The Tulloch Reservoir Fall/Winter 2017 schedule as just received from the Bureau of Reclamation is shown below. As contemplated, this is the year of the extended drawdown to allow for Tri-Dam to comply with requisite dam safety inspections, testing and maintenance if needed. Once the reservoir reaches maximum drawdown in early January 2018, it is expected to remain at that level for a period not to exceed 4 weeks, however, this is subject to change in the event of storm events and heavy precipitation.

Tri-Dam is providing this schedule to you immediately upon its’ receipt so that you can make necessary plans for securing docks and other facilities, along with planning for any work that you may like to do over the coming fall/winter season. All work to be done at the 515’ contour and below, pursuant to FERC license requirements requires that Tri-Dam review and authorize the work in advance, thus we will be working closely with all parties seeking to perform work to ensure that all Tri-Dam permits are in place, and assist in coordinating permits from State and Federal agencies where required.

In terms of the temporary moving of docks, coordination in advance with Tri-Dam will be needed to ensure that docks are placed in approved and safe locations. Please contact me directly and I will assist wherever needed to ensure that administrative clearance is obtained prior to the movement of docks around the reservoir.

For those landowners and contractors seeking to perform work during the extended drawdown, involving the installation of low water supports and/or excavation, Tri-Dam requests that all such applications be filed as soon as possible, and by November 1, 2017 at the very latest so that processing can occur well in advance of the planned work. While Tri-Dam is poised to provide a quick processing turnaround time for those filing complete applications, we are advised that State and Federal permits require additional time, thus a November 1, 2017 deadline would provide greater certainty that all approvals will be in place to allow you to perform the desired work. Tri-Dam will assist in the coordination of permits with State and Federal permits if needed, so please contact me with any specific questions. All application forms, fee schedule, and overview of the permitting process are available for review on Tri-Dam’s website at www.tridamproject.com. To facilitate the installation of low water supports, Staff recommended and the Board approved an application fee of $250.00 for those landowners with approved facilities who seek to install low water supports only without any further modifications or work.

As always, the schedule provided by the Bureau of Reclamation is subject to change based upon significant weather events thus all persons operating in and around the reservoir are encouraged to take care at all times. The schedule will be posted on Tri-Dam’s website, including any updates or modifications as soon as they are received. Please share this schedule with all interested persons, and in the event that you would like to be added to the Tulloch Email Distribution list, please let me know.
If you have any further questions, or need any information please contact me and I will be happy to assist you.

Regards,
Susan Larson
License Compliance Coordinator
Tri-Dam Project
PO Box 1158
Pinecrest, CA 95364
(209) 785-3838

Bureau of Reclamation

The fall drawdown schedule for Tulloch Reservoir is provided below. The schedule complies with the Army Corps of Engineers flood control requirements, and elevations are projected to lie between the low and high bands. Actual elevations may vary temporarily due to rainfall events or unforeseen operational constraints. This schedule incorporates an additional drawdown below the normal floor in order to permit required inspections and testing at Tulloch Reservoir in early January 2018. The exact duration of the inspection/testing is unknown at this time, but will probably be several weeks, weather permitting. At the conclusion of this work (currently anticipated to be late January or early February), a revised schedule will be issued and Tulloch will be allowed to refill to the normal winter elevation of 501.6 ft.