River Riffle Newsletter – March
Contents
- Current Conditions
- Reading, Listening & Watching
- Program Updates: Upper Conner Creek Phase II Civil Construction Update
- Featured Article: Executive Director Report – Year in Review 2024
- Trinity River Animal Spotlight: Bug of the Month: March Mayfly
- Upcoming Meetings and Events
Current Conditions
Water Year 2025 – March B120 = 90% chance of wet or wetter
The California Department of Water Resources March 90% B120 declaration was published on Mar. 10 as “wet” with the 90% determination at 1,415,000 acre feet.
The hydrograph developed by the Program with the “wet” water allocation for Mar. 15 – Apr. 14 will commence on March 21 after Storage Management Releases from Trinity Reservoir come to a close. Click the button below to view the DRAFT schedule.
The schedule is finalized with a change order released by Central Valley Operations. If you would like to receive those emails please follow this link:
Reading, Listening, Watching
Functional Flows are Good for California’s Native Fishes | California WaterBlog
Posted: Feb. 23, 2025
By Sarah Yarnell, Ethan Baruch, Andrew L. Rypel, and Rob Lusardi
California faces significant water management challenges, particularly concerning how much water should remain in streams to support native fish species. While there are many environmental flow assessment methods, California has adopted the Functional Flows approach as part of the California Environmental Flows Framework (CEFF). A recent study focused on Putah Creek, where the implementation of the Putah Creek Accord in 2000 has led to a dramatic increase in native fish populations. The study analyzed long-term fish data and found that as stream flow conditions improved and approached more natural patterns, the populations of native fish increased while non-native species declined. This suggests that even partial adherence to a functional flow regime can support the recovery of native fish. The successes observed in Putah Creek demonstrate the potential benefits of implementing the Functional Flows approach across other impacted streams in California. Continue Reading …
How Three (Fairly) Wet Winters Could Help California’s Salmon | Public Policy Institute of California
March 3, 2025
California has experienced an unusual weather pattern with three consecutive wet winters, particularly in the northern region, which hasn’t happened since the late ’90s. Experts Jeffrey Mount and Carson Jeffres discuss how these rainy years offer a crucial opportunity for salmon, as abundant water helps juvenile salmon grow faster and avoid predators before they head to the ocean. Historically, wet years have been beneficial for salmon, allowing them to thrive in floodplains. However, they emphasize the need for improved management practices to ensure these fish can survive during future dry periods. While the recent wet conditions provide a glimmer of hope, the overall trend for salmon populations remains concerning, highlighting the need for innovative approaches to protect and restore these vital species.
Clackamas River Stream Temperature Modeling and Monitoring Project | Clackamas River Basin Council
This video explores a project focused on monitoring and modeling stream temperatures in the Clackamas River Basin, a collaboration involving the Clackamas River Basin Council, Portland State University, and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. The project emphasizes how important stream temperatures are for the health of aquatic ecosystems, particularly for cold-water species like steelhead, Coho, and Chinook salmon. Using over 30 years of temperature data and climate projections, the study examines how rising temperatures could affect fish habitats in the basin.
The presenters explain how stream temperature models help illustrate how different landscape features influence how streams respond to changes in air temperature. They highlight critical thermal refuges for salmonids amidst potential habitat loss due to warming. Additionally, the video introduces a new interactive web tool that combines temperature and habitat data to aid in conservation and restoration efforts. This important work is funded by the Oregon Conservation and Recreation Fund and supported by various individuals and organizations, showcasing a community commitment to preserving the region’s aquatic life.
Program Update
Upper Conner Creek – Phase II Civil Construction Update
Construction is progressing at the Phase II Upper Conner Creek Channel Rehabilitation site with significant advancements with excavation of the river right floodplain and the development of the new river access route.
Project managers have temporarily closed access to the project site which began Monday, March 10, 2025. The closure affects access for river recreationists at the Junction City Campground. While we had hoped to maintain some level of public access, it has become clear that this short-term closure is unavoidable yet will expedite the timeline to a functional river access point, likely late July. The river can be accessed a few miles upstream of the project at Evans Bar or Sky Ranch or downstream of the project at Bagdad or Pigeon Point.
To stay up to date on access at the Junction City Campground river access, please click here.
Trinity River Watershed Restoration Environmental Assessment
Public Comment Period: Spring 2025
The Trinity River Restoration Program is working with the Bureau of Land Management – Redding Field Office and the US Forest Service – Shasta-Trinity National Forest to help increase restoration projects within Trinity River tributaries. The Watershed Environmental Assessment will cover projects related to;
- instream habitat restoration
- upslope habitat restoration
- road maintenance, rehabilitation, and decommissioning activities
This Environmental Assessment will be available to organizations who wish to implement restorative projects on Bureau of Land Management and US Forest Service lands and TRRP-funded work on private land within the Trinity Watershed as well as for projects that are funded by those agencies.
Featured Article
Executive Director Report – Year in Review 2024
The Trinity River Restoration Program’s twenty-fourth year brought challenges and positive steps forward with agency collaborations, channel rehabilitation on the Trinity River, watershed restoration and environmental flow management. Click below to continue reading the full report.
Trinity River Watershed Animal Spotlight
Bug of the month: March Brown
Rhithrogena morrisoni
Discover the fascinating world of the March Brown mayfly, nature’s little miracle that kicks off the spring season. Known for their warm brown hue and incredible hatching patterns, March Browns play a crucial role in our aquatic ecosystems, especially as a vital food source for hungry fish like salmon and trout.
But there’s much more to these creatures than meets the eye! From their impressive ability to cling to fast-moving waters to the unique way they attract anglers hoping to catch a big Steelhead, the March Brown offers a captivating glimpse into the life of one of nature’s most remarkable insects. Curious to learn how this intriguing bug influences both ecosystems and fishing success? Click through to dive deeper into the story of the March Brown!
Photo: A March Brown adult (courtesy The Missoulian Angler Fly Shop [Les Korcala])
Upcoming Meetings and Events
For a full list of events, click to view the TRRP Calendar.
March 19 – All Day Quarterly TMC Meeting
Virtual Only
Click here to join the meeting
Meeting ID: 254 819 589 844
Passcode: UY3b6cv9
Mar. 26, 6pm – Science on Tap
Trinity County Brewing Company
This month’s Science on Tap features a presentation from Zac Reinstein, Fisheries Biologist with the Yurok Tribe, who will present: “Coho Salmon Supplementation in Trinity River Tributaries.”
Zac is a Fisheries Biologist for the Trinity River Division of the Yurok Tribe. He holds a B.S. in Environmental Natural Resources, Conservation Biology from Clemson University. Zac previously served with the AmeriCorps Watershed Stewards Program and worked with California Sea Grant’s Russian River Salmon and Steelhead Monitoring Program from 2015 to 2022.
Mar. 29, 10am – Invasive Weed Pull
Junction City Campground
Join the Trinity River Restoration Program, Hoopa Tribal Fisheries, Trinity County Resource Conservation District and Bureau of Land Management in our effort to eliminate invasive Scotch and Spanish broom. This effort helps create space for native plants and prevents the spread of these noxious invasive weeds in our watershed. Volunteers are encouraged to wear suitable outdoor clothing and bring their own reusable water bottles. Water, snacks, tools, and gloves will be provided.
Apr. 10 – 5:30 to 7pm, North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board Public Workshop
Trinity County Brewing Company
North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board staff plan to hold a public workshop to present information on the continuation of regulating the Bureau of Reclamation, Trinity River Restoration Program – Channel Rehabilitation for Remaining Phase 1 and Phase 2 Sites (Project) pursuant to Section 401 of the Clean Water Act (33 USC 1341) and Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act authority. Information on how to comment on the draft Water Quality Certification during the 45-day comment period will be available.
Contact Us
Call Us: 530-623-1800 Email Us: info@trrp.net