Program updates 2025 Restoration Flow Schedule

Posted on by Josh Newcom
aerial view of river with green border of trees
2025 Restoration Flow Schedule Update

The Restoration Administrator, an independent body stipulated by the Settlement, has revised the river flow schedule for the months of April and May. This schedule has now been approved by Reclamation and features an increase in releases from Friant Dam beginning April 7, postponing the reduction in releases until April 15, and slightly higher flows in May.

This Restoration Flow schedule is still based on the March 17 Restoration Allocation which provided a total of 248,489 acre-feet for Restoration Flows under a Normal-Dry water year type. The Restoration Allocation will be updated again in April and finalized in May. Water allocations to the Program may rise or fall in response to the hydrologic forecast.

The public is cautioned that San Joaquin River temperatures are still very cold, and higher flow conditions may be challenging for those recreating in and around the river, especially in April. The public is encouraged to check Friant Dam releases before recreating near the San Joaquin River as conditions may change from day to day.

The Restoration Flow schedule has been set to the following:

Date Friant Dam Releases Flow Rate at Gravelly Ford
April 1 – April 6 Decreasing from 1,030 cfs
to 680 cfs		 Decreasing from 870 cfs to 550 cfs
April 7 – April 14 Increasing from 680 cfs
to 925 cfs		 Increasing from 550 cfs to 785 cfs
April 15 – April 28 Decreasing from 925 cfs
to approximately 460 cfs		 Decreasing from 785 cfs to 315 cfs
April 29 – May 28 Approximately 460 cfs 315 cfs
May 29 – September 30 410 – 460 cfs 185 cfs
October 1 – October 31 410 – 460 cfs 195 cfs
November 1 – November 30 410 – 460 cfs (except for pulses which are to be determined) 235 cfs
(except for pulses which are to be determined)
December 1 – December 31 440 – 490 cfs (except for pulses which are to be determined) 285 cfs
(except for pulses which are to be determined)
January 1 – February 28, 2026 410 – 460 cfs 250 cfs

For Information about Restoration Flows, please visit http://www.restoresjr.net/restoration-goal/restoration-flows/

For the Restoration Administrator recommendations, please visit http://www.restoresjr.net/documentsreports/ra-recommendations/

For additional information about the San Joaquin River Restoration Program, please visit http://www.restoresjr.net or contact Josh Newcom, Public Affairs Specialist, at 916-978-5508 or snewcom@usbr.gov.