DWR PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT
New Web Site for Deer Creek Exchange Pilot Project

This pilot program tests the effectiveness of increasing flows for fish transportation in Deer Creek in northern California by seasonally substituting surface water for groundwater. The program also implements and tests the effectiveness of newly developed guidelines for program operations and management.

In cooperation with the Northern District of DWR, the Deer Creek Irrigation District (DCID) is entering into a one-year water exchange pilot program. The Deer Creek Water Exchange Pilot Program will test the effectiveness of increasing fish transportation flows in Deer Creek by seasonally substituting surface water for groundwater. A secondary element of the pilot program is to implement and test the effectiveness of newly developed guidelines for program operations and management. The guidelines, or Groundwater Management Objectives, are designed to eliminate third party impacts by combining a rigorous program of groundwater monitoring with a clear set of groundwater level and groundwater quality criteria for groundwater pumping operations. This site provides an overview of the Pilot Program and access to groundwater level and water quality data that is being collected as part of the program.
Details: http://wdl10.water.ca.gov/gw/projects/deer_creek/