The federal government plans to release water down the Trinity River to stop a potential fish kill from taking place on the lower Klamath River this August and September.
In a year a drought like this one, the memories of the fish kill of September 2002, when over 68,000 salmon perished due to a disease outbreak in the low, warm water condititions, are fresh in the minds of many.
Federal, tribal and state fishery scientists are expecting the third largest run Chinook salmon on record to ascend the Klamath this fall. Salmon fishermen have reported exceptional fishing for salmon on the North Coast from Crescent City to Eureka this year.
The Bureau of Reclamation on July 17 released for public review the "Draft Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact" for using Trinity Reservoir-stored water to supplement flows in the Lower Klamath River to "lessen the likelihood of a fish disease outbreak and fish mortalities during late summer."
"Projections of a large run of adult Chinook salmon to the Klamath River Basin and dry hydrologic conditions have prompted federal staff and Yurok and Hoopa Valley tribal staff to consider supplementing flows to the Lower Klamath River between August 15 and September 21," according to a statement from Reclamation.
Reclamation estimates that up to 62,000 acre-feet of water could be used to supplement Lower Klamath River flows. Use of the water would be informed by real-time environmental and biological monitoring by federal, state and tribal biologists.
Tom Stokely of the California Water Impact Network (C-WIN) welcomed the announcement - but is worried that Central Valley water contractors will get a court injunction to block the water release.
"It's great to see the Bureau of Reclamation making the right decision on behalf of the Trinity River's salmon. It's not often that we get to pat them on the back for doing the right thing," said Stokely.
"The real question is what will the Central Valley Water Project water and power customers do? Do they want to be held responsible for killing tens of thousands of salmon again?" asked Stokely.
Governor Jerry Brown's plan to build the peripheral tunnels would not only hasten the extinction of Sacramento River Chinook salmon and Delta and longfin smelt, but would also threaten salmon and steelhead restoration on the Trinity and Klamath rivers. The Trinity, whose water is diverted to the Sacramento River via a tunnel to Whiskeytown Reservoir, is the only out of basin water supply for the federal Central Valley Project.
In 2001, SMUD, NCPA, Westlands and the SLDMWA had an injunction issued by federal Judge Oliver Wanger that prevented this kind of water release to abate the 2002 fish kill. River advocates fear history will repeat itself if the water contractors manage to get a court injunction blocking the release of water.
Written comments on the Draft EA/FONSI must be received by close of business Wednesday, July 31, and should be sent to Don Reck, Bureau of Reclamation, Northern California Area Office, 16349 Shasta Dam Blvd., Shasta Lake, CA 96019, or faxed to 530-276-2005 or emailed to sha-slo-klamathflows@usbr.gov.
The Draft EA/FONSI were prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and are available athttp://www.usbr.gov/.... If you encounter problems accessing the documents online, please call 916-978-5100 or email mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov.
For additional information or to request a copy of the Draft EA/FONSI, please contact Reck at 530-275-1554 (TTY 530-275-8991). Copies of the documents may also be viewed at Reclamation's Northern California Area Office at the above address.