The Klamath, Trinity, Eel, Russian
and Smith rivers are the major northern streams that drain this
sparsely populated, forested coastal area that stretches from San
Francisco to the Oregon border. These rivers and their
tributaries flow west to the Pacific Ocean and account for about
40 percent of the state’s total runoff.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has raised concerns
about the seismic stability of Scott Dam, and plans to restrict
water flow to lower the water level in the reservoir. This will
be an expedited measure to limit potential seismic instability
of the dam. The decision has been influenced by a recent
analysis by the utility’s engineering consultant, which shows
that the proposed restriction will improve the dam’s expected
stability and safety performance during a major earthquake.
Pacific Gas & Electric says it intends to keep the gates open
at Scott Dam from now on in deference to seismic safety
concerns, meaning Lake Pillsbury in Lake County will never
completely fill again, even in a wet year like this one. The
utility usually closes the dam gates in April, allowing spring
runoff and snowmelt to raise the water level for summer
recreation and water releases during the later, drier parts of
the year. But the company says updated seismic analysis of the
dam suggested a higher level of risk than previous evaluations,
prompting a change in operations. Instead, more water will be
allowed to flow into the Eel River this spring instead of
keeping it behind the dam.
On March 10, officials in California made the difficult yet
pragmatic decision to cancel … ocean salmon commercial or
sport fishing off California’s coast until April 2024. In the
Sacramento and Klamath rivers, Chinook salmon numbers have
approached record lows due to recent drought conditions.
… Right now, we believe that the commercial salmon
fishing ban is what our salmon need to ensure population
numbers do not dip to unrecoverable lows. As we look to future
population resiliency, there are so many other things these
fish need, and our teams are working hard to make them
happen. CalTrout works from ridge top to river mouth to
get salmon populations unassisted access to each link in the
chain of habitats that each of their life stages depends on.
A Northern California man’s protest against the unlawful
“taking” of endangered salmon by the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers lives another day, as a judge ruled against allowing
either a dismissal or a stay on the matter on Friday. The
defendants sought to either dismiss or stay the case that
accused them of creating a hazardous habitat for Central
California Coast steelhead, coho, and Chinook salmon, saying
that the case should be deemed moot, considering recent action
taken by the Army Corp to come into compliance with Endangered
Species Act requirements. The Coyote Valley Dam, an earthen dam
built seventy years ago, is currently managed by the Army Corp
and lies above the city of Ukiah.
A new report from the Bay Area Council Economic Institute
details the beneficial local economic impacts that would be
generated by the removal of Scott and Cape Horn Dams, two aging
dams on the Eel River that are part of the hydroelectric Potter
Valley Project. The report estimates dam removal would create
between 1,037 and 1,332 local jobs and would boost the regional
economy to the tune of $203 million to $278 million. In
addition to boosting the local economy, dam removal is crucial
for healthy fish populations, clean water, and Tribal cultural
practices. Located on the Eel River 20 miles northeast of
Ukiah, the Potter Valley Project includes two Eel River dams, a
diversion tunnel that moves water out of the Eel River
watershed and into the East Branch of the Russian River, and a
powerhouse.
As salmon runs on the Sacramento and Klamath River systems
continue to plummet, the California Department of Fish and
Wildlife will hold its annual Salmon Information Meeting via
webinar next week. The session is schedule 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
next Wednesday, March 1. This meeting is one of the most
important meetings of the year for anglers to attend. It will
feature the outlook for this year’s sport and commercial ocean
salmon fisheries, in addition to a review of last year’s salmon
fisheries and spawning escapement, according to the CDFW.
The California Salmon and Steelhead Coalition, a partnership
comprised of California Trout, The Nature Conservancy, and
Trout Unlimited, welcomes the introduction of AB 1272, which
will lay the groundwork for creating a more climate-resilient
future for native fish and water supplies in coastal
California. The bill, introduced by Assemblymember Jim Wood
(D-Healdsburg), would direct the State Water Resources Control
Board and California Department of Fish and Wildlife to work
together to develop principles and guidelines for the diversion
and use of water in coastal watersheds during times of water
shortage, for the purpose of enhancing drought preparedness and
climate resiliency.
California is chock full of rivers and creeks, yet the state’s network of stream gauges has significant gaps that limit real-time tracking of how much water is flowing downstream, information that is vital for flood protection, forecasting water supplies and knowing what the future might bring.
That network of stream gauges got a big boost Sept. 30 with the signing of SB 19. Authored by Sen. Bill Dodd (D-Napa), the law requires the state to develop a stream gauge deployment plan, focusing on reactivating existing gauges that have been offline for lack of funding and other reasons. Nearly half of California’s stream gauges are dormant.
The Eel River flows from the
Mendocino National Forest to the coast a few miles south of
Eureka, traversing a topographically diverse
area of mountains, canyons and redwood forests in Northern
California. Including its tributaries, it
drains more than 3,500 square miles and is the state’s third
largest watershed.
For over a century, the Klamath River Basin along the Oregon and
California border has faced complex water management disputes. As
relayed in this 2012, 60-minute public television documentary
narrated by actress Frances Fisher, the water interests range
from the Tribes near the river, to energy producer PacifiCorp,
farmers, municipalities, commercial fishermen, environmentalists
– all bearing legitimate arguments for how to manage the water.
After years of fighting, a groundbreaking compromise may soon
settle the battles with two epic agreements that hold the promise
of peace and fish for the watershed. View an excerpt from the
documentary here.
This 25-minute documentary-style DVD, developed in partnership
with the California Department of Water Resources, provides an
excellent overview of climate change and how it is already
affecting California. The DVD also explains what scientists
anticipate in the future related to sea level rise and
precipitation/runoff changes and explores the efforts that are
underway to plan and adapt to climate.
A new look for our most popular product! And it’s the perfect
gift for the water wonk in your life.
Our 24×36 inch California Water Map is widely known for being the
definitive poster that shows the integral role water plays in the
state. On this updated version, it is easier to see California’s
natural waterways and man-made reservoirs and aqueducts
– including federally, state and locally funded
projects – the wild and scenic rivers system, and
natural lakes. The map features beautiful photos of
California’s natural environment, rivers, water projects,
wildlife, and urban and agricultural uses and the
text focuses on key issues: water supply, water use, water
projects, the Delta, wild and scenic rivers and the Colorado
River.
