Hydrology/SWP Operations Update

John Leahigh

Principal Engineer State Water Project Water Operations

California Department of Water Resources

March 15, 2017

How wet has it been?

• Sacramento Valley 8 Station – Jan and Feb total precipitation was 46 inches – Previous record was 40 inches

• Inflow into Lake Oroville – February was 540% of average – Jan/Feb inflow was 4.4 MAF (= average annual)

• Previous high was 3.48 MAF in 1909 • Recent highs: 3.19 MAF in 1986; 3.07 MAF in 1997

– Released the entire volume of the Lake (3.5 MAF) in 6 week period beginning in mid-Jan