With snow melt and higher water releases the Klamath and Trinity Rivers are much higher than normal and caution needs to be the ultimate use around the water. Fishing is going to be hard on the Klamath below Happy camp and the Trinity below the Dam to the mouth. AS summer weather moves into the area one needs to really be aware of the dangers of the river during water activites.

Just when the river was looking good for fishing, summer weather created a good snow melt and BOR starts releasing water at a “Wet Weather” rate. (ROD 2,000) Adaptive Management, if used, could have saved some of that water in the lake for a later time when needed during the coming HOT summer. I think the “Trinity Citizens Letter of Complaint” has some merit to think about. I believe that a reshaping of the “Trinity Manage Council” (TMC) could really benefit the river but that would not happen unless more of local citizens and fishermen take an interest and write, email or phone Department of Interior and Congress.

Fishing: The Lower Trinity is still high from the water flow releases and snow melt. As the weather becomes hotter there will be more snow melt into the streams that flow in to the river. This is going to create more water flow and higher water releases from Trinity Lake. The problem I see is how the river will help restore fish habitat for spawning fish when it is flowing so high but science says that it will if used the right way. I sure hope so because the local economy cannot afford another year of “NO SALMON FISHING”. I got a good fishing report from the Pine Cove Marina, Louise (530)778-3878; the water has started to slow down and the fish are staring to bite. They had a fish plant in April and as usual there has been some hold overs so fishing will be good as the water release slow down. Fly fishers have been using streamers and midges and have been fairing well. May flies are hatching creating some good fly fishing. Jim Deichler went up by the Dam the other day and was able to bring back a nice batch of rainbows and fisherman from Stockton came in with a couple of Kokanee around 12 inches which is pretty good for Lewiston Lake.

That is good fishing news for this time of year so if you want to try some of the action call Lewiston Lake call Pine Cove Marina, Matt or Louise (530)778-3878 or check the Indian Creek Lodge, Cory, (530)623-6294 or Junction City Store, Butch, (530)623-2803

Mid-Klamath to Happy Camp: The Klamath River at Weitchpec is flowing 20,503cfs. This is an increase of 159cfs.  Iron Gate Dam is releasing 1,194cfs a decrease of 231cfs.  The Upper Klamath has been clearing some but with the snow melt thee could be an increase of water flows above I-5 causing some more debris in the river. I sure hope not but Mother Nature has her way. Happy camp has seen an increase of water flow from the snow melt. Don’t forger the “Fish Lake Kids Fish Derby, June 29th. For fishing the Upper Klamath, you can call Doug Cole, Marble Mountain Guest Ranch, (800)552-6284, or Scott Caldwell, SC Guide Service (530) 
905-0758. 

Lake Conditions: Whiskeytown is 99% of capacity (an increase of 0%) with inflows of 260cfs with releases of 244cfs into Spring Creek. Shasta Lake is 96% of capacity (a decrease of 1% plus 1ft) with inflows of 8,661cfs and releasing 8,774cfs into Keswick. Keswick is 91% of capacity (an increase of 0%) with inflows of 8,425cfs and releasing 8,251cfs into the Sacramento River. Oroville Lake is 99% of capacity (a decrease of 1% plus 7ft) with inflows of 10,702cfs with releases of 12,4332cfs into the Feather River. Folsom Lake is 91% of capacity (an increase of 2% plus 2ft) with inflows of 6,888cfs with releases of 4,180cfs into the American river. Trinity Lake storage is 2,081,307AF an increase of 7,193AF of storage. The snow melt is starting to help Trinity Lake storage and there is still a fair amount of snowpack left in the Trinity Alps. As you should know the Alps is the water source for Trinity Lake.

Trinity Lake: The lake is 24ft below the overflow (a decrease of 0ft) and 85% of capacity (an increase of 0%) with inflows of 6,528cfs and releasing 3,408cfs into Lewiston Lake with 2,928cfs being diverted to Whiskeytown and on to the Keswick Power Plant while releasing 8,351cfs into the Sacramento River.

Trinity River flows and conditions: Trinity Lake is 85% of capacity (an increase of 0%) and 24ft below the overflow a decrease of 0ft. Lewiston Dam is 97% of capacity (an increase of 2%) and water releases of 3,600cfs into the Trinity River, with water temperatures of N/A degrees, as of 11:00am today Monday May 13, 2024. Limekiln Gulch is 7.78ft at 3,783cfs. Douglas City is 9.94ft with flows of 3,921cfs with water temperatures of 48.3 degrees. Junction City is 6.00ft at 3,680cfs. Helena is 14.71ft at 4,657cfs with water temps of N/A degrees. Cedar Flat (Burnt Ranch) is N/Aft at 0.00cfs (Gauge is out of order). South Fork of the Trinity near Hyampom is 4.90 at 968cfs. Willow Creek is estimated at 5,625 and air is 79 degrees and water at 53.3 degrees, Hoopa is 17.73ft at 8,973cfs with water at 55.5 degrees. Water flows at the mouth of the Trinity River at the Klamath in Weitchpec are estimated to be 20,5030cfs a decrease of 159cfs.

Klamath River flows and conditions: Iron Gate is releasing 1,1994cfs, a decrease of 231cfs. Seiad Valley is 4.94ft at 3,942cfs. Indian Creek is 5.37ft at 602cfs. Happy Camp is estimated at 4,544cfs, Somes Bar is estimated to be 7,024cfs, and the Salmon River is 5.74ft at 4,506cfs. Orleans is 8.50ft at 11,530cfs, the Klamath River at Terwer Creek is 14.43ft at 24,033cfs and water temps are 57.6 degrees. Flows for the Smith River at Jediah Smith are 7.65ft with flows of 2,695cfs. and flows at Dr. Fine Bridge are 14.12ft at N/A.

Temperatures for the Valley last week had a high of 95 and a low of 39 degrees. Rain for the week was 0.00in with a water year total to date of 52.31 inches and 0.40in of snow in Willow Creek. The predicted temperatures for next week are for high of 92 and a low of 46. The weather predicted for next week is partly cloudy for the first part of the week and then sunshine and heat for he rest of the week. Be sure to use plenty of sunscreen.