On September 13, 2006, a historic settlement (Settlement) was signed that brought the end to an 18-year lawsuit involving many members of the Friant Water Authority. The dispute resolved by the Settlement was over the operation of Friant Dam and longstanding legal claims brought by a coalition of environmental groups related to the river’s historic population of salmon. Since Friant Dam became fully operational in the late 1940s, approximately 60 miles of the river have been dried up in most years, eliminating salmon above the river’s confluence with the Merced River.
The Settlement includes two goals:
Water Management Goal
To reduce or avoid adverse water supply impacts to all of the Friant Division long-term contractors that may result from the Interim Flows and Restoration Flows provided for in the Settlement.
Restoration Goal
To restore and maintain fish populations in “good condition” in the main stem of the San Joaquin River below Friant Dam to the confluence of the Merced River, including naturally reproducing and self-sustaining populations of salmon and other fish.
The Settling Parties include the Friant Division contractors, a coalition of environmental groups led by the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the U.S. departments of the Interior and Commerce. The Friant Division contractors were represented in negotiations by Friant Water Users Authority, Friant Water Authority’s predecessor.
The Settlement requires specific releases of water from Friant Dam to the confluence of the Merced River, designed primarily to meet the various life stage needs for spring and fall run Chinook salmon. The release schedule assumes continuation of the current average Friant Dam release of 116,741 acre feet, with additional flow requirements depending on the year type. For example, approximately 247,000 acre feet would be released in most dry years, whereas about 555,000 acre feet would be released in wet years. As a long-term annual average, Friant contractors will give up approximately 18 percent of their water supply. Federal legislation was passed in March 2009 authorizing Federal agencies to implement the Settlement.
Additional Information
Stipulation of Settlement (September 13, 2006)