News Release Archive

Reclamation to Release Additional Water from Trinity Reservoir to Supplement Flows in the Lower Klamath River

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

For Release: August 10, 2012

REDDING, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation will release additional water from Trinity Reservoir to supplement flows in the Lower Klamath River in 2012 to help protect a possible record-breaking run of adult Chinook salmon from disease outbreak and mortality. Releases from Lewiston Dam will begin in the early morning hours of August 13 and end in the last week of September.

Flows in the Lower Klamath River will be targeted at 3,200 cubic feet per second during this period, and Lewiston Dam releases will be adjusted accordingly. Current river flow forecasts indicate that Lewiston Dam releases will increase from the current rate of 450 cfs on August 13 and will vary between about 1,000 and 1,200 cfs prior to dropping to 450 cfs in late September.

The rate of increasing releases could be as high as 250 cfs every two hours, and the rate of flow reductions could be as high as 100 cfs every four hours. The public is urged to take all necessary precautions on or near the river while flows are increased.

An Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact were prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act. The draft documents were released for public review July 17-27, and public comments have been addressed in the Final EA/FONSI.

The documents are available at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php?Project_ID=10230. If you encounter problems accessing the environmental documents online, please call 916-978-5100 or email mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov.

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Relevant Link:

Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact