The lower McCloud River remains one of Northern California’s most popular fly fishing destinations, so when PG&E fires off a notice about flows, we shake off our insolent, uncaring attitude and actually read the thing.
And because the giving never stops here at TU, here’s a summary:
They’re bumping flows up from now until Saturday, hoping to keep flows reasonable during the Memorial Day weekend.
If you want the longer version:
Lower McCloud River Interested Parties,
We have had a very good water year in the north state and the snowpack is approximately 254% of normal. PG&E has been taking careful steps to manage the runoff into McCloud Reservoir by monitoring the reservoir level and maintaining a low water surface elevation in Iron Canyon Reservoir to provide extra storage to accommodate additional runoff and running water through James B. Black Powerhouse.
To prevent a potential spill during the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, there is a possibility that PG&E will be bypassing an additional 600 cfs of water from McCloud Dam. This would begin starting May 25th through mid morning on Friday, May 28, when PG&E plans to return to our normal operating flows. Since the current, non additional release, action plan is based on the forecast which calls for relatively cool temperatures the next couple of days with moderate amounts of precipitation, a rapid warm up in with higher than expected precipitation would increase inflow into McCloud Reservoir resulting in the need for the increased release.
In what we’ll characterize as a typical PG&E move, the email offers up a link to the Ah Di Nah flow gauge that doesn’t work (this one will – make sure you scroll down for flows).
The Upper Sacramento Situation
Those with a hankering to fish the Upper Sacramento will note that its flows continue falling steadily (around 1600 cfs as I write this).
With light rain and highs in the lower 50s forecast for the rest of the week, it’s likely the watershed’s extremely impressive snowpack won’t melt, and it won’t blow out the rivers, and fly fishermen – among the whiniest of the outdoor sportsmen – will have little to complain about (except maybe the fact that the cold weather inhibits the stonefly hatch).
See you on the river, Tom Chandler.
From “What’s Hot and What’s Notâ„¢ (THE Northern California Flyfishing Report) from Fish First ! – updated 25 May 2010″
PGE will blow out the river again from June 16-24.
Can anyone confirm this?
Thanks!
David Varney(Quote)
I don’t have that information, though the size of the snowpack suggests higher flows during portions of the season.
That said, a quick glance at the Ah Di Nah gauge suggests PG&E isn’t bypassing flows down the McCloud… yet.
Tom Chandler(Quote)
Thanks, I’ve planned a trip to the Nature Conservancy over Fathers Day weekend with my wife and daughter and would hate to see the river blown out, but I guess we should be prepared for that possibility…
David Varney(Quote)
PG&E controls the flows below Lake McCloud ? Above the lake its pretty much free flowing ?
shon(Quote)
Upper McCloud is largely free flowing (there’s a small dam that doesn’t do much). The Lower McCloud flows out of McCloud Reservoir, and PG&E diverts water from the reservoir to Iron Gate Reservoir, where it’s used to generate power.
PG&E also controls the flows out of the reservoir into the Lower McCloud.
Tom Chandler(Quote)
Thanks for clarifying that Tom. You upper dam you reffere to must be Lakin dam. Thats about the only area I’m familiar with.
shon(Quote)