From Willow Creek, CA. By E. B. Duggan “D” Fishing, 707-599-2357 at yen2fish@yahoo.com
SPRING WATER RELEASES, RIVER HABITAT
Sorry about no reports but I had to take the computer in to see the doctor again. I hope I have it fixed finally.
The spring water releases started as of April 16th and peaked April 26th, they are now on the way down and should flux again July 18th. As of today, April 28th, water releases are down to 5,750cfs and are supposed to reach summer flows of 450cfs by August 4th. Water safety on and in the river during this time is very important during these water releases increase. Please watch any and all children around the river as a priority for their safety. These releases are to help move the smolt and juvenile fish down the river as well as provide cold water for the Lower Klamath. It will also scourer the river for fish habitat. As for the fish habitat my experience (and I am not a scientist) while I was on the river guiding during this time has showed me that is does scourer the river bottom and does move silt and gravel around in the river but does not always move the juvenile fish down the river. In some cases, the fish run into the willows until the river flows start to subside and then go down the river. The releases are also help mimic the snow melt that feed the rivers as it was before the dams were on the river. As for the restoration projects it does enhance some project but destroys others so fish habitat does not always come out ahead. A lack of Fish Habitat is one the main reasons the PFMC recommended that Salmon fishing along the California Coast be closed for another year.
Adaptive Management; part of the restoration is to adapt management to benefit the river and fish habitat, so why not save some of these water releases for later in the year for returning fish? We have just experienced some major rain events that scoured the river with high water flows so why can’t some of the water releases be moved to the end of summer when there is a need for cool water to help returning fish? Wouldn’t that be Adaptive Management?
Fishing: The Lower Trinity was looking fairly good until the Spring Releases started. The Trinity River looks muddy and high right now but the sunbathing is doing great. Rafters might like the higher water flows but the fishermen sure don’t. For the time being fishing will be at a pause. This is the time you should be going through your fishing tackle. Rods and reels to make sure they will be ready for the coming Steelhead fishing. You also might want to check out sales to maybe pick up some good buys to fill out your tackle box. For fishing conditions on the upper Trinity, you might want to call Indian Creek Lodge, Cory, (530)623-6294 or Junction City Store, Butch, (530)623-2803, for Lewiston Lake call Pine Cove Marina, Matt or Louise (530)778-3878.
Mid-Klamath to Happy Camp: The Klamath River at Weitchpec is flowing 22,978cfs. This is an increase of 2,099cfs. Iron Gate Dam is releasing 1,384cfs a decrease of 114cfs. It appears the concern of the Upper Klamath River was about the toxic water conditions. With all of the last rains that appears to have dissipated due to the heavier water flows. Thank goodness! Prior to the rains there was a concern of toxic silt from the dams and burn areas but that seems to have gone away now. I have not heard much about fishing in the Upper Klamath River so if you are looking to fish the Klamath in the near future you might want to call; for the Upper Klamath, you can call Doug Cole, Marble Mountain Guest Ranch, (800)552-6284, or Scott Caldwell, SC Guide Service (530)905-0758
Lake Conditions: Whiskeytown is 98% of capacity (an increase of 2%) with inflows of N/Acfs with releases of N/Acfs into Spring Creek. Shasta Lake is 96% of capacity (a decrease of 0% minus 0ft) with inflows of N/Acfs and releasing N/Acfs into Keswick. Keswick is 82% of capacity (a decrease of 11%) with inflows of N/Acfs and releases of N/Acfs into the Sacramento River. Oroville Lake is 96% of capacity (an increase of 6% plus 15ft) with inflows of 12,593cfs with releases of 2,847cfs into the Feather River. Folsom Lake is 86% of capacity (an increase of 7% plus 6ft) with inflows of N/Acfs with releases of N/Acfs into the American river. Trinity Lake storage is 2,078,620AF a decrease of 10,255AF of storage. The Trinity Alps is the water source for Trinity Lake and the snowpack has been increasing with the latest storms but the spring releases are starting to cause the drop in storage.
Trinity Lake: The lake is 24ft below the overflow (a decrease of 2ft) and 85% of capacity (an increase of 1%) with inflows of N/Acfs and releasing 5,754cfs into Lewiston Lake with N/Acfs being diverted to Whiskeytown and on to the Keswick Power Plant while releasing 8,086cfs into the Sacramento River.
Trinity River flows and conditions: Trinity Lake is 85% of capacity (an increase of 1%) and 24ft below the overflow a decrease of 2ft. Lewiston Dam is 99% of capacity (an increase of 1%) and water releases of 5,754cfs into the Trinity River, with water temperatures of N/A degrees, as of 9:00am today Sunday April 28, 2024. Limekiln Gulch is 9.05ft at 5,723cfs. Douglas City is 11.45ft with flows of 6,639cfs with water temperatures of 46.4 degrees. Junction City is 7.75ft at 6,350cfs. Helena is 17.11ft at 7,478cfs with water temps of N/A degrees. Cedar Flat (Burnt Ranch) is N/Aft at 0.00cfs (Gauge is out of order). South Fork of the Trinity near Hyampom is 5.68 at 1,563cfs. Willow Creek is estimated at 9,041 and air is 62 degrees and water at 49.5 degrees, Hoopa is 19.25ft at 12,319cfs with water at 50.6 degrees. Water flows at the mouth of the Trinity River at the Klamath in Weitchpec are estimated to be 22,978cfs an increase of 2,099cfs.
Klamath River flows and conditions: Iron Gate is releasing 1,384cfs, a decrease of 114cfs. Seiad Valley is 4.88ft at 3,865cfs. Indian Creek is 5.50ft at 664cfs. Happy Camp is estimated at 4,529cfs, Somes Bar is estimated to be 7,288cfs, and the Salmon River is 5.01ft at 3,371cfs. Orleans is 8.12ft at 10,659cfs, the Klamath River at Terwer Creek is 15.37ft at 27,919cfs and water temps are 50.7 degrees. Flows for the Smith River at Jediah Smith are 8.04ft with flows of 3,228cfs. and flows at Dr. Fine Bridge are 14.47ft at N/A.
Temperatures for the Valley last week had a high of 90 and a low of 34 degrees. Rain for the week was 0.53in with a water year total to date of 51.02 inches and 0.40in of snow in Willow Creek. The predicted temperatures for next week are for high of 78 and a low of 39. The weather predicted for next week is partly cloudy for the first part of the week with sunshine for the end of the week and scattered showers for the weekend.
Good Fishin and Good Luck but remember; “keep your tip up with a tight line lands fish”
Websites: www.norcalfishreports.com/spots/1896/trinity-river—willow-creek-weir.php, info@willowcreekchamber.com
