News Release Archive

Closure of Red Bluff Diversion Dam Gates Scheduled Early to Meet Water Demands

Media Contact: Jeffrey McCracken, 916-978-5100, jmccracken@mp.usbr.gov

For Release: April 24, 2007

The Bureau of Reclamation will perform a closure of the Red Bluff Diversion Dam gates for a period of 1 to 10 days between Sunday, April 29 and Tuesday, May 8, 2007.  The date of the closure will be determined by local weather conditions and is necessary to allow water diversions to the Tehama-Colusa Canal Authority to meet the earlier-than-usual agricultural water demands resulting from a dry, warm spring.    

The Red Bluff Diversion Dam gates will be opened May 9, 2007, to drain Lake Red Bluff to allow 5 days of unimpeded fish passage.  The gates will close again May 15 for the normal 4-month season, which will end September 15, 2007.  The lake will take 10 to 12 hours to reach its normal level each time it is filled.

Due to the adverse impacts to winter-run Chinook salmon when the gates are closed, Reclamation is required to keep the gates open annually from September 15 until the following May 15, 2007, except in emergencies.  Under the Biological Opinion issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries, a 10-day gate closure may be allowed, upon approval of NOAA, but it must be followed by a 5-day period of unimpeded fish passage.

For additional information, please contact Mr. Paul Freeman, Reclamation, at 530-529-3890 or e-mail pfreeman@mp.usbr.gov, or Mr. Buford Holt, Reclamation, at 530-576-2047 or e-mail bholt@mp.usbr.gov.

# # #

The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.