News Release Archive

Link River Flows to Fluctuate During Dam Entrainment Study in the Klamath Basin

Media Contact: Pete Lucero, (916) 978-5100, plucero@mp.usbr.gov

For Release: July 14, 2008

The Bureau of  Reclamation announces that flows in the Link River will fluctuate this summer due to a fishery entrainment study to be conducted at the Link River Dam (LRD), located at the southern end of Upper Klamath Lake. 

Reclamation's Klamath Basin Area Office will conduct a study to evaluate if making surface releases compared to the current bottom releases through LRD is an effective method in reducing the entrainment of endangered suckers.  The suckers are normally bottom dwellers, and the study is designed to determine if discharges from the surface of Upper Klamath Lake will reduce their entrainment through LRD.

The 10-week-long study will be conducted from July 21, 2008, through September 2008.  Key to the study are spill conditions from LRD, which will be evaluated during evening and nighttime hours Monday through Thursday.  A ramp-down will begin gradually at 4 p.m. and reach the target flow of 300 cubic feet per second (cfs) by 7:30 p.m.  A flow of 300 cfs is required to ensure the fish traps that will be used are able to function properly.  Discharges will gradually increase at 7:30 a.m. following the test evenings and may reach  2,000-2,500 cfs to compensate for the lower flows downriver and to provide water for irrigators.

Reclamation has coordinated with PacifiCorp, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife on the effects of these operational changes at LRD and in the Link River.  Reclamation will adhere to the agreed-upon ramping schedule to achieve the targeted 300 cfs nighttime flows so that the river level is gradually decreased to minimize the potential stranding of endangered suckers and native redband trout.  PacifiCorp will post appropriate signage on the Link River Trail to warn the public that Link River flows will at times be much higher than normal during the study period.       

For more information, please contact Mr. Chuck Korson with Reclamation's Klamath Basin Area Office at 541-880-2575 or ckorson@mp.usbr.gov.

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