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Introduction

Fraint-Kern canal delivers water to numerous different districts and cities, and up to 15,000 family farms. The canal stems from the Friant dam located in the Sierra Nevada foothills, near the town of Friant. Built by the Bureau of Reclamation, the dam reaches a height of 319 feet and a length of 3,488 feet storing approximately 520,500 acre feet of water. Aside from storing water, the dam operators also utilize a 25 MW power plant that produces renewable energy for the Friant water authority. Friant-kern canal combats issues such as subsidence by providing water from the wetter northern most part of the state to incentivize farmers to pump less groundwater.

2013, California 46 Bridge over Friant-Kern Canal, Central Valley Project Irrigation System - panoramio

2013, Friant-Kern Canal, Central Valley Project Irrigation System - panoramio

Millerton Lake, Friant, California (21582117291)

Inspiration

The Friant-kern canal, was part of a much larger project called the Central Valley Project. This series of infrastructure was created for many reasons, one being to ease the detrimental affects associated with excess ground water pumping, particularly by farmers, and to also support the necessary economic development to withstand the massive influx of people entering the state, especially between the years 1920-1950.

Central Valley Project

The central valley project was an ambitious project built to address many different problems affecting the state. The CVP was intended to, reduce the impacts of flooding, provide water for varying purposes within the valley, distribute to different urban centers around the region, generate electricity, and to aid in conservation efforts. The entire project consisted of 20 dams and reservoirs which collectively store about 12 million acre feet of water.

Subsidence

Subsidence is caused by excess or unsustainable removal of groundwater, typically below the aquitard or the confining layer. Up to 60% of the friant-kern canal water delivery capacity is negatively affected by land subsidence. These decreased flow rates in the canal impact both, groundwater basins and agricultural within the area. With current rates of subsidence, the canal will be operating at 30% capacity within three years. Decreased flow rates means more groundwater pumping by farmers, less groundwater recharge by state agencies, and a diminished ability to transport water during particularly wet years. By April 2017, the canal had subsided a total of twelve feet since its finishing year in 1949. The WFA estimates that current construction aimed towards fixing the subsidence problem will reduce the amount of volume delivery of class 2 supplies by about 100,000 acre feet/year.

Environmental Impacts

Environmental impacts associated with the friant-kern canal vary across the state. Depleted salmon populations due to the deviation from the natural streamflow. Along with depleted streamflows, the dam itself serves as a blockade against salmon traveling upstream in search of appropriate spawning grounds. Due to the diversion of water, there is reported to be dry riverbed along some portions of the san Joaquin River. Along the river, where the bed is dry, riparian habitats are suffering and native flora and fauna are impacted detrimentally. With dry riverbeds and salmon populations suffering, a lawsuit was filed which led to a settlement urging restoration of the river. The river does end up getting replenished by the delta Mendota canal, but not before negative impacts are observed.

Construction

Construction is required to fix the canal where subsidence has impacted the functionality. Construction consists of the excavation of 400,000 cubic yards of soil, and 17,000 cubic yards of rock. Some other materials consist of 450,000 cubic yards of backfill is required along with 35,000 cubic feet of concrete lining material, 500,000 linear feet of aqualastic sealant and 85,000 cubic yards of riprap. To minimize any possible negative affects to biological resources, construction will occur when canal flows are low enough to avoid in-water work. Construction will also have an affect on air quality but only in the short term. The emission levels have been calculated to be under the federal and san Joaquin valley air pollution control district levels. Fugitive dust suppression is required to reduce air pollution as much as possible. Noise levels will also increase during the time of construction, however, disturbance coordinators will be designated with their contact information provided and all machinery will be fine tuned and equipped with necessary noise mufflers. Restoring the canal has been postulated to provide an increase of local jobs to an economically depressed region.

Myriophyllum Hippuroides

Myriophyllum hippuroides, also known as western watermilfoil has been impacting the canal for quite some time now. These weeds root themselves and reproduce in the earthen areas which are areas lacking cement. Unfortunately, this weed can also attach itself to cracks in the concrete. So after sometime floating down the canal, the weed may find another home to reproduce and propagate from. Chemical treatment is required for the successful removal of the aquatic weed which can grow up to ten feet long. This weed has been reported to clog canals, water meters, and micro irrigation sprinklers. Farmers who are trying to cut back on water usage by using micro irrigation technology are especially susceptible to clogging by these weeds.