REDDING, Calif. - The Bureau of Reclamation, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced today that three pulse flow
releases from Whiskeytown Dam into Clear Creek will be made in late May and June to attract adult spring-run Chinook salmon to upstream Clear Creek
habitats for holding and spawning purposes.
The pulse flows are required under the Endangered Species Act to protect populations of steelhead and spring-run Chinook salmon, both listed as threatened
species. Water released as part of the pulse flows will remain within the Central Valley Project system and will be available for use downstream by
Reclamation customers, including agricultural and municipal and industrial users in the Central Valley and Bay Area.
Release of flows for the first pulse will begin to increase on Monday, May 23, and peak at 400 cubic feet per second (cfs) on Wednesday, May 25. Release
rates will be reduced back to base flow of 200 cfs by Sunday, May 29. Releases for the second pulse flow will begin to increase on Monday, June 6, and peak
at 400 cfs on Wednesday, June 8. Release rates will be reduced back to base flow by Sunday, June 12. Releases for the third pulse flow will begin to
increase on Monday, June 20, and peak at 800 cfs on Thursday, June 23. Release rates will be reduced back to base flow by Tuesday, June 28.
The public should take appropriate safety precautions when near or on Clear Creek during these pulse flows.
In 2009, NMFS issued the Biological and Conference Opinion on the Long-Term Operation of the Central Valley Project and State Water Project. Included in
the Opinion is a reasonable and prudent alternative to conduct at least two pulse flows in Clear Creek in May and June to attract adult spring-run Chinook
to move to upstream Clear Creek habitats for holding and spawning purposes. In these habitats, spring-run Chinook can access colder water temperatures,
access large holding pools, access newly provided and clean spawning gravel, and avoid hybridization and competition with fall-run Chinook. USFWS
monitoring has shown that pulse flows have been successful in attracting spring-run Chinook into Clear Creek. Salmon are counted during snorkel surveys
immediately before and after each pulse flow. Salmon are also counted during the pulse flows using video cameras running 24 hours a day.
For more information, please contact Charlie Chamberlain, Reclamation, at 530-276-2046 (TTY 800-877-8339) or cchamberlain@usbr.gov
Source: Bureau of Reclamation
