(Rancho Cordova) The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation will increase flows from Nimbus Dam into the lower American River from 800 cfs. to 1750 cfs on Friday, February 5, over doubling the flows.
The release is for the purpose of “storage management” at Folsom Reservoir as it rises rapidly from recent storms, according to Bureau spokesperson Randi Field.
The steelhead continue to surge into the river, with 61 new fish trapped at Nimbus Fish Hatchery on Tuesday, reported Gary Novak, hatchery manager.
“We’ve trapped a total of 703 fish, including 392 males and 301 females and 5 unmarked males and 5 unmarked females to date,” said Novak. “It’s certainly a lot better run than last year.”
Last season hatchery staff counted 154 steelhead at the facility the entire season from December through mid-March.
The hatchery staff has taken 1,281,614 eggs so far. “We should have no problem of meeting our production goal of 430,000 steelhead yearlings to release next yeare,” said Novak.
Roland Aspiras reported a slowdown in the fishing for most fishermen.
“I fished yesterday from 10 am to 3:30 pm below Nimbus Fish Hatchery,” he said. “I hooked nothing on spoons, but his have two takes on a bead under a float. I landed one of the fish. I only heard of one other fish caught.”
While the run this season is much improved over last year’s record low return of steelhead to the hatchery, the numbers of steelhead counted at the hatchery have been as high as 4,000 adult fish, along with numerous wild fish during banner years.