News Release Archive

Federal Agencies Announce Final Schedule for Clear Creek Spring Pulse Flows

Media Contact: Erin Curtis, Reclamation, 916-978-5100, Steve Martarano, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 916-930-5643
Jim Milbury, NOAA Fisheries, 562-980-4006

For Release: May 13, 2015

REDDING, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation, National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that pulse flow releases from Whiskeytown Dam into Clear Creek will be made in mid-May and mid-June to attract adult spring-run Chinook to 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.

Releases will begin increasing on Monday, May 18, and remain at the peak of 800 cubic feet per second for two days, May 21 and 22. Release rates will then be reduced back to a base flow of 175 cfs by Tuesday, May 26. The second pulse flow release will begin on Monday, June 15, increasing to a peak flow of 400 cfs on Wednesday, June 17. Release rates will then be reduced back to a base flow of 175 cfs by Saturday, June 20.

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. The number of spring-run in Clear Creek increased 40 percent in 2013 and 66 percent in 2014 during pulse flows in June. Salmon were counted during snorkel surveys immediately before and after each pulse flow. Salmon were also counted during the pulse flows using video cameras running 24 hours a day. Pulse flows in 2014 attracted spring-run Chinook into Clear Creek where temperatures were 3°F cooler than where they would have spawned in the Sacramento River. These high temperatures would have led to very low survival for eggs remaining in the Sacramento River.

On Monday, May 18, a daily schedule of flow releases will be available at www.usbr.gov/mp/ncao/.

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