Ceremonial River Closures
Every year there are River Closures for Native American Ceremonies; it is that time of year again!
The Closures are:
August 6 – 15: Ferry Point River Access area. Launching watercraft from Wingate Bar River access.
August 7: Independence River Access.
August 17 – 26: Ike’s Falls Access area, Ishi Pishi Bridge River access, Dolan’s Bar River access: no launching. George Geary taking out is allowed
August 22 – 31: No launching of watercraft, Dolans Bar, Orleans and Ullathorne River accesses.
August 24 – 25: No entering or being near Orleans Mountain Lookout Road.
September 5 – 14: No entering or being near the Ishi Pishi Bridge River Access area.
July 13: Avoid Wingate Bar River access to Ferry Point River Access although you may launch from Ferry Point River access.
July 13 – 18: Respect a quiet zone downstream of Lizard’s Head Camp to Bull Frog Camp.
The above listed zones will be having Tribal Ceremonies and should be respected for those periods as though you were in your church.
You may have heard that the young man, Bobby Hansen who delivered Ice Cream to our “Fish Lake Kids Fish Derby” and who worked for Swan’s, was fired because he delivered Ice Cream to the youth at the Derby. Having discovered the facts and talking too many of the people who attended the Derby, I can see why he was fired but disagree with the method as to how it happened. This young man had been delivering Ice Cream to the Derby for several years and had made previous arrangements to do so. The kids really looked forward to that after the Hot Dog feed. This was a bad mistake by Swan’s and I feel that letters to the Corporate Office should be sent if you care about the Kids Fish Derby. Corporate Office is; Swan’s, 115 W. College Dr, Marshall, MN 56258. In case you didn’t know Coast Central Credit Union paid for the all the Ice Cream and driver.
Junction City weir trapping: week of Jul 9 – Jul 15; jacks 1, adults 27, total 28, season total 812. Coho, 0,total 0 season to date 0; Steelhead 1/2lbs 0, adults 2, total 2, season to date 20; Brown Trout 3, total 3, season to date 14
I am not sure if it is because of all the moss (algae) in the upper river is the problem or the heated water (75.49 degrees) is the problem? But I would expect that it is both, the heated river helps create the moss (algae). You can bet that the fish are looking for cold water.
Fishing: Lewiston Dam is now releasing summer flows of 448cfs. The fishing has really dropped off and fishing of any kind right now is SLOW! The TRRP/TMC should take a step back and review what has been done and the results of their work. It appears that now all of the river guides are taking these hot summer days off to wait for cooler water. Cooler water is what will start the fish moving again.
Mid-Klamath: Iron Gate Dam is releasing summer flows of 890cfs. Because of the fires in Siskiyou and Modoc Counties plus the Upper Klamath is closed to fishing and is still under mandatory evacuation. At this time I am not sure if Siead Valley is open to fishing yet because of fire. In the most part the mid Klamath has shut down for fishing because the fish are trying to find any cold water. Another reason is Native American Ceremonies are being held I the Mid Klamath so please respect them. Right now Highway 196 is closed for firefighting mop up purposes so might want to stay away from that area also.
Lake Conditions: Whiskeytown is 99% of capacity (an increase of 0%) with inflows of 1,943cfs and releasing 1,831cfs into Clear Creek and on to Keswick. Shasta is 73% (a decrease of 2% and 3ft) with inflows of 2,769cfs and releasing 10,897cfs, Keswick is 95% of capacity (an increase of 3%) with inflows of 13,320cfs and releasing 13,127cfs; Oroville Lake is 58% capacity (a decrease of 2% & minus 6ft), inflow is 1,247cfs and releases are 6,823cfs; Folsom Lake is 72% of capacity (minus 4% & minus 4ft.) inflows are 1,872cfs and releases are 5,268cfs.
Trinity Lake: the Lake is 53ft below the over flow (a decrease of 2ft) and 68% of capacity (2% decrease) Inflow to Trinity Lake is 35cfs and Trinity Dam is releasing 2,391 to Lewiston Lake with 2,006cfs going to Whiskeytown Lake and on to Keswick Power Plant, which is releasing 13,127cfs into the Sacramento River.
Trinity River flows and conditions: Lewiston Dam releases are 448cfs with water temps of 55.8 degrees and air at 91 at 12:00pm today Sunday. Limekiln Gulch is 4.9ft at 442cfs, with water temps of 54.9 degrees. Douglas City is 6.4ft at 447cfs, water temps of 60.5 degrees and air is 94. Junction City is 1.8ft at 426cfs. Helena is 8.7ft at 451cfs with water temps of 65.1. Cedar Flat (Burnt Ranch) is 2.7ft at 522cfs. Willow Creek is estimated at 559cfs and air is 86 with water at 72. Hoopa is 11.4ft at 665cfs with water temps of 75.4. Flows at the mouth of the Trinity River at Klamath River are estimated to be 2,295cfs. Salmon usually cannot do well in water temperatures over 72 degrees.
Klamath: Iron Gate Dam releases are 890cfs. Seiad Valley is 1.8ft at 1,043cfs. Happy Camp is estimated at 1,099cfs, Salmon River is 1.8ft at 283cfs, Somes Bar is estimated at 1,347cfs and Orleans is 2.9ft. at 1,630cfs and the Klamath River at Terwer Creek is 8ft at 2,542cfs, with water temperatures of 74.2 degrees. (Water temps are too high for salmon therefore the salmon are reluctant to enter the river) Flows at Dr. Fine Bridge are 4.9ft at 333cfs.
The low temperature in the Valley last week was 52 but ran the mid 50s but the high was 1045 with 0.00in of rain with a season total of 68.45in of rain and a total of 4.15in of snow. Temperatures in the valley next week are expected to run 97/55 degrees with sunshine in the coming week. Expect hot daytime weather and maybe some cooler nights.