[env-trinity] Trinity River Restoration Program - January Newsletter

[Abel, Kiana]

[https://www.trrp.net/wordterrain/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/header-JAN25-01-01.png]<https://www.trrp.net/wordterrain/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/header-JAN25-01-01.png>

Header photo: Trinity River in Lewiston at 1500 cubic feet per second, Jan. 8, 2025. [Kiana Abel, Trinity River Restoration Program]

River Riffle Newsletter - January (click to read on our website)<https://www.trrp.net/river-riffle-newsletter-january25/>
Contents

  *   Current Conditions
  *   Reading, Listening & Watching
  *   Program Updates: The Year Ahead for our Implementation<https://www.trrp.net/the-year-ahead-implementation-branch/> and Science Branches<https://www.trrp.net/the-year-ahead-25-science-branch/>
  *   Trinity River Animal Spotlight: Bug of the month:<https://www.trrp.net/bug-of-the-month-january/> <https://www.trrp.net/bug-of-the-month-january/> Baetid mayflies<https://www.trrp.net/bug-of-the-month-january/>
  *   Upcoming Meetings and Events: Trinity River Survey<https://trinityriver.org/>, Science on Tap, Upper Conner Creek Rehabilitation Resumes, Next TMC Meeting

Current Conditions
[https://www.trrp.net/wordterrain/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Card4_LewDam.jpg]

A synchronization flow was triggered on Dec. 20 for a peak on Dec. 24 and 25. Flows were scheduled to ramp down to winter baseflow (300 cfs) on Jan. 11. However, on Dec. 31 the Bureau of Reclamation's Central Valley Operations office released a change order due to storage capacity concerns in Trinity Reservoir.


The change occurred because inflows to Trinity Reservoir reached storage management thresholds for this time of year. Because diversion infrastructure is down for maintenance the Central Valley Operations office has advised that flows to the Trinity River may remain elevated above 300 cubic feet per second until further notice. Forecasts, inflow and storage in Trinity Reservoir will direct "as needed" action from Central Valley Operations. Change orders from Central Valley Operations are communicated via email, click here to join the Trinity_Releases Google Group<http://groups.google.com/group/trinity-releases/boxsubscribe>.


View Trinity Reservoir Daily Data<https://cdec.water.ca.gov/dynamicapp/QueryDaily?s=CLE&end=2025-01-17&span=30days>

[https://www.trrp.net/wordterrain/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/WY25-general-flow-timeline-with-benefits-WY2025-01.jpg]

Wet-Season Baseflow Period (Feb. 15 – Apr. 14)

The next period within the Trinity River Restoration Program environmental flow management is the Wet-Season Baseflow Period, which begins Feb. 15. This period marks an increase to prescribed Record of Decision dam releases and are determined by a conservative monthly inflow projection for Trinity Reservoir from the California Department of Water Resources (90% B120)<https://cdec.water.ca.gov/snow/bulletin120/index2.html>.


The purpose of adaptively managing river flows is to increase available food sources and habitat for juvenile salmonids while rearing (growing) in freshwater, prior to their migration to the ocean.

[https://www.trrp.net/wordterrain/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_0169.jpg]

Trinity River Adult Salmon Migration Monitoring

In mid-November, the Junction City and Willow Creek weir sites completed seasonal trapping efforts to count the Trinity River salmonid adult migration for the 2024 season. Yearly adult monitoring efforts are done in collaboration with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Hoopa Valley Tribe, the Yurok Tribe and are funded by the Bureau of Reclamation. Depending on flows, the Junction City Weir site will be re-installed in the latter spring/early summer for the 2025 season typically in June or July. The Willow Creek Weir is usually installed in mid to late August, also depending on flows.


Download reports from the 2013-2023 seasons<https://www.trrp.net/library/?search=kier+%22annual+report%2C+trinity+river+basin+salmon+and+steelhead+monitoring+project%22&abstract=0&sort=citation>

[https://www.trrp.net/wordterrain/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20230926-IMG_0583.jpg]

Trinity River Adult Salmon Redd and Carcass Monitoring

Redd and Carcass surveys are complete for the 2024 season. Preliminary data are showing counts trending slightly lower than the 2002-2023 median and mean to date. As of Dec. 20, crews from the Hoopa Valley Tribe, US Fish and Wildlife Service, CDFW and the Yurok Tribe have counted 2,839 redds in the 14 reaches surveyed in the Trinity River.

View the weekly reports here<https://www.fws.gov/library/collections/arcata-fac-salmon-spawning-survey-data-klamath-and-trinity-rivers>

Reading, Listening, Watching


[cid:e8704c02-d801-4a4b-89c0-f0d0be3e483c]<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84xRPTz7eJA&list=PLW5acVKbJinnM7WF7CyZMAgKv8OY39sKX>

Jan. 7, Board of Supervisors Meeting<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84xRPTz7eJA&list=PLW5acVKbJinnM7WF7CyZMAgKv8OY39sKX> | Trinity County YouTube

Clerk of the Board. January 7, 2025

Reclamation's Northern California Area Office presented to the Board of Supervisors on Jan. 7 regarding Trinity Reservoir current conditions including; storage, maintenance and recent safety of dam's releases to the Trinity River. Laurie Larson who presented in place of the Area Manager is a Supervisory Civil Engineer for NCAO and begins her presentation at 37:05.

[https://www.trrp.net/wordterrain/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Golden-Mussel-Alexander-Karatayev-1024x773-1.webp]<https://www.trrp.net/wordterrain/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Golden-Mussel-Alexander-Karatayev-1024x773-1.webp>
Delta Ecosystem Threatened by Another<https://californiawaterblog.com/2025/01/05/delta-ecosystem-threatened-by-another-nonnative-mollusk/> <https://californiawaterblog.com/2025/01/05/delta-ecosystem-threatened-by-another-nonnative-mollusk/> Nonnative Mollusk<https://californiawaterblog.com/2025/01/05/delta-ecosystem-threatened-by-another-nonnative-mollusk/> | California Water Blog

By Andrew Cohen and Peter Moyle. January 5, 2025

Golden Mussel Limnoperna fortunei. Photo Credit : Great Lakes Echo, Alexander<https://greatlakesecho.org/2011/04/13/watch-list-predicts-great-lakes-future-nonnatives/> Karatayev<https://greatlakesecho.org/2011/04/13/watch-list-predicts-great-lakes-future-nonnatives/>.

The Trinity watershed has been protected from invasive mussels like Zebra and Quagga thus far, however the Golden Mussel Limnoperna fortunei which has recently been discovered in the delta system are known to live and reproduce in water with lower calcium levels found in Northern California watersheds like the Trinity, Klamath, Sierra Nevada, Upper Sacramento and Smith River systems. Golden mussels are filter feeders that can consume large quantities of the microscopic plants and animals that many species depend on. If allowed to colonize, the ecological balance of an entire waterbody can be disturbed. Continue Reading ...<https://californiawaterblog.com/2025/01/05/delta-ecosystem-threatened-by-another-nonnative-mollusk/>

[https://www.trrp.net/wordterrain/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/CA-CDFW-WSP-Corpsmembers-Natt-McDonough-and-Ryan-Blaich-Santa-Rosa-Creek-San-Luis-Obispo-County-Photo-Credit-Hayley-Barnes.jpg]<https://www.trrp.net/wordterrain/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/CA-CDFW-WSP-Corpsmembers-Natt-McDonough-and-Ryan-Blaich-Santa-Rosa-Creek-San-Luis-Obispo-County-Photo-Credit-Hayley-Barnes.jpg>
California Department of Fish and Wildlife Watershed Stewards Program crew members
Natt McDonough and Ryan Blaich conduct restoration work in Santa Rosa Creek, San Luis
Obispo County, California. Photo Credit: Hayley Barnes

NOAA Makes $99 Million Available for Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund<https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/media-release/biden-harris-administration-noaa-make-99-million-available-pacific-coastal-salmon?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery> | NOAA Fisheries

Media Release. December 4, 2024.

NOAA Fisheries announced up to $99 million in funding through the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.fisheries.noaa.gov%2Fwest-coast%2Fendangered-species-conservation%2Fpacific-coastal-salmon-recovery-fund%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000193d0017b23-86a7b8d5-e878-4dab-b217-d55d3e027d34-000000/7Cqew5KZy8LQopr2q_qSv9DTvONku3UsTnrXAELXrdo=383> for conservation and recovery projects focusing on Pacific salmon and steelhead. This funding—which includes $34.4 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law—will advance state and tribal efforts to restore salmon populations and habitats, and bolster climate and economic resilience in surrounding communities.

NOAA will accept proposals from eligible applicants from the States of Alaska, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Washington, and federally-recognized tribes of the Columbia River Basin and Pacific coast (including Alaska) with a deadline of Mar. 4, 2025. Continue reading ...<https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/media-release/biden-harris-administration-noaa-make-99-million-available-pacific-coastal-salmon?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery>

[https://www.trrp.net/wordterrain/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/klamath-fish-705x397-1.jpg]<https://www.trrp.net/wordterrain/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/klamath-fish-705x397-1.jpg>
SOU News<https://news.sou.edu/2025/01/klamath-dam-removal-workshop-at-sou-fosters-collaboration/>
Klamath dam removal workshop at SOU fosters collaboration<https://news.sou.edu/2025/01/klamath-dam-removal-workshop-at-sou-fosters-collaboration/> | Southern Oregon University News

January 6, 2025

(Ashland, Ore.) — Southern Oregon University recently hosted the Klamath Dam Removal Research Collaboration Workshop, a follow-up seminar for the numerous groups and agencies working together on the world’s largest-ever dam removal and river restoration project.

The November workshop brought together nearly 150 researchers, Tribal leaders and agency representatives to share information about ecological and social changes in the Klamath River basin that have resulted from the removal of its four dams.

The Trinity River Restoration Program had two representatives in attendance this past November. Although the TRRP does not have direct management over the Klamath Dam Removal recovery our organization and partners share a vested interest in its success. Read more about the event by clicking here ...<https://news.sou.edu/2025/01/klamath-dam-removal-workshop-at-sou-fosters-collaboration/>

Program Update
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Implementation Branch

The Trinity River Restoration Program is working on two Trinity River channel rehabilitation projects in 2025; Phase II of the Upper Conner Creek Rehabilitation Project located in Junction City, CA and Phase I of the Sawmill Gravel Processing Site Rehabilitation Project located in Lewiston, CA. In addition to Trinity River projects there are 3 watershed grantees that are slated to be implemented in the next year. Click below to read more! Continue Reading ...<https://www.trrp.net/the-year-ahead-implementation-branch/>


 [https://www.trrp.net/wordterrain/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_20241104_094337289.jpg]

Science Branch

The science side of the Program will continue with several annual monitoring activities that collect data specific to the recent change to environmental flow management. Also this year a comparison of low riparian areas will receive some attention to see if restored areas at Oregon Gulch are reacting differently than earlier restoration sites. Click below to read more! Continue Reading ...<https://www.trrp.net/the-year-ahead-25-science-branch/>

Trinity River Watershed Animal Spotlight
[https://www.trrp.net/wordterrain/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot_15-1-2025_152348_www.troutnut.com_.jpeg]
Photo Credit: TroutNut.com
Bug of the month: Baetid mayflies

genus Baetidae

Mayflies from the family Baetidae are this month’s ‘bug of the month’. Commonly known as blue winged olives by fly fishermen, Baetid mayflies are small (<10mm) and can be extremely prolific. In addition, they grow rapidly, can have multiple generations within a year (known as multivoltine) and are especially apparent during the winter and early spring when few other bugs are hatching. Continue Reading ...<https://www.trrp.net/bug-of-the-month-january/>


Upcoming Meetings and Events

For a full list of events, click to view the TRRP Calendar<https://www.trrp.net/calendar/>.

________________________________
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Jan. 6 - Feb. 6 - Trinity County RCD - Trinity River Survey<https://trinityriver.org/>

The Trinity County Resource Conservation District invites Trinity County residents and visitors to share their thoughts on the history, ecology, and restoration efforts on the Trinity River. Insights will be used to assess the impact of the RCD's education and outreach programs.

Submit your perspective by Feb. 6 by clicking the link below. The survey takes about 10-20 minutes to take. Take the Survey ...<https://trinityriver.org/>

[https://www.trrp.net/wordterrain/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/472773538_923456763232554_5473568093596404270_n.jpg]
Jan. 22, 6pm - Science on Tap

Trinity County Brewing Company

This month’s Science on Tap features Mike Belchik, a senior water policy analyst for the Yurok Tribe, where he has worked for 25 years. Mike will explore the historical journey of Klamath River restoration and dam removal and what lies ahead for this significant project.

Mike has an extensive background in river restoration and fisheries management. In the late 1990s, he served as the Yurok Tribe’s senior fisheries biologist for the Klamath and Trinity Rivers before focusing exclusively on Klamath River restoration, including dam removal.

[https://www.trrp.net/wordterrain/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Elliot-Sarnacki-post-phase-1-restoration-Upper-Conner-Creek-Project_Trinity-River-in-Junction-City-Ca_SM.jpg]
Jan. 27 - Rehabilitation at Upper Conner Creek Resumes

Rehabilitation at the Upper Conner Creek site in Junction city will resume implementation beginning on Jan. 27.

The Yurok Tribe Construction Corporation will begin work on upgrading the river access point and moving the current location onto Bureau of Land Management land.


Please note that recreational river access at the Junction City Campground may be intermittent during the Phase II construction period as improvements are made to the put-in/take out location. Please contact us at 530-623-1800, or info at trrp.net (or visit this page<https://www.trrp.net/upper-conner-creek-channel-rehabilitation-site/>) for current information regarding access.

[TMC Partnership Ring]
March 19 & 20 - All Day Quarterly TMC Meeting
Meeting Details

In Person: Arcata, Ca. - Location TBD

Click here to join the meeting<https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_N2UyYTRjMDUtNTdiYi00OTU2LTljNzgtNGRkZjQzYWI3Mjdh%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%220693b5ba-4b18-4d7b-9341-f32f400a5494%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%2229f49e42-b75e-4f91-a28f-c599a103a13b%22%7d>

Meeting ID: 254 819 589 844
Passcode: UY3b6cv9

Download Teams<https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/download-app> | Join on the web<https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-teams/join-a-meeting>

Kiana Abel
Public Affairs Specialist | Trinity River Restoration Program<http://www.trrp.net/> | U. S. Bureau of Reclamation<https://www.usbr.gov/>
1313 S. Main St., Weaverville, CA 96093-1300 | 530-623-1800 (desk) | 530-739-9761 (cell) | jabel at usbr.gov
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