Climate Change and the Changing Water Balance for California's North Fork Feather River
Title
Climate Change and the Changing Water Balance for California's North Fork Feather River
Abstract
Both the Lake Almanor and East Branch of the North Fork Feather (EBNFFR) subbasins are two rain-shadowed subbasins that exhibit a declining
trend in water year runoff. Trend declines that approach 308 hm3 (250,000 AF)/year collectively from the two subbasins since the early 1960's were analyzed using a water balance approach to help understand the declining runoff trend in terms of changes taking place at the watershed level. Beginning in the 1970's, increased evapotranspiration is likely taking place in the mixed conifer forests due to rising air temperatures. Increased forest growth and warmer air temperatures are likely two of the contributing causes for the increased evapotranspiration that has taken place in recent years. The decrease in both the low elevation snowpack and the water year runoff has resulted in a decline in hydroelectric output and less outflow of the NFFR into Lake Oroville.
trend in water year runoff. Trend declines that approach 308 hm3 (250,000 AF)/year collectively from the two subbasins since the early 1960's were analyzed using a water balance approach to help understand the declining runoff trend in terms of changes taking place at the watershed level. Beginning in the 1970's, increased evapotranspiration is likely taking place in the mixed conifer forests due to rising air temperatures. Increased forest growth and warmer air temperatures are likely two of the contributing causes for the increased evapotranspiration that has taken place in recent years. The decrease in both the low elevation snowpack and the water year runoff has resulted in a decline in hydroelectric output and less outflow of the NFFR into Lake Oroville.
Purpose
To understand climatic changes in snowpack and snowmelt in order to effectively forecast runoff and scheduling schedule reservoir releases for hydroelectric operations.
Begin Date
2015-08-21
Originator Name
Gary J. Freeman
Ordering Information
Power Generation Department, Pacific Gas &Electric Co., Mail Code N13A, P.O. Box 770000, San Francisco, CA
94177, GJF2@pge.com
94177, GJF2@pge.com
Keywords
Climate Change, Feather River, Northern California, Orographic, Rain Shadow, Water Balance
Resource Type
Document
Resource Owner
deercreekgisWebsite
To the owner of Climate Change and the Changing Water Balance for California's North Fork Feather River
3 files
- Analyzing-ImpactofClimateChange_Freeman.pdf 1.33 MB Added 20 Aug 2015
- ClimateChange_ChangingWaterBalance_Freeman.pdf 2.32 MB Added 20 Aug 2015
- PG&E Presentation Climate change and the changing water balance for california's north fork feather river.pdf 6.18 MB Added 20 Aug 2015