring location 11275500. . A question: the Historical Avg*, is it the value of year-today or natural year? Even with the latest precipitation, Folsoms values was unchanged. System for more than 60 percent of their drinking water. While forecasters can predict the likelihood of future rainfall over large areas, they cant pinpoint it to the degree needed to determine whether a particular watershed/reservoir will overflow and cause damage and loss of life. }, false); Lake Tahoe really isnt part of California water, as the outflow goes to Nevada. reservoir violates the California Constitution specifically the If you look at this chart for Hetch Hetchy, you can see that the biggest and steadiest rise is between March and July, https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/11275500/#parameterCode=00054&period=P365D&compare=true. Click here for the SFPUC's 2020State of the Regional Water System Report. the Bay Area. During late summer and early fall, it will be necessary to move stored supplies from Cherry or Don Pedro Reservoirs into the pipeline. This local water is captured in reservoirs located in San Mateo and Alameda counties. That puts it at 84 percent of where it would usually be usually at this time of year. Here's what that means. The OShaughnessy Dam, which was completed in 1938 and is 430-feet tall, impounds water in Hetch Hetchy Reservoir for communities in the Bay Area. Top ways to experience Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and nearby attractions Yosemite: Audio Driving Tour 1 Full-day Tours from $9.99 per group (up to 8) Private Yosemite Explorer Package | 3 Days of Adventure 3 Private and Luxury from $750.00 per adult (price varies by group size) Private Family Photo Day in Yosemite 78 Recommended Full-day Tours from The SFPUC hoards water in dry years when they dont need to, said Peter Drekmeier, policy director at the conservation group Tuolumne River Trust. Thanks for putting this together. This is an excellent tool you have put together. Its water supply Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, in the Sierra Nevada is 80% full, the ground is saturated and near-record rainfall has occurred in recent days. Local reservoir inflows have negative daily flow rates set to zero. February 21, 2023 - BAWSCA Statement on State Water Resources Control Board'sSchedule for Consideration of a Voluntary Agreement for the Tuolumne River. Thanks. proposition that would have funded an $8 million study on how Los Angeles,Orange CountyandSan Josehave developed ambitious water recycling programs and have vastly improved local groundwater management. Born in Seoul, Yoohyun began her career in Arizona, where she worked for two of the state's largest newspapers covering various beats, including criminal justice and education. Thanks for the link. Nate, thanks for the insight. required on whether to demolish OShaughnessy Dam. The soaking was welcome in a drought-plagued state with a diminishing water supply. For most of the year it will still be possible to divert the flow of the Tuolumne River into the pipeline just downstream of the National Park boundary. Located in the northwest portion of Yosemite National Park, Hetch UPDATE: Here's where California reservoir levels stand after this week's rains. do so. They placed a few dissipators just before the river. Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in Yosemite National Park is seen in 2022. At the same time, theyve also said its critical to maintain sufficient water supplies to keep Bay Area communities and its economy running during a prolonged drought. HETCH HETCHY RES A HETCH HETCHY CA. 7 days 30 days For perspective, water demand across the SFPUCs service area of 2.7 million people was about 205,000 acre-feet last fiscal year. Much of the recent inflow was to Hetch Hetchy, which can hold about 360,000 acre-feet of water and was 83% full at the start of the month. One of the big challenges in water management is controling the release. hetch hetchy reservoir level percentage Rivers and Streams Streams draining into the Peninsula Watershed within the project area are relatively small, steep, and in a 2021-11-17. Love easy to read and understand information. Especially for small ones it is hard to identify them and click on them. Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Exclusive: Stunning photos show Yosemite National Park under 15 feet of Warriors treating Andrew Wiggins with understandable patience, but his California snowpack hits highest level this century for March, could Map shows which parts of California exceeded entire years worth of rain, Map shows stunning improvement in California drought, Last chance to see: Bay Bridge lights turn off on Sunday. How do I contact support? Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System The Hetch Hetchy watershed, an area located in Yosemite National Park, is the major source of water for all of San Francisco's water needs. For perspective, water demand across the SFPUC's service area of 2.7 million people was about 205,000 acre-feet last fiscal year. The tremendous inflow to city reservoirs during the recent storms, mostly in and around Yosemite National Park, has lifted San Franciscos total water storage to near capacity. Delivery rates are 7-day average values. Reservoir levels rising. Isabella is filling quite slowly in order to test out the new $500 million spillway. Monitoring location 11275500 is associated with a LAKE, RESERVOIR, IMPOUNDMENT in TUOLUMNE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. It is also the amount of water in a cube that is 352 feet per side (about the length of a football field). The current power produced by the SFPUC system, although not carbon-based, is not green since it requires the continued destruction of significant habitat. BAWSCA agencies also are implementing water conservation and water recycling projects to help preserve this precious resource for their communities, and are working to identify alternate sources of water supply. Could you also do the same for the Colorado River reservoirs to see how they are fairing? She joined the Chronicle as a data reporter in 2021. A 1 week change would be interesting to show on each. by the Raker Act. YTD values are from January 1 . Could you also show each reservoirs level as a function of time? Major snowstorm might leave you stranded, New 101 express lanes opens in Bay Area. Turn right on to Hetch Hetchy Road - Evergreen Road and continue another 7.5 miles to the parking area for Hetchy Hetchy Reservoir next to the dam. March 12 - The Perks of California Native Wildflowers, March 28 - Rainwater Harvesting and Rain Gardens, April 01 - Lawn Conversion to Native and Drought-Tolerant Plants. Sometimes this is well done sometimes it is poorly done. Arg. Different presidential administrations also have tried to address It allowed the water over the spillway to move too fast creating a vacuum between the water and the concrete that pulled the concrete sections out of the spillway. It certainly looks dry at least until the last week in February, he said. There is something strange about the data over the last two days (Jan.17 to Jan. 19): The SFPUC has consistently stated that voluntary agreements are the best path forward for the Bay-Delta, as the voluntary agreement strikes the right balance between environmental stewardship and water reliability. Id only be interested in the totals from Oroville and Shasta. Thats enough to supply the citys service area for perhaps seven years. Water data back to 1956 are available online. If you click on the list button in the top right of the dashboard, it will show a list of the reservoirs (in order of size from largest to smallest) and you can check which ones you would like to display.