Posts tagged: pit river flows

What I’m Writing Now: The Pit River Hydropower Relicensing Issue

April 17, 2012, by 1 comment

I just finished writing the first draft of an interview with Art Teter, a local fly fishing guide who has better than 25 years experience on the Pit River.

For those who don’t fish around here, the Pit River recently underwent a FERC hydropower relicensing, which saw flows increased to benefit the fishery, but maybe not the fishermen. Last year was the first for the new flows, and fishermen — who had heard some pretty hard stories about what was going to happen — stayed away in droves.

For example, Art Teter usually books somewhere between 60-75 guide days a year on the Pit.

Last year he booked only 18.

No Easy Answers

It’s a complicated issue — one that defies easy answers. For example, last year’s flows were condemned by many fly fishermen as being unfishable (even dangerous in the case of Pit #5), yet it turns out they were consistently 50 cfs – 150 cfs above the target flows.

In addition, campground construction made access to some reaches very difficult, further eroding angler satisfaction.

This is an issue that CalTrout and the California TU Chapter have taken a lot of heat over, and it’s an excellent example of the bind conservation organizations sometimes find themselves in when the needs of fish and fishermen collide.

Expect to hear more about this one.

Adaptability

One bright spot is that CalTrout and TU insisted on an adaptive management process, so if the new flow regime’s goals aren’t being met, there’s a chance things could change.

For example, fly fishermen apparently comprise better than 90% of the recreational use of the Pit River, and if the new flows significantly erode that number, than it’s just possible they might be altered.

And the reason for increased flows in Pit #4 and Pit #5 was too-high water temperatures, which left Pit #4 supporting half the biomass of Pit #3, and Pit #5 another 50% less. If the increased flows don’t result in lower temperatures, adjustments could be made.

If it only seems confusing to you, then rest assured it’s actually worse than you think. Fortunately, Teter does a good job of stating his perspective in the interview, which I hope will go up relatively soon on the CalTrout site.

Anyone who knows Art Teter knows he’s not one to pull punches, and his perspective as someone who fishes the Pit as much as anyone is sometimes surprising (and yes, I did manage to wheedle a couple of fly fishing tips out of him).

See you doing that whole keyboardy writerish thing, Tom Chandler.

Pit River #5 Will Be Blown Out This Tuesday

October 7, 2011, by No comments yet

PG&E’s conducting flow gate tests on Pit 5 this Tuesday, which not only means high water that day, but likely unsettled fishing the next day or two.

From PG&E:

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has rescheduled to Tuesday, Oct. 11 an increased flow test on the Pit River below the Pit 5 Diversion Dam. The test was originally scheduled for Monday, Oct. 3.

PG&E is conducting a regular test of dam flow gates, which is required by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The test is being done on a weekday in the fall when recreational use of the river is low and before winter rains increase river flows. Water levels will rise about half a foot an hour for about six to eight hours, starting before dawn so that the river stops rising before sunrise.

The increased flows will not be noticeable beyond the Pit 6 Dam. This portion of the Pit River is remote with no established recreational facilities.

The higher flows will not exceed those experienced in fall and winter.
The maximum flow of 1,800 cubic feet per second (cfs) will be held for about six to eight hours, then gradually reduced over a period of about six to eight hours until all gates are closed.

The anticipated flow before and after testing will be 350 cfs.

See you anywhere but the Pit, Tom Chandler.

It Begins: PG&E Warns The Pit River Starting To Spill

June 8, 2011, by 4 comments

I’ve got celery in the refrigerator smart enough to know this was going to happen as soon as the weather warmed; the Pit River is about to start spilling (from PG&E):

PG&E is observing rapidly increasing inflows into Lake Britton and as a result anticipates that Pit 3 Dam will spill. PG&E has taken careful steps to manage the increasing inflow into Lake Britton by monitoring reservoir level, maintaining a low water surface elevation, and has increased water diversion through Pit 3 and Pit 4 powerhouses to maintain appropriate storage capacity.

The increased water diversion at Pit 3 and Pit 4 powerhouses will result in spill conditions today in the Pit 5 bypass reach. The current flow release from Pit 5 Dam is approximately 500 cfs, which will increase over the course of today to approximately 1000 cfs to 1500 cfs. As inflow to Lake Britton continues to increase over the coming days, PG&E will increase the instream flow release at Pit 3 Dam from about 300 cfs to 540 cfs.

Shortly after the instream flow in the Pit 3 reach is increased, Pit 4 dam will begin to spill approximately 50 to 150 cfs. Subsequent inflow increases into Lake Britton will spill over the Pit 3 Dam at a natural rate of increase, and will affect the downstream spill magnitude in the Pit 4 and Pit 5 reaches.

At this time PG&E is unable to accurately provide an estimate of the anticipated spill magnitude in the Pit 3 and Pit 4 reaches, as inflow to Lake Britton continues to increase daily and record snow pack remains in the Warner Mountain Rage.

Following the snow melt runoff period, which may extend for several weeks, PG&E will allow the spill flows to recede naturally to the license required seasonal minimum instream flow.

With our snowpack running hundreds of percent above normal for this time of year, don’t expect this to end anytime soon.

Frankly, the Pit River — which is under a new flow regime (though who can tell given the wild snowpack) — could use a gully washer, widening the channels a bit and moving back some of the encroaching riparian habitat.

See you going over Lake Britton Dam in a barrel, Tom Chandler.

The Battle For the Pit River’s Flows: Are Whitewater Enthusiasts About to Lose Out?

June 16, 2009, by 2 comments

Pit River flows have caused some friction between fly fishermen and whitewater enthusiasts, yet the current stalemate may be ending – and not in the favor of the whitewater folks.

From the Redding Record Searchlight:

Concern over an endangered crawfish’s dwindling numbers on the Pit River could end summer white water that has become a popular ride for rafters and kayakers.

“What those flows do is bring warmer water from upstream down to that area,” said Al Donner, spokesman for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Sacramento. “The crawfish need cool water.”

The agency is asking the state Water Resources Control Board and the Federal Energy Regulation Commission (FERC) to end the increased flows immediately.

But white water enthusiasts say they don’t think Fish and Wildlife has data to support its call for the end of the increased flows that Pacific Gas and Electric Co. turns on one weekend a month in June, July and August.

Fly fishermen and guides have contended the abrupt flushing flows are hard on insect life, though we’re only talking about one weekend per month during the summer.

It’s an interesting time to be a coldwater fisherman in Northern California.

  • There are rumblings about salmon & steelhead returning to the Upper Sac (which hasn’t seen them in 70 years).
  • The Klamath Dams may finally come down (beginning the salmon and steelhead restoration process.
  • The Lower Sacramento salmon runs have cratered along with the state’s water supply, fueling California’s Water Wars and exposing the madness of increased pumping from the Delta.

There’s more to come from the mountains of Northern California. I’m sure of it.