WSI (05/08/08 1425)
Department of Water Resources
California Cooperative Snow Surveys
2008 Water Year Hydrologic Classification Indices
2008 Water Year Forecast as of May 1, 2008
SACRAMENTO RIVER UNIMPAIRED RUNOFF (SACRAMENTO RIVER INDEX)
Probability of Exceedence
Forecast Date 99% 90% 75% 50% 25% 10%
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Dec 1, 2007 4.8 (26%) 7.4 (40%) 9.9 (53%) 13.8 (74%) 19.0(102%) 24.3(131%)
Jan 1, 2008 5.9 (32%) 8.3 (45%) 10.3 (55%) 13.3 (71%) 17.4 (93%) 21.5(115%)
Feb 1, 2008 8.2 (44%) 10.0 (54%) 11.6 (62%) 13.7 (74%) 17.4 (93%) 21.8(117%)
Mar 1, 2008 9.1 (49%) 10.6 (57%) 11.8 (63%) 13.6 (73%) 16.0 (86%) 19.4(104%)
Apr 1, 2008 8.9 (48%) 10.2 (55%) 11.0 (59%) 11.9 (64%) 13.5 (73%) 15.2 (82%)
May 1, 2008 9.3 (50%) 10.0 (54%) 10.5 (56%) 11.1 (60%) 11.8 (63%) 12.6 (68%)
Sacramento River Runoff is the sum of unimpaired flow in million acre-feet at:
Sacramento River above Bend Bridge
Feather River at Oroville (aka inflow to Lake Oroville)
Yuba River near Smartville
American River below Folsom Lake
Also known as the "Sacramento River Index", this index was previously used
to determine year type classifications under SWRCB Decision 1485.
Also previously referred to as the "4 River Index" or "4 Basin Index".
Water Year Runoff through end of last month:
2008 (current year) = 7.2 MAF 53% of average
2007 (last year) = 7.8 MAF 57% of average
Previous Water Year Total Runoff:
2007 =10.3 MAF 55% of average
1977 (Min) = 5.1 MAF 28% of average
1983 (Max) =37.7 MAF 202% of average
1956-2005 average =18.6 MAF
SACRAMENTO VALLEY WATER YEAR TYPE INDEX (40-30-30)
Probability of Exceedence
Forecast Date 99% 90% 75% 50% 25% 10%
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Dec 1, 2007 3.3 4.2 5.0 6.3 8.0 9.7
Jan 1, 2008 3.7 4.5 5.1 6.1 7.5 8.9
Feb 1, 2008 4.4 5.0 5.6 6.3 7.6 9.1
Mar 1, 2008 4.8 5.3 5.7 6.3 7.2 8.4
Apr 1, 2008 4.7 5.1 5.4 5.7 6.3 6.9
May 1, 2008 4.8 5.0 5.2 5.4 5.6 5.9
Index = 0.4 * Current Apr-Jul Runoff (1)
+ 0.3 * Current Oct-Mar Runoff (1)
+ 0.3 * Previous Year's Index (2)
Notes:
(1) Runoff is the sum of unimpaired flow in million acre-feet at:
Sacramento River above Bend Bridge
Feather River at Oroville (aka inflow to Lake Oroville)
Yuba River near Smartville
American River below Folsom Lake
(2) Maximum 10.0 for previous year index term
Previous Water Year Indices:
2007 = 6.2 74% of average
1977 (Min) = 3.1 37% of average
1983 (Max) = 15.3 184% of average
1956-2005 average = 8.3
Year Type Classification: Index based on flow in million acre-feet:
Wet Equal to or greater than 9.2
Above Normal Greater than 7.8, and less than 9.2
Below Normal Greater than 6.5, and equal to or less than 7.8
Dry Greater than 5.4, and equal to or less than 6.5
Critical Equal to or less than 5.4
This index, originally specified in the 1995 SWRCB Water Quality Control Plan,
is used to determine the Sacramento Valley water year type as implemented in
SWRCB D-1641. Year types are set by first of month forecasts beginning in
February. Final determination is based on the May 1 50% exceedence forecast.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY WATER YEAR TYPE INDEX (60-20-20)
Probability of Exceedence
Forecast Date 99% 90% 75% 50% 25% 10%
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Dec 1, 2007 0.7 1.1 1.5 2.1 2.9 3.8
Jan 1, 2008 0.8 1.1 1.5 2.0 2.8 3.6
Feb 1, 2008 1.6 2.1 2.4 2.8 3.6 4.5
Mar 1, 2008 2.1 2.4 2.6 2.9 3.4 4.1
Apr 1, 2008 1.9 2.1 2.3 2.5 2.8 3.2
May 1, 2008 1.8 1.9 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.5
Water Year Index based on flow in million acre feet
Index = 0.6 * Current Apr-Jul Runoff (1)
+ 0.2 * Current Oct-Mar Runoff (1)
+ 0.2 * Previous Year's Index (2)
Notes:
(1) Runoff is the sum of unimpaired flow in million acre-feet at:
Stanislaus River below Goodwin Reservoir (aka inflow to New Melones Res.)
Tuolumne River below La Grange (aka inflow to New Don Pedro Reservoir)
Merced River below Merced Falls (aka inflow to Lake McClure)
San Joaquin River inflow to Millerton Lake
(2) Maximum 4.5 for previous year index term
Previous Water Year Indices:
2007 = 2.0 60% of average
1977 (Min) = 0.8 26% of average
1983 (Max) = 7.2 219% of average
1956-2005 average = 3.3
Year Type Classification: Index based on flow in million acre-feet:
Wet Equal to or greater than 3.8
Above Normal Greater than 3.1, and less than 3.8
Below Normal Greater than 2.5, and equal to or less than 3.1
Dry Greater than 2.1, and equal to or less than 2.5
Critical Equal to or less than 2.1
This index, originally specified in the 1995 SWRCB Water Quality Control Plan,
is used to determine the San Joaquin Valley water year type as implemented in
SWRCB D-1641. Year types are set by first of month forecasts beginning in
February. Final determination for San Joaquin River flow objectives is based
on the May 1 75% exceedence forecast.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY & SAN JOAQUIN 8 RIVER INDEX
Previous month: Apr 1890 TAF
This index is the sum of the previous month's unimpaired runoff for the 8 rivers
that are included in the above SACRAMENTO RIVER UNIMPAIRED RUNOFF
and the SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY WATER YEAR TYPE INDEX
A listing of reconstructed indices based on historical observed runoff is posted
at http://cdec.water.ca.gov/water_supply.html
The official year types are based on May 1 forecasts, not the observed runoff.
If you have any questions contact the Snow Survey Staff
John King (916) 574-2636 kingjj@water.ca.gov
Steve Nemeth (916) 574-2224 nemeth@water.ca.gov
Andy Reising (916) 574-2181 areising@water.ca.gov
Dave Rizzardo (916) 574-2983 daver@water.ca.gov
Adam Schneider (916) 574-2208 aschneid@water.ca.gov
