Water Storage and Tailwater Capture Systems Sample Clauses

Water Storage and Tailwater Capture Systems. This BMA addresses water storage that results from storage of water diverted from surface or groundwater sources and tailwater capture (off channel). A water storage facility enables a Permittee to use stored water at a later date or when desired. Water storage facilities can have many benefits that go beyond agricultural use including groundwater recharge and allowing diversion during winter and early spring when instream flow is ample. Water storage, when paired with reduction of water use later in the season, can benefit the Covered Species. Potential benefit to Covered Species will be considered when planning projects under this category. Tailwater is created in flood irrigation operations as unabsorbed, untranspired, and unevaporated irrigation water that may flow back into the stream. Restoration projects to address tailwater input will include construction of tailwater capture systems (pond, berms or pick up ditches) to intercept tailwater before it enters streams as surface flow. Water held in capture systems, such as a pond, can be reused for future irrigation purposes, therefore, reducing the need for additional stream diversions. Tailwater ponds are used primarily during the irrigation season (dry summer months). A tailwater pond allows a Permittee to irrigate between set irrigation cycles (if in an irrigation district). The State Water Board allows for captured water to be put to beneficial use, not used to irrigate ground that may not have been in production in the past or otherwise harm other legal users of water. Tailwater ponds will be located at a distance from the edge of the active channel to avoid causing stranding of juvenile salmonids or channel avulsion during flood events. Tailwater ponds must be combined with a reduction in diversion amounts or be utilized at an existing point of diversion to ensure water allocation is consistent with adjudication. Tailwater berms allow for intercepting tailwater before it enters the stream, but is not able to be reused. Berms allow tailwater to be kept on the fields and percolate into soils and back to the river. Tailwater berms shall be placed in areas where they will not pose any channel pressure in the event of a flood and in areas where soils have high permeability (well-draining). Tailwater pick up ditches allow the Permittee to intercept tailwater and convey it to another place of use to utilize for irrigation, thereby reducing demand for surface water diversion.