From the San Joaquin River Restoration Program:
Following what is shaping up to be the second biggest water year since 1901, over 2.1 million acre-feet of water have been released from Friant Dam for flood management. However, on July 26, flood management releases are expected to cease and releases from Friant Dam will transition to only meeting holding contracts and the Restoration Flow schedule at Gravelly Ford. Flood flows will no longer be available for diversion.
Reclamation issued the final restoration allocation for the 2023 water year on May 18 which provided a total 557,038 acre-feet for Restoration Flows under a Wet year type. This Restoration Flow schedule is prepared by the Restoration Administrator, an independent body stipulated by the Settlement, and is confirmed by the Bureau of Reclamation for the remaining period through February 2024. The schedule is consistent with the Settlement, Restoration Flow Guidelines, and applicable water rights. From July 30 through February 29, 2024, this flow schedule uses a volume of 102,357 acre-feet, of which 92,190 acre-feet is expended from the remaining Restoration Allocation and 10,167 acre-feet is from water banked and exchanged with Friant Contractors. The flow schedule may be modified by the Restoration Administrator in the coming months and may also be modified by Reclamation to avoid seepage impacts to agricultural lands adjacent to the San Joaquin River.
The Restoration Flow schedule has been set to the following:
| Date | Friant Dam Releases | Flows Rate at Gravelly Ford |
| July 30 – August 31 | Approximately 440 cfs | 200 cfs |
| September 1 – September 30 | Approximately 480 cfs | 210 cfs |
| October 1 – October 31 | Approximately 490 cfs | 215 cfs |
| November 1 – December 16 | Approximately 480 cfs | 235 cfs |
| December 17 – December 28 | Approximately 640 cfs | 525 cfs |
| December 29 – December 31 | Approximately 440 cfs | 235 cfs |
| January 1 – February 29, 2024 | Approximately 440 cfs | 255 cfs |
For Information about Restoration Flows, please visit http://www.restoresjr.net/restoration-goal/restoration-flows/.
For the Restoration Administrator recommendations, please visit http://www.restoresjr.net/documentsreports/ra-recommendations/.
For additional information about the San Joaquin River Restoration Program, please visit http://www.restoresjr.net or contact Josh Newcom, Public Affairs Specialist, at 916-978-5508 or snewcom@usbr.gov.
