The McCloud river is one of the most beautiful stretches of water you’ll ever fish — and given the number of people who crowd it ever year, a lot of people seem know it.

Running the ten days from May 5 to May 14, PG&E will be conducting a series of flow control studies on the Lower McCloud (below Lake McCloud) related to the dam’s relicensing process, which began 1.5 years ago.

Ten more days of flow studies will take place in June (I’ll post a schedule as soon as I get one), and while some of the higher flows might make fly fishing difficult, that won’t be the case all of the time.

Delays Caused by Snow

Curtis Knight of CalTrout said “We really hoped PG&E could conduct these studies in April, but there were some access issues (ed: snow).”

“These test flows may be a little inconvenient, but they’re important when it comes to managing the McCloud River — one of California’s best trout rivers — in the future.”

A preliminary schedule calls for flows at the Ah Di Nah to go to 400 CFS on May 5, then bumping to 600 cfs, 800 cfs, and 1000 cfs every couple days before tailing off again.

Knight said “We’re really looking at the effects these flows will have on the river, including elements like gravel movement — which is important for long-term maintenance of the fishery — and how the dam and its operations affect the lower river in terms of sediment and turbidity.”

“There are lot of studies going on — even whitewater studies, where rafts will be sent down the river at different flows.”

The Underground’s Plan for the Undergrounders

Included in the relicensing process is the opportunity for feedback from recreational users of the river (re: fly fishermen).

The Underground’s spin? I say fish the river all ten days in May, using the excuse that you’re contributing to the existing body of scientifically derived knowledge about the McCloud.

“It’s a science project” you’ll say to your family/boss/loved ones. “I have to go and contribute to our understanding of our imperiled natural world.”

“Sometimes,” you’ll intone gravely, “science demands sacrifice.”

See you at the McCloud Science Fair, Tom Chandler.

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