Plans for restocking reservoir’s fish species underway
East Park Dam and Reservoir in Orland, California
ORLAND, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation’s 111-year-old East Park Dam recently received inspections and modernization of the dam gates. The reservoir and surrounding parklands closed last August to allow for the dam inspections when the reservoir level was at its lowest since 1977 due to drought conditions making these structures accessible.
East Park Dam and Reservoir are located in Colusa County, about 33 miles southwest of the town of Orland. The dam is owned by Reclamation and operated and maintained by the Orland Unit Water Users Association. Colusa County manages the reservoir and 1,600 acres of adjacent parklands.
Although repairs on the dam infrastructure have occurred since being built, the regulating gate on the dam broke in 2020 and required repair last summer. The reservoir began a drawdown on August 24 while elevations were at their lowest in decades. Orland Unit Water Users Association completed the installation of the replacement regulating gate and rehabilitation of the lower and mid-level gates. The gates for the dam’s lower intake stem will be fully complete early 2022.
East Park Reservoir is currently refilling via the East Park Feed Canal and recent precipitation. Reclamation plans to restock the reservoir in 2022 with a focus on fish species that had known stable populations prior to 2021. This includes largemouth bass (fry and juveniles), bluegill (fry, juveniles, and adults), redear sunfish (fry, juvenile, and adults), channel catfish (juveniles and subadults), and fathead minnows and mosquito fish. Sacramento blackfish will be stocked as adults, representing the first time this native California species has been stocked in this reservoir.
Stocking of fish will occur March through June 2022. Within two years all stocked fish species are anticipated to be reproducing and growing well to support improved conditions for recreational fishing. The reservoir and surrounding parklands are anticipated to be reopened by the County of Colusa spring 2022.
For more information Laurie Larson at 530-247-8607 or llarson@usbr.gov.
