Trinity River water releases were supposed to be 1,050cfs but due to the problems at the Lewiston water gate, which is still under repair, the true releases are 2,524cfs as of Sunday May 12th. Reclamation hopes to have the repairs done by this week so that they can synchronize back into the TMC recommended hydrograph for the third and final peak water flows, which starts May 15th. This will be great if that can happen and the water releases get back on schedule. Any water not used during the repairs hopefully will be incorporated into the last peak releases because Reclamation will not hold over any extra water for hot summer water. Their attitude is if the water is behind the Trinity Dam and NOT used for the river, it will be released for delivery to the south and sold. Does Trinity County get any of that money? NO!
The River Restoration Report Cites Conflicts Headwaters report dated Nov. 29, 2018; the report states that there are conflicts in the TRRP restoration program and that there should be a reorganization of the program. There have been many conflicts about the Trinity River Restoration Program and there is a recommendation for a complete overhaul of the program in the Headwaters report. The 2000 Record of Decision (ROD) formed the Trinity Management Council with a Federal Advisory Council (TAMWG, Trinity Adaptive Working Group) made up of local stakeholders and other participants that are affected by the river restoration. The advisory group was removed in 2017. The ROD was never amended to permit this nor has it been amended for some up to date science instead of using/sticking to the science that was adopted 40 years ago.
Water releases from Lewiston Dam have been revised to allow for the repairs to the gate that controls water flows to the Trinity River and hopefully will be restored by May 15th but could possibly be delayed if all the repairs are not complete. Check with the TRRP website for any water release changes.
That brings us back to a meeting last Monday May 6th, Trinity Restoration Program Restructuring. This meeting was with the Trinity Manage Council in attendance and with all members present, but not an official meeting. Was this a Brown Act violation? The public was invited to attend but not scheduled to participate until Tom Stockley spoke up at which time 10 minutes were scheduled before lunch break and another 10 minutes for the end of the meeting. With these guidelines I can see no ability for public input nor anything else but the complete dissolvement of the TMC and TRRP. The restoration of the Trinity River has done nothing but disrupt the great fishing that once was. The release of water has shown to be the best provider for improving fish returns. If the TRRP wanted to help restore the fisheries why have they not worked on the watersheds which is where endangered species such as Coho salmon a steelhead spawn.
California Department of Water Resources rescinds the California Water Fix Bonds for about $9 Billion. The Bond Resolutions were to authorize funding of the Delta Twin Tunnels construction. This is from Bob Wright, Senior Counsel, Friends of The River. Now what will they do with the Bond monies?
Corrections: Last week I reversed the Spring Chinook salmon limits, Sorry! Spring salmon season opens July 1st with limits of one (1) adult per day and two (2) adults in possession.
Fishing: fishing is still pretty slow due to the highwater releases on both rivers. Right now, the Trinity is just starting to turn green from a muddy brown. Flows in the Willow Creek area are 4,863cfs and could be decreasing some more in the next weekdue to the mishapup at Lewiston Dam. You must remember that the water is 50 degrees and NOT conducive for swimming right now!
Mid-Klamath: Iron Gate Dam releases are down to 1,776cfs right now but increases are expected soon to help relieve flooding in the upper reaches of the Klamath.
Lake Conditions: Whiskeytown is 97% of capacity (a decrease of 1%) with inflows 635cfs and releasing 716cfs on to Keswick and the Sacramento River. Shasta is 94% of capacity (an increase of 0% plus 0ft) with inflows of 8,317cfs and releasing 8,192cfs into Keswick. Keswick is 95% (an increase of 12%) with inflows of 8,647cfs and releasing 8,044cfs into the Sacramento river. Oroville Lake is 95% of capacity (an increase of 1% plus 2ft) with inflows of 12,9041cfs with releases of 11,031cfs into the Feather River. Folsom Lake is 93% of capacity (an increase of 2% plus 1ft) with inflows of 89,876cfs with releases of 8,272cfs into the American river.
Trinity Lake: the lake is 10ft below the overflow (a decrease of 3ft) and 94% of capacity (an increase of 2%) inflows are 5,894cfs and releasing 2,320cfs into Lewiston Lake with N/A cfs being diverted to Whiskeytown Lake and on to Keswick Power Plant, which is releasing 8,044cfs into the Sacramento River.
Trinity River flows and conditions: Lewiston Dam releases are 2,545cfs and water temperatures of 48.5 degrees and air at N/A as of 12:00pm today Sunday May 12, 2019. Limekiln Gulch is 6.99ft at 2,628cfs and water temps of 49.4. Douglas City is 9.04ft and flows of 3,008cfs. with air temps of 65 and water at 49.1 degrees. Junction City is 5.331ft at 2,830cfs. Helena is 13.96ft at 3,707cfs with water temps of 49.5 degrees. Cedar Flat (Burnt Ranch) is 8.24ft at 4,371cfs. South Fork of the Trinity is 4.01ft at 492cfs. Willow Creek is estimated at 4,863cfs and air is 73 degrees and water at 53 degrees. Hoopa is 16.3ft at 6,314cfs and is 55 degrees. Water flows at the mouth of the Trinity River at the Klamath are estimated to be 16,892cfs.
Klamath: Iron Gate is releasing 1,776cfs. Seiad Valley is 5.63ft at 4,906cfs. Happy Camp is estimated at 5,323cfs, the Salmon River is 5.24ft at 3,628cfs, Somes Bar is estimated to be 6,950cfs. Orleans is 8.20ft at 10,578cfs, the Klamath River at Terwer Creek is 13,.78ft at 19,689cfs and water temps of 57.9 degrees. Flows for the Smith River at Jedia Smith is 6.44ft and flows of 1,242cfs. and flows at Dr. Fine Bridge are 13.01ft at N/A cfs.
Temperatures in the Valley last week were 94 hi with a low of 44. We are expecting spring showers with some rain in the mix for the coming week. Rain for the week was 0.00in with total rain for the water year to date of 62.20 inches, with snow of 4.5in. in the valley to date. It looks like we will be back to wet weather for the next week or so.