C. Shasta hits down migrating juveniles between the Shasta River and the Scott River. 70% of the juvenile salmon trapped in the Upper Klamath showed they were infected with the Ceratonova Shasta virous. 97% of the juveniles trapped between the Shasta River and the Scott River tested positive for C. Shasta. This plus the warm water in the Upper river is devastating to our out megaton of salmonid. The Klamath River suffered this same problem in the last drought and the river is still trying to recover from that episode. What will be the results from this drought? The salmon fishing for the Klamath River Basin and California Ocean salmon fishing is based upon the over all Klamath River Basin Ocean Abundance (survival rate) of harvestable salmon (expected return) plus several other factors. These kinds of problems are what can diminish the salmon runs to a point of NO SALMON FISHING at all. Water is at the heart of it all. Farmers need water to grow crops, Cities need water to survive, fish need water to survive and trees need water to grow, without water none of the above can survive. Better usage of the water, more storage of water for lean years are just part of the answers but where and how can that happen? Our legislators had better come up with some solutions very soon or we are not going to be able to build homes, grow crops or eat fish.
Memorial Day Weekend is upon us! Please be cautious around the Trinity River as it is still cold and flowing faster than it appears. Water flows are still up. LIVES MATTER! Be watchful of the little ones as it only takes a second and they are gone. If you are not a strong swimmer don’t go into deep water. Every year we lose a life or two from carelessness. Don’t let this be you!
I just saw a notice that there is going to be a Task Force appointed to possibly manage the Trinity. It looks like even the TAMWG will be reinstated. This could be good news for the river. Upper Klamath River Rotary Screw Trapping count: Julian week 20 ending on May 20, 2021; Shasta River; 1,232 Chinook salmon age 0+, season total 237,972, Juveniles, 1yr old 1, season total 115; Coho salmon 11 age 0+, season total 126; 29 Rainbow Trout age 1+, season total 183, 58 Rainbow Trout age 2+, season total 2,836; Scott River, 214 Chinook salmon age 0+, season total 6,016; 1yr old Chinook 4, season total 59; 8 Coho salmon 1yr+, season total 120; 137 Rainbow Trout age 1+, season total 536, 19 Rainbow Trout age 2+, season total 1,328.
Fishing: Yahoo, I finally saw fishermen on the river fishing. I didn’t get to see much catching but at least they were out fishing. It is still a little early for the springers’ but one can still fish for hatchery trout and hatchery steelhead. Flows are still over 1,000cfs in Willow Creek but there is sunshine and great water for just drifting the river for recreation.
It appears that the Reservations are now open for fishing and recreation but I still have now official notice that the reservations are open to non-residents. I have seen and been told the one can fish on the reservation without problems. All I can say is the rivers look great for fishing but the Upper Klamath has warm water.
Mid-Klamath to Happy Camp: The Klamath River at Weitchpec is flowing 5,768cfs. This is a decrease of 2,143cfs. Iron Gate Dam is releasing 1,201cfs from Iron Gate but I am not hearing about much fishing in the Upper Klamath.
Lake Conditions: Whiskeytown is 94% of capacity (an increase of 0%) with inflows of 468cfs and releasing 350cfs in to Spring Creek. Shasta Lake is 45% of capacity (a decrease of 2% plus 6ft) with inflows of 1,897cfs and releasing 7,696cfs into Keswick. Keswick is 89% (an increase of 1%) with inflows of 8,217cfs and releasing 8,524cfs into the Sacramento river. Oroville Lake is 39% of capacity (a decrease of 2% plus 6ft) with inflows of 1,205cfs with releases of 3,778cfs into the Feather River. Folsom Lake is 38% of capacity (an increase of 0% minus 1ft) with inflows of 1,080cfs with releases of 1,317cfs into the American river.
Trinity Lake: The lake is 86ft below the overflow (an increase of 2ft) and 52% of capacity (a decrease of 1%) with inflows of 621cfs and releasing 1,803cfs into Lewiston Lake with 423cfs being diverted to Whiskeytown Lake and on to Keswick Power Plant, which is releasing 8,524cfs into the Sacramento River.
Trinity River flows and conditions: Lewiston Dam is 94% of capacity (an increase of 0%) and water releases are 1,380cfs into the Trinity River, with water temperatures of 50 degrees, as of 11:00am today Monday May 24, 2021. Limekiln Gulch is 6.03ft at 1,408cfs. Douglas City is 7.79ft with flows of 1,428cfs. with air temps of 71 and water temperatures of 52.5 degrees. Junction City is 3.54ft at 1,390cfs. Helena is 10.88ft at 1,508cfs with water temps of 54.6 degrees. Cedar Flat (Burnt Ranch) is 5.72ft at 2,075cfs. South Fork of the Trinity near Hyampom is 2.77cfa at 274cfs. Willow Creek is estimated at 1,870cfs and air is 70 degrees and water at 55.5 degrees. Hoopa is 13.37ft at 2,303cfs and water is 58.3 degrees. Water flows at the mouth of the Trinity River at the Klamath in Weitchpec are estimated to be 7,768cfs a decrease of 2,143cfs.
Klamath River flows and conditions: Iron Gate is releasing 1,201cfs. Seiad Valley is 2.86ft at 1,725cfs. Happy Camp is estimated at 1,912cfs, Somes Bar is estimated to be 2,773cfs, and the Salmon River is 2.59ft at 692cfs. Orleans is 3.64ft at 3,465cfs, the Klamath River at Terwer Creek is 10.10ft at 6,313cfs and water temps are 57.7 degrees. Flows for the Smith River at Jed Smith are 5.35ft with flows of 544cfs. and flows at Dr. Fine Bridge are 12.12ft at N/A cfs. Temperatures in the Valley last week had a high of 82 and a low of 40 degrees. Rain for the week was 0.00in with a water year total to date of 44.12 inches and 1.5in of snow in Willow Creek. The weather predicted for next week is high of 95 and a low of 48. The weather predicted for next week is patchy sunshine for the first part of the week then sunshine for a few days and then more partly clouds with some sunshine.
