Flow

Starting July 21, flows decrease 50 cubic feet per second per day reaching summer baseflow of 450 cfs on August 4. Flows will remain at the summer baseflow level until October 15 unless water quality conditions in the lower Klamath deteriorate to the point that additional releases from Lewiston Dam are required to avoid significant mortality to migrating salmonids.

Current river flow gauge readings can be found on our homepage, click here and scroll to the middle of the page.

Temperature

Upper river temperatures have continued to trend slightly lower than 2023 while lower river temperatures rose above recorded temps during this past heat wave. In the upper river, temperatures remain “optimal” (50F-65F) to “semi-stressful” (65F-68F) for adult spring salmonids holding in the river. Fortunately Trinity River conditions have produced minimal stressors thus far, providing spring-run chinook with high levels of dissolved oxygen as well as refugia for holding.

Keep tabs on Trinity River temperatures by following the links below.

• Trinity River gauge at Lewiston CA – USGS
• Trinity River gauge at Douglas City, CA – USGS
• Trinity River gauge at NF Trinity R NR Helena CA – USGS
• Trinity River gauge at Hoopa CA – USGS

Monitoring & Fish Health

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife installed the Junction City Weir last week and began collecting data on July 11, 2024. On the first day of operation, 20% (8 of 40) spring Chinook observed low severity of gill rot (presumed columnaris). Although cases did not show as severe, elevated river and air temperatures has led the committee to update the Upper River Trinity to “yellow” cautionary status. Planned increase in ROD releases between July 16 and August 3 assisted in lowering upper river temperatures, further aiding holding springers in this section.

CDFW has planned to implement scheduled visits for Fish Health Laboratory staff to monitor fish for any gill related issues during the summer season.

Klamath Fish Health Assessment Team

Members of the Klamath Fish Health Assessment Team (KFHAT) have been holding bi-weekly meetings and making determinations about Klamath Basin Fish Health. The KFHAT is a technical workgroup that formed in 2003 with the purpose of providing early warning and a coordinated response effort to avoid, or at least address, a non-hazardous materials related fish kill event in the anadromous portion of the Klamath River basin.

Determinations have changed to “yellow” for the Middle and Lower Klamath Mainstem, Shasta, Scott and Salmon Rivers, Upper and Lower Trinity due to elevated temperatures.

Photo: The KFHAT map presents the readiness level for the Klamath Basin below Iron Gate Dam in a visual format. Click here to read the bi-weekly report.

Lenya Quinn-Davidson is the Fire Network Director for the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, and a long-time contributor to the FAC Net blog. She lives on the North Coast of California and loves all things related to fire, fish, and people. In this blog, Lenya reflects on this relationship between fire, fish, and people – exploring how we might bring balance to ecosystems and the populations they support.

Photo: A block print of a Klamath small-scale sucker, which Lenya carved in 2022 in tribute to all the suckers that died in the Klamath fish kill. Read the article by clicking here …

Trinity River Restoration Program and partners will begin work at the Upper Conner Creek Channel Rehabilitation Project site on the Trinity River soon. The site is located approximately one river mile downstream from the Dutch Creek Bridge in Junction City, between river miles 78.5 and 77.1. To facilitate project area access, restoration activities will involve heavy equipment and use of local roads, including Highway 299 and Red Hill Road. Once complete, the project will improve river access for recreation, increase juvenile salmonid rearing habitat and enhance channel complexity in the Trinity River.

Milkweed

• Showy milkweed, common milkweed Asclepias speciosa
• Narrowleaf milkweed Asclepias fascicularis
• Heart leaf milkweed, purple milkweed Asclepias cordifolia
• Serpentine milkweed, prostrate milkweed, solanoa Asclepias solanoana

While there are dozens of milkweed species and subspecies in North America, within the Trinity River Watershed there are four documented species, including showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) narrowleaf milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis), heart leaf milkweed (Asclepias cordifolia) (DeCamp, 2021, p. 294, 362) and the rare lesser seen serpentine milkweed (Asclepias solanoana) (Kauffman, 2022, p. 155). Each type has unique leaf formations and are topped with wonderful showy flowers and dramatically large seed pods that propagate via wind in the fall. The flowers are a haven for area pollinators and the plant itself plays a critical role in the majestic monarch butterfly migration. Interestingly, in our region, monarch butterflies, generally choose one type of milkweed to lay their eggs. Because of this, the availability and frequency of the plant along the monarch’s migratory path are critical to it’s survival.

Heart leaf milkweed also known as purple milkweed (Asclepias cordifolia) near Rattlesnake Creek in the Trinity Alps Wilderness. [Kiana Abel, Trinity River Restoration Program]

Open House Art – Our Chinook Salmon Winner!

Feast your eyes on the Chinook Salmon which won our People’s Choice Award! This feisty salmonid will be featured in future swag with 12 other Fish of the Trinity River, beautifully crafted by students from Junction City Elementary School. Fortunately for us, we have ALL of the art made by the students displayed on our walls – we highly recommend coming to check it out. Thank you to everyone who voted!