[env-trinity] Higher releases planned from Whiskeytown Dam

[Tom Stokely]

Higher releases planned from Whiskeytown Dam
Higher releases planned from Whiskeytown Dam
Posted: June 03, 20160 CommentsSHARE    By Damon Arthur of the Redding Record SearchlightOfficials plan to quadruple the amount of water released from Whiskeytown Lake for several days this month to benefit spawning salmon.The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation plans to increase the amount of water coming out of the Whiskeytown Dam and into Clear Creek on Monday and June 20.Last year, the "pulse flows" drew protests from local officials angry that water was being sent down the creek while North State water districts had their bureau water allocations drastically reduced.This year, though, no protests are planned as most water agencies received their full water allotments."We felt the pulse flows were a little over the top, if you will," said Irwin Fust, who sits on the board of directors for the Clear Creek Community Services District, which provides water to much of Happy Valley.The flows down the creek will increase to 400 cubic feet per second on Monday and then dial back to the base flow of 200 cfs by June 12. Flows will be kicked back up beginning June 20 and peak out three days later at 800 cfs.Creek flows will go back down to 200 cfs five days later, the bureau said in a news release. There also was a pulse flow in May.Bureau officials said the pulse flows entice steelhead and spring-run Chinook salmon to swim up the creek to spawning areas.Bureau spokesman Shane Hunt said the water goes downstream into the creek and eventually into the Sacramento River and through the San Joaquin-Sacramento River Delta. He said the water is used downstream by other bureau downstream customers, including cities and farms.The water is also necessary for wildlife habitat and water quality in the rivers and Delta, Hunt said.Hunt said the bureau has increased to 1,000 cfs the amount of water it transfers from Lewiston Lake to Whiskeytown Lake to make up for the extra water sent down Clear Creek.Water is pumped through large conduits over the mountains from Lewiston Lake to the Carr Powerhouse at Whiskeytown Lake.Fust said last year's protests were prompted because the Clear Creek district received only 541 acre-feet of water last year from the bureau. But pulse flows last year during the drought sent about 7,700 acre-feet of water down the creek, he said."That just wasn't fair. It didn't work out," Fust said.This year, though, the district received its full allotment of 15,300 acre-feet of water, he said.Fust said he understood that the bureau has to use water for environmental reasons, but said there should be some flexibility to reduce pulse flows during drought years.Johanna Trenerry of Happy Valley, also a Clear Creek CSD board member, said communities should receive priority for water ahead of fish and wildlife."The environmentalists have a stranglehold on this country, and they rake in so much money," she said.
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