Trinity release supposedly going back up.

[JasonB]

Just got an email that the Trinity river will begin to up to 3400cfs starting tomorrow. No word yet on how long this will continue, or how they will ramp down. FYI.
JB

[ycflyfisher]

That's not good. I'm not seeing this to be good news at all. O'Neill's ruling from 2013 basically mandated that these types of flows would only be administered on a reactionary basis on two provisional conditions (generalizing on my part):

1- Density of dead fish becomes significant on the lower river (i.e. we're already seeing the leading edge of a severe fish kill).

2- Significant percentages of fish sampled have exhibited severe ich and columnaris infestation for a SEVEN day period.

There's a significant probability that neither scenario ends with a favorable or acceptable outcome. I'm hoping for the best, but this seems pretty dire to me.

[JasonB]

YC, I suspect you are likely correct, though hopefully things do not pan out quite as bleak as you foresee. I don't know much at all regarding the specific legal mandates for flows up there, but given the situation as a whole I was beyond surprised to see that much water being forecast. Of course, who knows now it could all change in a day or two; crazy these flows are in general: first not enough, and way too warm and low, then a cooler push ramping all the way back down to 450 cfs for two days, then cranking it all the way up to 3400cfs. Those fish have got to be a little confused, I know I sure am :confused:

[ycflyfisher]

Jason,

I'd love to be wrong about this.

Here's a link to the judge's ruling from 2013:

http://earthjustice.org/sites/default/files/files/CourtDecision.WaterReleasestoProtectSalmoninCalifo rniaMoveForward.pdf

A link to the science on the 2002 fish kill:

http://www.yuroktribe.org/departments/fisheries/documents/FINAL2002FISHKILLREPORTYTFP.pdf

And a discussion from last year that a member of the "peanut gallery" here tried to trainwreck:

http://www.kiene.com/forums/showthread.php?31183-update-on-Klamath-Trinity-water-situation

[ycflyfisher]

The Times Standard is now reporting that this event was triggered by sampled fish meeting the 7 day criterion for severe infestation.

[Darian]

After re-reading all of those posts on last years releases/petition for TRO, it seems that something didn't quite go as we thought it might in terms of triggers for initiating releases. That something was the initial decision by the Secretary of Interior to not authorize releases in 2014. Until tribal fisheries and other influential people information was presented to Interior, supplemental releases into the Trinity River were in doubt. Apparently, the information presented to the Secretary provided a chance to make some political points and he elected to go on a walking tour of the lower Klamath to observe dead fish. At any rate, releases were authorized but it must have delayed the releases enough to make it a potential problem for the fish.... :confused:

[cyama]

From the peanut gallery… Here is a link to what is going on. Apparently no fish have died yet, but ich has been found. At least the biologists acted faster than what some had thought. http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2014/09/16/18761706.php

[donkeyhunter007]

Just fished the trinity. Caught several browns up to 5-6 lbs. ALL had THE SAME Lesions/OPEN SORES.....Not a fish biologist but thought that can't be good.
Swinging muddler on a floating line 12' leader.
Lots of salmon rolling didn't hook any steel. Fished around Douglas city.

[ycflyfisher]

The Times Standard reported today that the Karuk tribe submitted samples of 20 fish from the mid Klamath. All 20 were infested and 17 of the 20 were severely infested.