News Release Archive

Flows to Increase in Stanislaus River Due to Release of Oakdale Irrigation District, South San Joaquin River Irrigation District Water from New Melones Reservoir

Media Contact: Pete Lucero, MP Region Public Affairs Officer, 916-978-5100, plucero@usbr.gov

For Release: April 16, 2013

FOLSOM, Calif. – Beginning on Wednesday, April 17, flows will begin increasing in the Stanislaus River from the release of Oakdale Irrigation District and South San Joaquin River Irrigation District water rights water from New Melones Reservoir.

The release of water from the senior water rights holders will allow assessment of impacts on downstream fisheries and other environmental factors and is consistent with the 2009 National Marine Fisheries Service Biological Opinion for the Long-Term Operations of the Central Valley Project and State Water Project.

Releases will begin increasing on Wednesday from 750 cubic feet per second at 1 a.m., to 1,500 cfs by 5 a.m. On Monday, April 22, releases will begin increasing from 1,500 cfs at 1 a.m., to 3,000 cfs by 7 a.m. The peak flow is expected to continue until about May 10.

People recreating in or along the Stanislaus River downstream from New Melones Dam should take appropriate safety precautions due to the increased flows.

Daily information on expected flows in the Stanislaus River is available on the Department of Water Resources California Data Exchange Center website at http://cdec.water.ca.gov./queryRes.html or from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ website at http://www.spk-wc.usace.army.mil/generic/rel_rep_s.html.

To contact the Oakdale Irrigation District, please phone Steve Knell at 209-840-5508 or email sknell@oakdaleirrigation.com.

For additional information on the operations of New Melones, please visit Reclamation’s Central Valley Operation Office website at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/cvo.

# # #

The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.