[env-trinity] Frequently Asked Questions Winter Storms 2006

[Tom Stokely]

The following was recently sent out by the Trinity River Restoration Program.  They can be reached at 530-623-1800.



Frequently Asked Questions

Winter Storms 2006

 

 

 

 

Q: How big is this storm going to be?

                                         

A: The National Weather Service provides rainfall and river flow storm predictions for the Trinity River at Burnt Ranch and the Trinity River at Hoopa.  The predictions are updated twice daily. 

 

Trinity River at Burnt Ranch:

http://www.cnrfc.noaa.gov/graphicalRVF.php?id=BURC1 

 

Trinity River at Hoopa

http://www.cnrfc.noaa.gov/graphicalRVF.php?id=HOOC1 

 

Q:  What is the current streamflow?

 

A:  Real-time stream flow information for all rivers in California (including the Trinity River) can be obtained from one of the following two websites:

 

California Data Exchange Center (CDEC): 

http://cdec.water.ca.gov/river/rivcond.html 

 

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS):

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ca/nwis/rt 

 

Q:  What are the current conditions (inflow, outflow, AND STORAGE) at Trinity Lake?

 

A:  This information can be obtained from the CDEC website at: http://cdec.water.ca.gov/river/res_CLE.html 

 

Q:  What is the current and scheduled flow releases from Lewiston Dam into the Trinity River? 

 

A:  Real-time flow releases are measured by the U.S. Geological Survey and reported at http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ca/nwis/uv?site_no=11525500.  The annual release schedule developed by the Trinity River Restoration Program to benefit Salmonid recovery is posted at: http://www.usbr.gov/mp/cvo/vungvari/trinsch.pdf.  Other scheduled releases, such as for Safety of Dams, are posted at:  http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/queryRES?lew - then click on the "Get last month of data" button.  Please note that Safety of Dams releases are scheduled in response to storm events and typically have no more advance warning than several days.

 

Scheduled release changes at Lewiston for the Trinity River can also be obtained from calling the "River Release Recording" phone number.  The phone message is updated daily, but only with the current release, and any "scheduled" changes.  "Scheduled" changes are those officially transmitted by CVO, and therefore are usually only a couple of days to several hours before changes are made depending on the circumstances.  The recording lists the Keswick release for the Sacramento River first, so those interested in Trinity River releases need to wait for the Trinity portion of the recording.  The phone number is 530-246-7594.

 

Q:  The flooding caused trees and other woody debris to fall into the river near my house. does the Trinity River Restoration Program plan to remove the debris from the river? 

 

A:  The Trinity River Restoration Program is not responsible for removing woody debris from the river.  Private landowners and public land management agencies make their own decisions about removing debris that might impair public safety, threatens integrity of bridges or other structures, or increase the likelihood of local flooding.

 

Fallen trees and bushes play an important role in the juvenile life stages of fish in the river.  This large woody debris (LWD) provides cover, shade, and structure for fish.  It also causes local scour that refreshes gravel, and increases the number and size of pools or holes for fish to utilize during low flow periods.  LWD contributes to the geomorphic processes that drive an alluvial river, sometime causing the river to change course, resulting in the creation and maintenance of the complex river habitats required by Chinook and Coho salmon and steelhead.
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