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Cross
Delta Channel Gates
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The
California Department of Water Resources
manages the Cross Channel Gates.
For information on the status of
these gates, please visit the following
webpage: http://wwwoco.water.ca.gov/indexo.html
You will
then need to click on the appropriate
day under Dispatchers
Daily Water Reports. Once
you select a day, scroll down to
DELTA to see the info for that day.
When you see DELTA CROSS CHNL GATES
CLOSED 100%, that means the gates
are closed all day for that day.
Unfortunately, there is no information
for the current day, only the past
day.
If you
have questions you may contact the
Operations Office at (916) 979-2194
or (916) 979-2196. |
Click Here
to Enlarge
Click
Here to Enlarge
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The following report on the Temporary Barriers Project is for your information and action, as appropriate. This report will be transmitted whenever changes occur to the operation of the barriers, and as a result of modeling and/or field monitoring of water levels in the south Delta.
STATUS AS OF: October
5, 2009
Head of Old River (HOR) Barrier:
DWR is still awaiting a decision by
DFG whether the fall HOR barrier is needed
to increase flows down the San Joaquin
River to help improve dissolved oxygen
in the Stockton Deep Water Ship Channel
for the benefit of migrating adult Chinook
salmon. DFG generally makes a decision
in September and the barrier is installed
in late September or early October if
requested. Because the barrier
must be removed beginning early in November,
a decision is needed immediately if the
barrier is to operate more than a few
weeks—otherwise the installation
would be of questionable value.
Agricultural Barriers (Old
River near Tracy [ORT], Middle River
[MR], Grant Line Canal [GLC]):
All agricultural barriers are operating
tidally and will continue to do so for
the remainder of the season until they
are removed in November. However,
operations of the culverts may change
depending upon conditions.
Modeling:
Modeling results are attached. Actual
water levels are well above the trigger
levels (0.0 feet MSL at Old River and
Grant Line Canal barriers, 0.3 feet MSL
at Middle River barrier), and should
remain that way through the modeled period.
Notes:
The GLC barrier culverts are in need
of repair and are not operating to their
fullest potential (some leakage and poorly
sealing flap gates). DWR staff
will be diving the barrier to determine
the extent of repairs with the intent
of completing repairs by the 2010 season.
DWR has applied for permits this summer
to allow raising the weir height at the
MR barrier an additional one foot. This
would not change the barrier footprint,
but would potentially provide improved
circulation and water quality upstream
in Middle River and downstream in Old
River. It appears unlikely that
this change will be permitted in time
for the current irrigation season due
to the need to prepare additional documentation
required by Federal regulatory agencies
before review and permitted can be completed.
Due to “Furlough Friday’s” on three of four Fridays each month, the TBP weekly update will go out on Mondays until further notice. |
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There
is a dug channel, less than a mile
long, connecting the Sacramento River
(near Locke and Walnut Grove) with
Snodgrass Slough and the Mokelumne
River System. There is a pair of hyraulically
controlled gates on the Sacramento
River end of the channel, with usual
low-tide overhead clearance of about
8-1/2 feet, when the gates are in the
open position. (Although these gates
often are referred to as "locks"
they are not locks, they are gates.)
The
Channel is deep and allows transit
of low-overhead clearance boats when
the gates are open. This provides
a shortcut between the two waterway
systems. Without this shortcut, a
boater must travel the entire distance
of Georgiana Slough and back upstream
the entire distance of the North
Fork of the Mokelumne River (or vice
versa) to go this same one-mile distance,
a cruise of many miles. |
Delta
Cross Channel Gates Opening & Closing
Two views of gates in open position,
USBR photos. Above. Cross Delta Channel,
gates at Sacramento River at left, Walnut
Grove in foreground, DWR photo.
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Montezuma
Slough Salinity Control Gates
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This
structure, located on Montezuma Slough
2.2 miles from the east end (Collinsville
end) of the slough. It consists of
both a boat lock 20 feet wide and 70
feet long and a "maintenance channel" 66
feet wide on the east side of the slough.
Typically lock use is not required
from about early spring and summer,
usually through August or September,
and boaters may pass through the maintenance
channel at any hour (there is 16 feet
of water depth over the "sill"). Montezuma
Slough Gates Link |
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The
channel is marked by fixed red lights
on piers on the west side, and fixed
green lights on the east side. 6 a.m.
to 6 p.m. November through April, until
further notice.
Presently
there is no regularly maintained
telephone communications with the
lock attendant, but he may be reached
by marine band radio on channel 13.
Also, there may be an emergency telephone
number posted at the installation.
Marker
buoys identify a shoal area along the
east bank on both sides of the structure,
extending approximately 50 feet out
from the existing levee. (The control
structures can at times create currents
great than normal slough currents.)
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There
absolutely is no way to predict when
the facility will go into its "lock
mode"
-- it depends on rainfall and the times
of the year that the rainfall is received.
Lock mode can start as early as September. |
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When
the gates are in Boat Lock Operations,
instructions for locking through are
posted at the installation. The boat
lock signal is a standard traffic light.
Whistle (horn) signals to request opening
are two prolonged blasts followed by
two short blasts. Hours
of operation for the Lock are 6:00
a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Boat-In
Park. There
is a nice public park just downstream
of the Salinity Gates on the Collinsville
side of the slough. There is a
very small dock, providing the
park with limited boat access. |
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South
Delta Barriers
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There
are four barriers temporarily across
South Delta waterways at certain times
of the year, either limiting or totally
preventing through navigation of the
waterways. The prime purpose of three
of the barriers is to improve water
quality and depth in the South Delta
area. The fourth barrier, a rock barrier
in place only part of the year on Old
River near its juncture with the San
Joaquin River at Lathrop, is for the
protection of migrating fish. (Installing
or removing a barrier is not an instantaneous
process, so dates indicating such activities
may bracket a time periods -- such
as "April 12 - 19".) South
Delta Barriers Link
Ultimately
DWR plans to install locks at each
of the barriers, but this may be some
time off. In the interim, there are
retrieve/launch facilities at two of
the barriers. Personnel will retrieve
your boat at a launching ramp on the
near side of the barrier then re-launch
it at a ramp on the far side of the
barrier. They can handle boats up to
about 25 feet in length.
Old
River Near San Joaquin River. This
is the fisheries barrier. Most
years it goes in place in the spring
by April 15 and stays in until
May 15 . Most years it also goes
in place a second time, this time
in the fall of the year by early
Oct. and remains in place until
late Nov. No retrieve/launch services
are available here.
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Old
River Near Tracy. This
barrier is located upstream of
Rivers End Marina (formerly Del's
Boat Harbor) a distance of about
one mile. It typically goes in
place in early April and comes
out
by Nov. 30. There is a free retrieve/launch
service here when the barrier is in
place. Barrier personnel will put your
boat (up to 25 feet in length) on a
trailer, remove it from the water,
and re-launch it on the other side
of the barrier. This service operates Mon.
thru Fri. 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. and 7 a.m.
to 7 p.m. weekends and holidays when
the barrier is in place.
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Old
River Barrier
Near Tracy, shown in place, photo courtesy
of DWR. |
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Grantline
Canal. This
barrier is located east of Tracy
Blvd. and typically goes in starting
in mid-May and is removed by
Nov. 30. It has a retrieve/launch service,
which operates
Mon. thru Fri. 6 a.m. - 8 p.m. and 6
a.m. to 8 p.m. weekends and holidays
when the barrier is in place.
Middle
River. This is located
on Middle River about 500 feet
upstream of Hwy 4 and typically
goes in place starting in early
April. Removal begins in late
Nov. and is completed by Nov.
30. It does not have a retrieve/launch
service. (It should be noted
that this waterways in only marginally
navigable, especially for larger,
deep-draft craft. So use caution.)
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Grantline
Canal Barrier in
place, photo courtesy of DWR. |
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Emergency
Telephone Numbers
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A
cell phone/PCS is considered by us
as a marginal second choice for emergency
communications because coverage throughout
the Delta area can be spotty and unreliable.
More importantly, other nearby boaters,
who may be able to render assistance,
will not be able to hear you. Dialing
9-1-1 will get you in contact the California
Highway Patrol; perhaps not a heap
of help when you've got a problem on
the water. If you feel you must use
a cell phone for an emergency, then
have these emergency numbers handy.
And please don't ever use any emergency
number for a non-emergency purpose.
(You also may wish to have the cell
phone number of your favorite Delta-area
salvor handy.) |
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Important Telephone
Numbers
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Agency |
Emergency
Number |
Business Number |
| Rio
Vista Coast Guard |
707/374-2655 |
707/374-2871 |
Carquinez
Coast Guard |
707/643-7749 |
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| Contra
Costa County Sheriff |
925/228-8280 |
925/646-2441 |
| San
Joaquin County Sheriff |
209/468-4421 |
209/468-4400 |
| Sacramento
County Sheriff * |
916/874-5111 |
916/474-5115 |
| Solano
County Sheriff |
707/421-7090 |
707/421-7090 |
| Yolo
County Sheriff |
530/666-6612 |
530/666-8920 |
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If
you have other numbers that need to
be on this list, please let us know.
*Sacramento
Sheriff handles handles Isleton police &
fire
Do
not report bridge discrepancies to the
above numbers, see "Drawbridges"
below.
Thank
you to Lauritzen
Yacht Harbor and Herb Hickman (Blackfin)
for this emergency telephone information. |
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Delta
Flood & Emergency Information
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In
the event of flood, disaster or other
emergency conditions in the Delta,
the California Department of Boating & Waterways
(CalBoating) may issue special emergency
restrictions on Delta waterway use.
Such restrictions of Delta waterway
use generally will be broadcast periodically
on the Marine Band Radio channel 16. By
special arrangements with CalBoating,
this Website also will contain complete
copies of any such restrictions. CalBoating
has a special Website page set aside
on which to post any Delta boating
emergency restrictions, should any
exist. CalBoating
Delta Boating Emergency Restrictions
Link |
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Drawbridge
Openings & Clearance (see Bridges )
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Because
of the many rivers and sloughs, the
Delta has a number of bridges. Some
open, some don't. The ones that open
are referred to as drawbridges. The
vertical clearance and the hours
of operation of these drawbridges
are extremely important to boaters
exploring the Delta. It is almost
routine for a boater to make a long
cruise to some intended destination,
only to find that a drawbridge of
modest vertical clearance blocks
their route, and that the bridge's
hours of operation are past and that
the bridgetender has gone home.
Report
Bridge Discrepancies and problems (light
outages, bridge malfunctions, blocked
channel, etc.) to the Eleventh Coast
Guard District Bridge Section, 510/437-3514,
Monday through Friday, 7 am to 3:30
pm, or to the Coast Guard Marine Safety
Office other days and times at 510/437-3073. |
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Delta
Bridge History
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Usual* HighWater
Bridge Clearances -- © Copyright
by Hal Schell |
BRIDGE
LOCATION |
WHEN
TENDED |
HOURS |
CLEARANCE |
Little
Potato Slough at Tower Park |
4
Hr Notice |
|
35
ft. |
S.
Fork Mokelumne at Wimpy’s |
Need
Not Open |
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13
ft. |
N.
Fork Mokelumne at Giusti’s |
5-31
thru 10-31 |
9
a.m. - 5 p.m. |
12
ft. |
Private
on N. Fork Mokelumne |
Need
Not Open |
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11
ft. |
Snodgrass
Slough - Twin Cities Road |
72
Hr. Notice |
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18
ft. |
Delta
Cross Channel |
Fixed
Structure |
|
8.5
ft. |
Steamboat
Slough |
5-1
thru 10-31 |
6
a.m. - 10 p.m. |
21
ft. |
Sutter
Slough |
Need
Not Open |
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19
ft. |
Miner
Slough |
12
Hr. Notice |
|
19
ft. |
Sacramento
River Tower Bridge |
5-
thru 10-31
11-1 thru 4-30 |
6
a.m. - 10 p.m.
9 a.m - 5 p.m. |
30
ft. |
Sacramento
River at Freeport |
Same
as Above |
Same
as Above |
29
ft. |
Sacramento
River at Paintersville |
Same
as Above |
Same
as Above |
21
ft. |
Sacramento
River at Walnut Grove |
Same
as Above |
Same
as Above |
21
ft. |
Sacramento
River at Isleton |
Same
as Above |
Same
as Above |
16
ft. |
Sacramento
River at Rio Vista |
Same
as Above |
Same
as Above |
18
ft. |
Threemile
Slough |
24
Hours |
|
10
ft. |
Georgiana
Slough at Sacramento River |
5-
thru 10-31
11-1 thru 4-30 |
6
a.m. - 10 p.m.
9 a.m - 5 p.m. |
14
ft. |
Georgiana
Slough Near Isleton |
Same
as Above |
Same
as Above |
10
ft. |
Mokelumne
River at Hwy 12 ** |
Same
as Above |
Same
as Above |
8
ft. |
Bethel
Island Bridge |
Fixed
Structure |
|
15
ft. |
Connection
Slough Bridge |
5-
thru 10-31
11-1 thru 4-30 |
6
a.m. - 10 p.m.
9 a.m - 5 p.m. |
7
ft. |
Middle
River - Bacon Island (Fixed Portion) |
5-15
thru 10-15 daily
9-16 to 5-14 Thur-Mon |
|
8
ft.
18 ft. |
Middle
River RR Bridge |
12
Hr. Notice |
|
11
ft. |
Middle
River at Hwy 4 |
Fixed
Structure |
|
11
ft. |
Old
River RR Bridge |
24
Hours |
|
11
ft. |
14
Mile Slough at Paradise Point |
Fixed
Structure |
|
21
ft. |
Bishop
Cut at 8 Mile Rdoad |
12
Hr. Notice |
|
5.5
ft. |
Honker
Cut at King Island |
12
Hr. Notice |
|
7
ft. |
Turner
Cut (Zuckerman Bridge) |
24
Hours |
|
16
ft. |
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* We
devised this chart of what we think
are the "usual high-tide clearances"
of the more popular Delta bridges. Use
this chart with judgment -- it is not the
bible, it is not scientific. Clearances
are approximate and will be inaccurate
for times of plus tides or during high
water from heavy rains, spring runoffs
are large releases from upriver dams. Use
this chart at your own risk.
**
Note: special regulations
for the Hwy 12 Mokelumne River Bridge
-- May 1 to October 31, the bridge
opens on demand 6 am to 10 pm, except
on Saturday 10 am - 2 pm, Sunday
11 am to 6 pm, Memorial Day, 4th
of July, Labor Day 11 am to 6 pm
it need open only on the hour and
20 minutes before and after the hour.
Note: This
Bridge material is © copyrighted
by Hal Schell for use in his various
Delta Publications. All rights are
reserved and it may not be reprinted
for use in any publications, or on
the Internet without specific written
permission of Hal Schell.
For
additional Delta Bridge information
and other excellent Navigational, Safety,
Weather and general Delta information,
go to the Lauritzen
Yacht Harbor Website.
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Coast
Guard Local Notice To Mariners
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The
11th Coast Guard District's Local
Notice To Mariners carries navigational
and on-water event information of value
and interest to Northern California
boaters. It covers a little of this
and a little of that, information that
varies from dredging activities to
malfunctioning drawbridges.
You
can view this weekly publication online
at Eleventh Coast Guard
District Local Notice to Mariners or
you may order a free mailed subscription
by contacting them. |
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Safe
Boating Classes |
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Every
Delta boater can benefit from a safe
boating course, as well as most members
of a boater's family. Courses are an
ongoing activity at some locations.
For the locations and schedules of
courses near you, telephone:
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Delta
Water Conditions
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Some
government web sites can provide a
lot of useful information about the
Delta. http://cdec.water.ca.gov/ is
such a site. It has so much info on
it that it takes some getting used
to in order to find what you want.
For example, by entering sensor number
25 in the Delta Basin will get us real
time water temperature at 19 locations.
There
is a lot of water-flow info on this
site, including water flow velocity,
salinity, and more. Or go to the Lauritzen
Yacht Harbor site which
has sifted through this site and other
sources and displays only the pertinent
Delta information in real time. |
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The
Sacramento Lock |
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The
William B. Stone ("Sacramento")
lock was taken out of operation quite
a few years ago. No longer can you
navigate a through route using the
Sacramento Ship Channel and the lock. |
