Upon the basis of the March 25, 2013 Natural Resources Conservation Service's (NRCS) April through July 2013 run-off forecast for the Carson River at Fort Churchill, the end of April 2013 storage objective for Lahontan Reservoir is 221,500 acre-feet. In order to meet this objective, 118,600 acre-feet of diversion would be needed during the month.
The amount of diversion necessary to meet the storage objective is greater than the volume of diversion that the Truckee Canal is capable of diverting from the Truckee River due to Canal flow restrictions and more than the amount of water available for diversion from the Truckee River.
Diversions in the Truckee River remain subject to limitations set by the United States Bureau of Reclamation and the Federal District Court for the District of Nevada (See, e.g., "Interim Temporary Restraining Order," Kroshus, et al. v. United States of America, et al, Case No. 3:08-cv-0246-LDG-RAM, dated May 28, 2008).
Based on the March 1, 2013 Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) April through July 2013 runoff forecast for the Carson River at Fort Churchill, the anticipated March 2013 end-of-month storage objective for Lahontan Reservoir is 224,900 acre-feet. The District could divert as much as 125,000 feet in the month of March with which to meet this objective. However, operation of the Truckee Canal continues to be restricted to a stage-flow not exceeding 350 cfs. Accordingly, given the operating constraint on the Canal, the objective cannot be met.
Pursuant to the Operating and Procedures for the Newlands Federal Reclamation Project (OCAP), the Bureau of Reclamation, through the Lahontan Basin Area Office, has evaluated projected Project water supply for the month of February, 2013, as to inflows, demands, and losses for Lahontan Reservior, the Truckee Canal, and the Carson Division. Based upon the January 22, 2013 Natural Resouce Conservation Service (NRCS) April through July run-off forecast for the Carson River at Fort Churchill, the end of month storage objective is 181,100 acre-feet. The storage target for February is 94,900 acre feet -as measured at the Truckee Canal Wadsworth Gauge.
The Truckee Canal remains subject to flow restrictions. The amount volume of water capable of being diverted exceeds that which the Canal is capable of diverting due to flow restrictions and is more than the amount of water available for diversion in the Truckee River.