Almond Root Zone Study Plan

64 Pages·2015·0.98 MB·English

Almond Root Zone Study Plan
Phase 1

Administrative Draft

June 2015

Subject to Revision
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Table of Contents
1
2
3 1.0 Introduction .............................................................................................. 1-1
4 1.1 Background .................................................................................................... 1-1
5 1.2 Study Purpose and Approach ........................................................................ 1-2
6 1.2.1 Phase 1 ............................................................................................... 1-2
7 1.2.2 Phase 2 ............................................................................................... 1-3
8 2.0 UCCE Extension Advisory Outreach ..................................................... 2-1
9 2.1 Summary of UCCE Extension Advisory Conversations ............................... 2-8
10 2.1.1 Typical Almond Root Depth .............................................................. 2-8
11 2.1.2 Factors That Influence Almond Root Depth ...................................... 2-9
12 2.1.3 Effects of Saturated Soil on Almond Health ...................................... 2-9
13 3.0 Literature Review ..................................................................................... 3-1
14 3.1 Root Type and Function ................................................................................ 3-1
15 3.2 Factors that Affect Root Growth and Function ............................................. 3-3
16 3.2.1 Soils.................................................................................................... 3-3
17 3.2.2 Rootstock/Variety .............................................................................. 3-4
18 3.2.3 The Problem of Phytopthora .............................................................. 3-5
19 3.2.4 Salinity ............................................................................................... 3-6
20 3.3 Root Depth ..................................................................................................... 3-6
21 3.4 Methods of Studying Root Depth .................................................................. 3-7
22 3.4.1 Non-invasive Methods for Studying Root Depth .............................. 3-8
23 3.4.2 Invasive Methods for Studying Root Depth ...................................... 3-8
24 4.0 Soil Characterization for Selected Parcel Groups ................................ 4-1
25 4.1 Preliminary Soil Investigations ..................................................................... 4-1
26 4.2 Interpretation of Soil Survey Information and Soil Boring Logs .................. 4-2
27 5.0 Potential Additional Root Zone Study ................................................... 5-1
28 5.1 Advantages .................................................................................................... 5-1
29 5.2 Disadvantages ................................................................................................ 5-2
30 6.0 References ............................................................................................... 6-1
Almond Root Zone Study Administrative Draft
Phase 1 i – June 2015
San Joaquin River Restoration Program
1 Tables
2 Table 2-1. University of California, Davis, and University of California
3 Extension Experts Contacted ......................................................................... 2-2
4 Table 3-1. Methods of Studying Tree Root Depth ............................................... 3-10
5 Table 4-1. Root Growth Influencing Site Conditions on Properties
6 Considered for Potential Almond Root Zone Field Investigations ............... 4-4
7 Figure
8 Figure 4-1. Location of Properties for Potential Almond Root Zone Field
9 Investigations ................................................................................................. 4-3
10 Appendix
11 Appendix A – UC Expert Advisory Log
12 Appendix B – Potential Field Programs for Almond Root Depth Investigation
13
Administrative Draft Almond Root Zone Study
ii – June 2015 Phase 1
Table of Contents
List of Abbreviations and Acronyms
1
2 ac acre
3 Act Public Law 111-11: The San Joaquin River
4 Restoration Settlement Act
5 ATV All-terrain vehicle
6 bgs below ground surface
7 CCID Central California Irrigation District
8 CDFA California Department of Food and Agriculture
9 cm centimeter
10 FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
11 Nations
12 ft foot
13 g grams
14 GPR Ground Penetrating Radar
15 in inches
16 m meter
17 lb pound
18 meq milliequivalent
19 mmhos micro mhos
20 mm millimeters
21 PG Parcel Group
22 ppm parts per million
23 Reclamation U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
24 Settlement Stipulation of Settlement in the case of Natural
25 Resources Defense Council, et al. v. Kirk Rodgers,
26 et al., United States District Court, Eastern District
27 of California, No. CIV. S–88–1658–LKK/GGH
28 SJRRP San Joaquin River Restoration Project
29 SMP Seepage Management Plan
30 T-LiDAR Terrestrial Light Detection and Ranging
31 UC University of California
32 UCCE University of California Cooperative Extension
33 WY Water year
34
Almond Root Zone Study Administrative Draft
Phase 1 iii – June 2015
San Joaquin River Restoration Program
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Administrative Draft Almond Root Zone Study
iv – June 2015 Phase 1
1.0 Introduction
1
2 1.1 Background
3 In 1988, a coalition of environmental groups, led by the Natural Resources Defense
4 Council (NRDC) filed a lawsuit, known as NRDC, et al., v. Kirk Rodgers, et al.,
5 challenging the renewal of long-term water service contracts between the United States
6 and the Central Valley Project (CVP) Friant Division contractors. On September 13,
7 2006, after more than 18 years of litigation, the Settling Parties, including NRDC, Friant
8 Water Authority (FWA), and the U.S. Departments of the Interior and Commerce, agreed
9 on the terms and conditions of a Settlement subsequently approved by the U.S. Eastern
10 District Court of California (Court) on October 23, 2006. The San Joaquin River
11 Restoration Settlement Act (Act), included in Public Law 111-11 and signed into law on
12 March 30, 2009, authorizes and directs the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to
13 implement the Settlement. The Settlement establishes two primary goals:
14  Restoration Goal – To restore and maintain fish populations in “good condition”
15 in the main stem San Joaquin River below Friant Dam to the confluence of the
16 Merced River, including naturally reproducing and self-sustaining populations of
17 salmon and other fish
18  Water Management Goal – To reduce or avoid adverse water supply impacts on
19 all of the Friant Division long-term contractors that may result from the Interim
20 and Restoration flows provided for in the Settlement
21 To achieve the Restoration Goal, the Settlement calls for releases of water from Friant
22 Dam to the confluence of the Merced River (referred to as Interim and Restoration
23 flows), a combination of channel and structural modifications along the San Joaquin
24 River below Friant Dam, and reintroduction of Chinook salmon. Restoration Flows are
25 specific volumes of water to be released from Friant Dam during different water year
26 types, according to Exhibit B of the Settlement and began on January 1, 2014. The Water
27 Rights Order dated October 21, 2013 is a long-term authorization to modify
28 Reclamation's water rights to implement Restoration Flows. Interim Flows were
29 experimental flows that began in 2009 and continued until Restoration Flows were
30 initiated, with the purpose of collecting relevant data concerning flows, temperatures, fish
31 needs, seepage losses, recirculation, recapture, and reuse, pursuant to Order WR 2009-
32 0058-DWR from the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) and continued
33 under Orders WR 2010-0029-DWR and the Order dated September 30, 2011.
34 To achieve the Water Management Goal, the Settlement calls for recirculation, recapture,
35 reuse, exchange or transfer of the Interim and Restoration flows to reduce or avoid
36 impacts to water deliveries to all of the Friant Division long-term contractors caused by
37 the Interim and Restoration flows. In addition, the Settlement establishes a Recovered
Almond Root Zone Study Administrative Draft
Phase 1 1-1 – June 2015
San Joaquin River Restoration Program
1 Water Account (RWA) and program to make water available to all of the Friant Division
2 long-term contractors who provide water to meet Interim or Restoration flows to reduce
3 or avoid the impact of the Interim and Restoration flows on such contractors.
4 Both Condition 7 of the long-term Water Rights Order and Environmental Commitments
5 EC-7 and EC-8 of the San Joaquin River Restoration Program (SJRRP) Programmatic
6 Environmental Impact Statement / Environmental Impact Report require compliance with
7 the Seepage Management Plan (SMP) for release of Restoration Flows. Reclamation
8 developed the SMP to: (1) limit Interim and Restoration Flows to reduce or avoid
9 material adverse groundwater seepage impacts through setting thresholds in over 200
10 groundwater monitoring wells, and (2) to identify a process to increase flows through
11 construction of seepage projects. The seepage control projects may include a variety of
12 realty (i.e., non-physical) and/or physical actions.
13 Physical projects that involve the design and construction of infrastructure to be installed
14 in the field depend on a variety of site-specific conditions, including sediment texture in
15 the shallow aquifer. Sedimentary deposits along the San Joaquin River system include
16 alluvial deposits from both the Sierra Nevada and the Coast Range and fluvial deposits
17 from the river itself. The resulting assemblage is a complex mixture of clay, silt and
18 hardpan layers interspersed with sand and gravel deposits and various blends of these
19 materials.
20 1.2 Study Purpose and Approach
21 Reclamation has developed a two phased approach to develop a further understanding of
22 almond root zone characteristics.
23 1.2.1 Phase 1
24 The first phase of this work is provided in this document and includes the following:
25  Interpretation of information from almond production experts (Section 2) and
26 peer-reviewed scientific literature (Section 3) and to provide preliminary
27 information about almond root zone depth, that may be used to guide the
28 approach and design of a study plan; and
29  Interpretation of existing information from parcels where seepage projects are
30 anticipated and almonds currently, or are planned to be, planted (Section 4).
31  A discussion of potential options for further study of almond root depths and a
32 framework for observing almond roots in various soil environments where
33 seepage projects are anticipated (Section 5 and Appendix B).
Administrative Draft Almond Root Zone Study
1-2 – June 2015 Phase 1
1.0 Introduction
1 The approach to developing this study plan was to first obtain pertinent scientific
2 literature and up-to-date information from University of California (UC) research and
3 extension experts on almond tree growth, tree roots, and impacts of water and salinity on
4 root systems. Experts were consulted to gain knowledge specific to San Joaquin River
5 riparian almond culture literature review, and a literature review was conducted for
6 general information on factors that influence root growth. With this information, parcel
7 groups (PGs) were evaluated qualitatively to determine what commonalities and
8 differences exist within properties considered for potential almond root zone field
9 investigation. Lastly, recommended approaches for potential further investigation of
10 almond root zone conditions were developed. These were developed for three study
11 options representing various degrees of effort, time, cost, and levels of detail and site-
12 specificity.
13 1.2.2 Phase 2
14 The second phase of this study will be developed after full consideration of the
15 information developed in Phase 1. If Reclamation decides to proceed with a field
16 investigation of almond root zone characteristics, a full field investigation program will
17 be refined and implemented in Phase 2.
Almond Root Zone Study Administrative Draft
Phase 1 1-3 – June 2015
San Joaquin River Restoration Program
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Administrative Draft Almond Root Zone Study
1-4 – June 2015 Phase 1