Streamflow, Salinity and Temperature Monitoring
Since 2013, the San Lorenzo Valley Water District (SLVWD) has been working with Balance Hydrologics, Inc. to develop an approach and proposal to gage flows in channels that serve as water sources for the District. SLVWD intends to use the data to better understand how its diversions may affect flow and habitat values – including those of sensitive species – in the San Lorenzo River and its tributaries.
The data have been used to inform and work with regulatory agencies and District staff to establish a baseline for future projects and operations for the SLVWD. During the first five years of monitoring, Balance operated gages along 9 different creeks and conducted several additional studies to gain a better understanding of the various watershed systems within the San Lorenzo Valley. As is typical, after five years of monitoring Balance Hydrologics, Inc. developed a more refined monitoring and diversion-management program to address the remaining questions and establish baseline conditions. The data will be used to evaluate the potential impact of SLVWD diversions on streamflow and temperature for ‘ecological’ regulatory purposes, for habitat, and for potential conjunctive-use studies. The District requested separated monitoring of ‘ecological’ and ‘operational’ gaging into two separate projects beginning in water year 2019. The complementary
operational project will be the operational gaging and monitoring of Fall and Clear Creek. Measurements at these two stations provide critical information for your operations and diversion management.
Reports are available for the public below: