We just posted an article at the CalTrout site (“The Facts About the McCloud Dam Relicensing Process’ explaining the final Environmental Impact Report’s recommended flows — including hydrographs graphically displaying the differences between the old flow regime and the proposed new one.

The highlights?

• Winter/early spring flows have been modified to better protect the McCloud’s spawning fish and newly hatched fry from the severe swings often seen under the old plan

• In the vast majority of years, fishermen will not experience any difference in the “fishability” of the river (wet years are out of control anyway, and dry years don’t present a problem to fishermen as much as spawning fish)

• Higher base flows in winter (when fishing is illegal) not only protect spawning trout, they also reduce the likelihood of uncontrolled spills in the spring (which do shut down the fishing)

• Contrary to all the rumors, there were few concessions made to whitewater folks (no pulse flows, extended spring flows, etc)

The Bad News

Outside of high water events (which suck equally under both flow regimes), the worst case scenario for fly fishermen involves a “normal” year with a late spike in flows; protecting spawning trout and fry requires a more gradual downward ramp than has been seen in the past, so flows will take a bit longer to settle out.

In fact, more gradual ramps and higher winter base flows (reducing the amplitude of the spikes in flows which strand fry and expose redds) are really at the heart of the modified flows, and because the above scenario only happens a few times a decade, it’s a pretty small price to pay for an enhanced trout fishery.

To see the actual data, I urge you to visit the CalTrout article and see the hydrographs for yourself.

After all, a few facts go a lot farther than a lot of misinformation.

See you being a water geek, Tom Chandler.

PG&E is observing rapidly increasing inflows into McCloud Reservoir and anticipates that McCloud Dam will begin to spill earlier than previously forecasted. The reservoir has increased approximately 4.7 feet in the past 72 hours and continues a rapid ascent.

PG&E has taken careful steps to manage the increasing inflow into McCloud Reservoir by monitoring reservoir level, maintaining a low water surface elevation in Iron Canyon Reservoir, and diverting water through James B. Black Powerhouse to maintain the maximum amount of storage capacity. Despite these efforts, deep snow pack and increasing spring snowmelt means that the capacity of the McCloud Reservoir will fill and water will spill over the dam spillway.

Based on the current increasing inflow conditions into McCloud Reservoir, PG&E anticipated that McCloud Dam will begin spilling on Wednesday evening/Thursday morning (April 27 / 28, 2011).

At this time PG&E is unable to accurately provide an estimate of the anticipated spill magnitude, as inflow to the reservoir continues to increase hourly. However, based on inflow trends as of this notification, initial spill flow from McCloud Dam may be approximately 500 to 600 cubic feet per second with regular increases likely until inflows subside.

Amusingly, my very recent post about the season opener suggests the McCloud will offer good fly fishing.

Once again, the illusion of omnipotence is shattered…

See you eating blackbird, Tom Chandler.

That offers all sorts of implications (e.g. – we’re not going to see a big runoff even this year), but to honest, 2000 cfs still renders large chunks of the river unfishable.

The McCloud’s flows are hovering around 1000 cfs at the lake, so it remains fishable in its upper regions – and it’s apparently not spilling over the dam – but Curtis Knight of CalTrout forwarded this semi-chilling message:

As previously indicated, PG&E is closely monitoring the inflow to McCloud Reservoir and is assessing the need to make additional flow releases below McCloud Dam to manage water surface elevation in the reservoir.  To date, flow releases from McCloud Dam have not increased significantly and inflow to McCloud Reservoir appears to be stabilizing.

The current instream flow release from McCloud Dam is 168 cfs, and the current flow at Ah-Di-Nah is 470 cfs.  McCloud Reservoir is at maximum storage.  Since McCloud Reservoir is at maximum storage, the need for increased flow releases from McCloud Dam is still probable, and is dependant on the rate of reservoir inflow experienced over the next several day.  Although additional precipitation is not likely, warming temperatures and saturated ground conditions may cause increased inflow to the reservoir.

OK. That’s not bad, and with no precipitation forecast until Saturday, I’d suggest the McCloud is fishable in its upper portions. And it’s quite likely the Upper McCloud is at least partly fishable, though again, one man’s “fishable” is another’s “let’s go get drunk.”

Me? I’d love to get drunk, but I’m teaching yet another series of online marketing classes, and will therefore largely turn into a pumpkin for the next three weeks.

Life, it seems, is often dark.

See you in class, Tom Chandler.

At Ah-Di-Na or MC-1 gage; Planned flows over the next few days are:
6/20 Fri 400
6/21 Sat 400
6/22 Sun 440
6/23 Mon 600
6/24 Tue 300
6/25 Wed 300

The numbers don’t look that unfishable, though Monday could get interesting (consider a small stream that day). Technorati Tags: mccloud river flows, mccloud river relicensingAlso, a meeting for anglers is slated for June 25:

The angler meeting on flows and fishing conditions is still planned for Dunsmuir City Park and Botanical Gardens on June 25th at 7 pm. The meeting will be held at the picnic tables next to the stage down by the river; there is nearby parking.

There’s more information about the McCloud relicensing process here.

See you on the McCloud, Tom Chandler.