Agreement to Purchase Water Released by the OID and SSJID for Diversion and Use by SLDMWA and DWR

Agreement to Purchase Water Released by the OID and SSJID for Diversion and Use by SLDMWA and DWR

The Oakdale Irrigation District (OID) and South San Joaquin Irrigation District (SSJID) will release up to 50,000 acre-feet of water at Goodwin Dam on the Stanislaus River during the April-May pulse flow releases, in addition to water release required to be made by Reclamation for the benefit of migratory fish. The water released by the Districts will be surplus to the irrigation demand of each District, and will be purchased by the San Luis & Delta Mendota Water Authority (SLDMWA) and Department of Water Resources (DWR) for diversion at the Jones & Banks Pumping plants and use within the San Joaquin Valley. The Project term is 5 years, with the opportunity to renew for an additional 5 years. Oakdale Irrigation District (OID) and South San Joaquin Irrigation District (SSJID), collectively referred to as “Districts”, will release up to 50,000 acre-feet of water at Goodwin Dam (Project) in addition to water releases required to be made by the United States Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) at New Melones Reservoir to benefit migratory fish on the Stanislaus and San Joaquin Rivers. The water proposed to be released will be purchased by the San Luis & Delta Mendota Water Authority (SLDMWA) and the Department of Water Resources (DWR). The water OID and SSJID release will be surplus to the irrigation demand of each district. The release will occur at Goodwin Dam during April and May of each year between 2026 and 2030 and will be coordinated to assist and supplement Reclamation’s releases in meeting their legal obligations of the 1995 Water Quality Control Plan for the April-May pulse flow objective at Vernalis. The volume of water each year is dependent on the hydrological year type, and is as follows: Above Normal up to 50,000 acre-feet Below Normal up to 50,000 acre-feet Dry up to 50,000 acre-feet Critically Dry up to 20,000 acre-feet The Project agreement may be renewed for an additional 5 years upon written notification by the parties. The delivery volume above would remain the same if renewed. The Project will be subordinate to the rights of: 1) the Cities of Lathrop, Manteca, Escalon and Tracy pursuant to each city’s Water Supply Development Agreement with SSJID; 2) the Chicken Ranch Rancheria Me-Wuk Indians of California under their Emergency Water Supply Agreement with the Districts, and; 3) the landowners outside the boundaries of OID who are enrolled in OID’s 10-Year Out-of-District Water Sale Program. If the end-of-month September storage level in New Melones Reservoir is projected to be below 700,000 acre-feet during any year of the Project term, the parties shall consult with Reclamation on an agreeable release amount for that year. The Districts, in consultation with Reclamation and the Stanislaus Watershed Team, shall be responsible for determining the schedule of the delivery. The released water will be diverted by the SLDMWA and State Water Project Contractors (SWP) at the Jones and Banks pumping stations at a 1:1 ratio. Project Purpose: The Project will provide water for municipal, industrial, and agricultural uses in areas south of the Delta. The releases will be timed to coincide with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) spring “pulse flow” for the purpose of improving flow on the Stanislaus and San Joaquin Rivers to benefit migratory fish. Pursuant to the State Water Resources Control Board's (SWRCB) Decision 1641 (D-1641), Reclamation is responsible for meeting the April-May flow objective at Vernalis. The NMFS 2019 Biological Opinion (BiOp), as revised in 2024, establishes the Spring “pulse flow” identified in the Stanislaus River Minimum Fish Flow Schedule for the purpose of protecting migratory fish in the lower San Joaquin River and Delta, particularly fall-run Chinook salmon and Central Valley steelhead. Released water provided by OID and SSJID will supplement flows in the Stanislaus and San Joaquin Rivers to improve instream flow conditions for migratory fish during April and May each year of the Project. The released water will be diverted by the SLDMWA and SWP contractors. This water will help those entities offset allocation reductions they may receive during the Project duration. Additionally, OID and SSJID will be paid for the water released at Goodwin Dam, which will in turn be used for capital improvements and ongoing operations and maintenance of the Districts.

Alameda, Calaveras, Contra Costa, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tuolumne

Countywide, Statewide

Alameda, Calaveras, Contra Costa, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tuolumne