From the San Joaquin River Restoration Program:
On January 19, the Bureau of Reclamation issued the initial allocation for the 2024 water year, providing a total 228,028 acre-feet for Restoration Flows under a Normal-Dry water year type. The Restoration Administrator, an independent body stipulated by the San Joaquin River Settlement, has provided the initial Restoration Flow schedule. This schedule has now been approved by Reclamation as being consistent with the Settlement, Restoration Flow Guidelines, and applicable water rights.
Using available channel capacity, this schedule maintains slightly higher flows through spring during the migration of spring-run Chinook salmon to their natal spawning grounds in the San Joaquin River. Restoration Flows are reduced in the summer to regulate supply and water temperature, yet still maintain connectivity throughout the San Joaquin River. Restoration Flows increase again in autumn into winter coinciding with salmon reproduction, incubation, and juvenile fry emergence. Two pulses of water are tentatively scheduled to be released from Friant Dam in autumn.
The Restoration Allocation will be updated several times between February and May and the Restoration Administrator may adjust flows or add additional features to the planned hydrograph. Early February storms have added to the Sierra Nevada snowpack and subsequent Restoration Allocations may be adjusted upward in response.
The public is encouraged to monitor flow conditions if recreating on or near the San Joaquin River. Natural storm runoff and changes to the Restoration Flow schedule may occur at any time. There are currently no planned flood management releases from Friant Dam, however, the public is encouraged to check releases before recreating near the San Joaquin River as conditions may quickly change.
The Restoration Flow schedule has been set to the following:
| Date | Friant Dam Releases | Flows Rate at Gravelly Ford |
| Through February 29 | 480 – 560 cfs as required to meet the flow target at Gravelly Ford | 390 cfs |
| March 1 – March 31 | Approximately 560 cfs | 400 cfs |
| April 1 – April 19 | Approximately 600 cfs | 415 cfs |
| April 20 – May 9 | Approximately 600 cfs decreasing to approximately 400 cfs |
Gradually decreasing to 195 cfs |
| May 10 – June 30 | 400 – 450 cfs as required to meet the flow target at Gravelly Ford | 195 cfs |
| July 1 – October 31 | 410 – 460 cfs as required to meet the flow target at Gravelly Ford | 205 cfs |
| November 1 – December 31 | 400 – 480 cfs as required to meet the flow target at Gravelly Ford (except higher during pulses) | 235 cfs (except two pulses reaching 475 cfs, one pulse in November and one pulse in December) |
| January 1 – February 28, 2025 | Approximately 400 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 contact Josh Newcom, Public Affairs Specialist, at 916-978-5508 or snewcom@usbr.gov.
