At Tulloch, Tri-Dam’s
use of the water is primarily for the generation of power at the dam
near South Shore and downstream irrigation needs. Water flows in to
Tulloch Reservoir directly from New Melones Reservoir. Tri-Dam and the
United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) are signatory to a 1988
operating agreement coordinating the operation of New Melones and
Tulloch Reservoirs and the subsequent balancing of power generation,
reservoir levels, flood management, water supply demand for Stockton
East Water District, Oakdale Irrigation District, South San Joaquin
Irrigation District, Calaveras County Water District, and riverine
habitat downstream of Goodwin reservoir.
The USBR has the direct
responsibility for coordinating all of these operational needs. The
maximum operating level of the reservoir at Tulloch is 510.0’. The
operating agreement with the USBR allows a typical operating range
between 509.5 and 506.5 on a daily basis during the summer months. The
USBR generally does a very good job of managing all of these
considerations and keeping changes to the levels of Tulloch small on a
daily basis. Tri-Dam staff is in communication with the USBR on at
least a daily basis and typically more often during summer months
because of the complexities involved in the operation. During the
winter months, the operational agreement calls for Tulloch to be drawn
down in accordance with a schedule provided by the USBR primarily for
the purposes of flood protection storage.
At present, we have not received any updates from the USBR about operational changes at Tulloch for the coming season.
S. Larson
