This morning at 06:00 PST (09:00 EST), the largest controlled release of water from the Trinity Damns since they were built in 1961 has finally peaked and is holding at a rate of 11,000 cfs since beginning the high-release procedure began on Wendsday morning. This is the greatest milestone in the Trinity River Project, aiming to restore much-needed NorthWest wild salmon and steelhead stocks, and I can't wait to see what the fishing is going to be like on it 5 years from now. It has been the subject of some controversy, many residents have built boat docks and ramps that they now stand to loose after living with the tamed river that previously never exceeded 4500 cfs flows for the last fifty years, but with this first release it means that all the preparations have been completed for it and this, baring no major problems, will be the first of many annual high-releases in an attempt to duplicate nature's own flushing procedure done to the rivers each spring when the snow in the above mountains starts to rapidly disappear.
The experimental release of 11,000cfs into the Trinity River for 3 days is underway.
Yesterday, many agencies were at the dam and along the river watching the effects of the release that started at 6am on Wednesday.
The 3-day release of 11,000cfs continues to Saturday morning. Then the release ramps down fairly quickly to 4,450cfs by May 9.
We did a rough calculation and the volume of water lost in this high-flow release is equal to about 6-8 feet of lake elevation. But, we have been having warm weather and the snowmelt is keeping the inflow strong.
The release stays at 4,500cfs until May 14 when it starts reducing again to 3,500cfs on May 22. There is another bench until May 27.
The Trinity River Adaptive Management Working Group (TAMWG) meets on May 17 when we should receive a report on the effect of the high flow on the man-made habitat and adult fish holding holes.
Check out a album of pictures that we took Wednesday.
http://www.northtrinitylake.com/gallery/FullLake11K/
That was from an email I received, checkout the amazing photos of the event and of the place I call home when I'm not slaved to the city for an income (or have any particular desire for high-speed internet).
http://www.northtrinitylake.com/gallery/FullLake11K/http://northtrinitylake.com/http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/current/RES (respect the water and it's source that keeps Los Angeles and most this state alive)
This year has been a FANTASTIC year so far and everyone I know up there is ecstatic, not only has this milestone in the Trinity River Project been met, but thanks to some luck and fortune the lake is looking like it will be close to cresting the full mark, something that hasn't even gotten close to in
the last 7 years. Good lake news is good news up there as besides logging and sporadic small-scale gold mining operations, the summer tourism season is a lot of people's bread and butter up there. Not only does this mean a nice full lake up there for me and everyone else up there to enjoy, but this means one of the most critical sources (technically it is THE source, very first portion, and likely this year will become the largest contributor to the constant flows feeding the massive California Aquaduct system). Anyone within driving distance to it should check it out this year, bring your boat, tent or fishing pole and have a wonderful trip, lord knows when the next time will be that we see the lake this full and gorgeous.
Edit: Pilots within flying distance too! Checkout the small Trinity Center Airport (don't think avgas is available there, but Redding is nearby).
