Posts tagged: mccloud river

McCloud Reservoir Spilling Into Lower McCloud; Running High

May 19, 2008, by 4 comments

This just received from PG&E (via CalTrout):

The hot weather has caused inflow to exceed storage capacity in McCloud and Iron Canyon reservoirs and outflow through James B. Black Powerhouse.  As a result, starting early this morning, McCloud Dam is spilling with MC-1 gage (Ah-Di-Na) at approximately 1,350 cfs and MC-5 gage (MSS) at approximately 1,650 cfs. 

Depending on weather conditions, we are hoping to be able to reduce flows as temperatures are predicted to cool through the week and end the spill by Friday, 5/23. 

Spill flows from McCloud Dam are not unusual this time of year, typically occurring about 4 to 5 out of every 10 years; however, this spill event is directly related to the flow studies. 

To provide the target flows required for FA-S8 (Instream Flow Evaluation on the Lower McCloud River) both McCloud and Iron Canyon reservoirs needed to be near capacity.  As a result, there was very little storage capacity left in the reservoir and the hot weather significantly increased inflow to McCloud Reservoir, exceeding the capacity to either store the water or move it through the powerhouse.

The McCloud’s likely out reach for a little while, and the Upper Sac continues to move a ton of water. A weekend reconnaissance of the South Fork revealed one long whitewater cataract, unsuited for man or Wonderdog.

Right now, the local lakes are looking like the best bet. More on fishing conditions as it happens.

The good news? The runoff will be damned short this year, and cooling temperatures will slow it a little.

See you on lake, Tom Chandler.

McCloud Flow Information: Rumor Has it River is Dirty

May 8, 2008, by 4 comments

More than one guide has passed along information that the Lower McCloud — the subject of flow control testing by PG&E — is a "muddy mess."

Any onsite reports from the Undergrounders?

Right now, projected McCloud River flows (at Ah Di Nah) should be 800 cfs.

They’ll hold through Saturday. Sunday they’ll be bumped to 1000 cfs (which could be wild), and will remain there through Tuesday (600 Wednesday), then back to "normal."

The McCloud might not be your best bet this weekend, and with the Upper Sac bumping up past 2000 cfs, that’s not looking so great either.

I’ll be in the Bay Area, but for the sake of those looking to catch some trout, any ideas from the Undergrounders?

See you in the big city, Tom Chandler.

McCloud River Facing Flow Control Studies in May and June: Fly Fishermen Make Note

April 30, 2008, by 2 comments

UPDATE: Alert Underground Reader Steve found the May dates/flows for us)

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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Opening Day: "Gee, It Sure Is Beautiful Out Here"

April 27, 2008, by 10 comments

I’d love to bash out a couple hundred carefully considered words about opening day, but the L&T and I are pretty worn out from saying good-bye to an ailing pet (Macy the Cat, 14 years), and I just don’t feel like writing.

At least not about fly fishing.

Instead, I’ll give you the one-paragraph summary.

Dave Edmondson and I fished the Upper McCloud, didn’t fish the water we wanted because of other fishermen, hiked a good five miles, and each hooked a couple trout, though in a stunning display of technical skill, didn’t land any of them.

The pictures, frankly, are more interesting than the story:

Fly fishing the Upper McCloud River 
It’s been a long winter, and the first warm days aren’t all about fly fishing.

openwater
Yesterday, you couldn’t (legally) fish this water. Today’s it’s just as beautiful.

openoverview 
Still snow on the ground — including the drift that ate my truck the day before.

openchipmunk
Dangerous predators infest the river.

openrod
Gotta fish bamboo on opening day. Gotta.

See you on the river, Tom Chandler.

Underground Legislative Watchdog "Deep Trout" Resurfaces With Good News; Says Westlands Irrigation District Out of Luck

April 25, 2008, by 1 comment

Deep Trout — the Underground’s undercover political operative at the California State Capitol — forwarded some good news for those of us who don’t want Lake Shasta flooding miles of the Upper Sac, McCloud, and Pit Rivers.

The California State Assembly passed Joint Resolution 39 (46 to 29), which recognizes the Wintu Tribe (who deserve it):

Assembly Joint Resolution  39,  Huffman
Recalls the history of relations between the Winnemem Wintu Tribe and the federal government, which includes the relocation of exhumed remains of tribal members and of the Tribe’s community in order for the federal government to create Shasta Lake with Shasta Dam on the Tribe’s aboriginal lands. Effectively codifies the state’s recognition of the Tribe, and encourages federal officials to recognize this tribe.

What’s this got to do with raising Shasta Dam?

Plenty.

Formal state recognition of the Winnemem Wintu tribe means state funding to raise Shasta Dam is far less likely to appear than before (and it’s unlikely the Feds will foot the whole bill).

And that means the Wastelands Westlands Irrigations District — the folks who happily drained the Trinity River all those years, and the same people who want to flood miles of the Upper Sacramento, McCloud, and Pit Rivers so they can sell subsidized water to cities — finally took one in the shorts.

This doesn’t end the dam-raising issue by any means, but it’s one more roadblock in the way of a bad idea.

And yes, Undergrounders, rumor has it the legislator who introduced the bill is a fly fisherman.

See you on the river, Tom Chandler.

Nestle Thinks Bullshit Beats Facts — And 500 Million Reasons Why Fly Fishermen Should Worry They’re Right

November 30, 2007, by 2 comments

Nestle once again affirms its role as corporate predator by re-issuing a bought-and-paid-for economic study with few changes — solely for the purpose of drowning out those who think Nestle’s water bottling plant in McCloud, California is a very, very bad idea.

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