Lower American River going up to 3,500 cfs

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Project: Nimbus Dam

Please make the following release changes to the American River:

Date Time From (cfs) To (cfs)

12/11/2016 1200 1,250 2,400
12/11/2016 1300 2,400 3,500

Comment: Storage management/flood control

Issued by: R. Field

[Terry Thomas]

When I saw them pulling the grates this morning, I knew this was coming!

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Might bring some big fresh winter Steelhead into our river.....?

[cdevine]

Might bring some big fresh winter Steelhead into our river.....?

I'm going to get out there this week but I haven't spent a lot of time to the AR in the last 2 years due to the drought. Just curious about wading and 3000+ CFS. It was 1240 for awhile which is easy but wanted to get some feedback on these type of flows. Hoping some chrome comes up as well.

[STEELIES/26c3]

Nimbus spill gates open today for generator maintenance. Unfortunately it will spread out the trash left by the gear fisherman in the corral.(combat zone)

'Gear guys' aren't the problem per se...
Long liners are.
Granted, in the basin, most gear guys are flossers/liners/and snaggers...
Some gear guys, like my friends and I, either use artificial lures or a float or bait with a 12"-16" (inch) leader. I rarely break off anything and when I do, it is usually just a spoon or a small single egg hook.
Down at Sailor Bar after January, many fly guys will be using and breaking off long, multi-fly leaders on snagged fish...

[Sheepdog8404]

Any ideas how long they might keep the river at 3500?

[Terry Thomas]

If it rains as much as they have forcast, don't be surprised to see it go even higher. We have this discussion EVERY year. Folsom is a flood control reservoir and it is their mandate to keep it no higher than 60% of capacity. What we really need is a good snow pack.

[STEELIES/26c3]

yep, what Terry said... Lots of rain and full reservoirs are good but as far as drought reduction... that requires SNOWPACK.
We are BEHIND annual average in snow pack so far this year.

The rain we get Thursday will necessitate doubling if not tripling the flows out of Nimbus Dam but the many sunny days after suggest flows on the AR will come back down sooner than later.

Here is what the lower AR looks like this week:

Date / Time


REL SCH



12/11/2016 12:00
2400 cfs



12/11/2016 13:00
3500 cfs



12/13/2016 09:00
4500 cfs



12/13/2016 10:00
6000 cfs



12/14/2016 09:00
7000 cfs



12/14/2016 10:00
8000 cfs

[cdevine]

yep, what Terry said... Lots of rain and full reservoirs are good but as far as drought reduction... that requires SNOWPACK.
We are BEHIND annual average in snow pack so far this year.

The rain we get Thursday will necessitate doubling if not tripling the flows out of Nimbus Dam but the many sunny days after suggest flows on the AR will come back down sooner than later.

Here is what the lower AR looks like this week:

Date / Time


REL SCH



12/11/2016 12:00
2400 cfs



12/11/2016 13:00
3500 cfs



12/13/2016 09:00
4500 cfs



12/13/2016 10:00
6000 cfs



12/14/2016 09:00
7000 cfs



12/14/2016 10:00
8000 cfs





Thanks for the updates. You nailed it. Already up to 4500 as of 930am today. At those levels I doubt I will be out there this week. But it should push some nice chrome up.