PROJECT ALERT NOTICE (CA) Flooding continues for California

Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2017 14:10:10 EST

Summary: Flooding continues in California as storms move out of the region.

The last of the recent storm system has moved out of region, with lingering showers expected over the next few days. Statewide, streamflows and river stage remain high in response to recent rainfall, runoff, and snow melt. The NOAA/NWS California Nevada River Forecast Center reports many California rivers remain above flood or monitor stage today, including 13 gage locations along the Sacramento River, and 4 gages on the San Joaquin River. The San Joaquin River near Vernalis, CA (11303500) remains above danger stage today and will continue to exceed this level for several days.

The California Water Science Center (CAWSC) has 3 crews responding to this event today from the following service areas: Sacramento, CA (2); and Santa Cruz, CA (1). Crews today are performing high-water measurements, making repairs, and flagging high-water marks. No crews are expected to deploy over the weekend.

Managers from the CAWSC remain in contact with water resource managers from the Bureau of Reclamation, the Army Corps of Engineers, the California Department of Water Resources, and others to coordinate USGS sampling or high-water measurements. One crews will be conducting high-flow measurements today at sites on the Tuolumne River near La Grange, CA (11289650) in coordination with Turlock Irrigation District (TID) for rating verification and to help inform operational decisions related to dam releases and spillage from Don Pedro Reservoir. Another crew will be conducting high-flow measurements on the San Joaquin River near Vernalis, CA (11303500) in coordination with the Department of Water Resources to help inform river forecast modeling.

No safety issues have occurred during this series of storms and all staff have followed USGS field reporting and safety protocols.