Measurement of Delta Outflow

A measure of daily net flow from the Delta into Suisun Bay is a quantity those studying the Bay and Delta have been seeking since the 1920's. Since February 1996, an indirect measure of daily net Delta outflow has been obtained (shown in plot here) by combining the UVM measured flows for sites 4, 5, 6, and 7. Delta outflow estimates have been previously calculated using a flow mass-balance approach which uses an imprecise estimate of Delta consumptive use, and does not account for the effects of the filling and draining of the Delta due to the spring-neap tidal cycle nor atmospheric pressure effects which can be significant.

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