Water-Resources Investigations Report 01-4017

River and Reservoir Operations Model, Truckee River Basin, California and Nevada, 1998

CONTENTS

Abstract

Introduction

Purpose and Scope

Previous Investigations

Acknowledgements

Description of Study Area

Lake Tahoe and Upper Truckee River Subunit

Middle Truckee River Subunit

Lower Truckee River and Pyramid Lake Subunit

Chronology and Background of Decrees, Agreements, and Laws Affecting Operations

Early History

Truckee River General Electric Decree

Truckee River Agreement

Construction of Additional Storage Reservoirs in the 1930’s

Donner Lake Agreement

Orr Ditch Decree

Sierra Valley Decree

Construction of Prosser Creek and Stampede Dams

Tahoe–Prosser Exchange Agreement

Endangered Species Act

Stampede Reservoir Judgement

Newlands Project Operating Criteria and Procedures

Preliminary Settlement Agreement

Public Law 101-618

Interim Storage Agreement

Truckee River Water Quality Settlement Agreement

Construction of Truckee River Basin Operations Model

Description of Hydrological Simulation Program-FORTRAN

Flow-Routing Model

Data for Simulation of Streamflow and Operations

Streamflow

Evapotranspiration

Climate

Municipal and Industrial Demands

Lake Level and Streamflow Forecasts

Description and Simulation of Truckee River Basin Operations

Description and Simulation of Current Operations

Current Water Categories

Current Reservoir Operations

Flood-Control Criteria

Lake Tahoe

Donner Lake

Martis Creek Lake

Prosser Creek Reservoir

Independence Lake

Stampede and Boca Reservoirs

Lahontan Reservoir

Reservoir Storage Priorities and Pass-Throughs

Storage Priorities

Reservoir Pass-Throughs and Releases to Meet Newlands Project Demands

Reservoir Demands

Floriston Rates

Minimum Instream Flows

Pyramid Lake Fish

Privately Owned Stored Water

Current Operational Exchanges

Tahoe–Prosser Exchange

Donner–Boca Exchange

Boca–Stampede Exchanges

Merge Reservoir Releases for Multiple Objectives

Current River Operations

Sierra Valley Diversion

Truckee Meadows Diversions

Lower Truckee River Diversions

Truckee River Diversions to Newlands Project

Losses and Gains to Reaches

Description and Simulation of Operations Under Draft Truckee River Operating Agreement and Water Quality Settlement Agreementp

Proposed Water Categories

Proposed Reservoir Operations

Storage of Proposed Water Categories

California Municipal and Industrial Credit Water

Power Company Municipal and Industrial Credit Water, Fish Credit Water, Water-Quality Credit Water, and Joint Program Fish Credit Water

Reservoir Releases to Meet Downstream Demands

Floriston Rates

Power Company Municipal and Industrial Credit Water

Fish Credit Water

California Municipal and Industrial Credit Water

Diversion of Water in Lake Tahoe and Donner and Independence Lakes for Municipal and Industrial Use in California

Water-Quality Targets and Related Instream Flow Transfers

Mandatory Exchanges and Transfers

Enhanced Minimum Instream Flows

Other Exchanges and Transfers

Voluntary Exchanges

Preferred Instream Flows

Enhanced Storage Security and Access

Exchanges from Lake Tahoe or Prosser Creek Reservoir to Boca Reservoir

Exchanges from Boca Reservoir to Stampede Reservoir

Efficient Use of Releases for Precautionary Drawdowns

Maintenance of Recreational Pools

Merge Reservoir Releases for Multiple Objectives

Losses and Gains to Reaches

Forecasts Affecting Operational Decisions

Normal and Dry Season

Drought Situations

Runoff Index

Comparison of Simulated and Observed Operations

Model Limitations, Assumptions, and Suggested Improvements

Summary

References Cited

Glossary

Back to Title Page