| Water Year 2008 Flow Schedule | |
| Reservoir Levels | |
| Automated Flow Release Notifications | |
| Flow Scheduling Process | |
| Links to Current Conditions and Flood Forecasts | |
| Contact Information | |
Current Flow Schedules and Releases
Water Year 2008 Flow Schedule
On April 7, the State Department of Water Resources (DWR) published rainfall and snowpack information that resulted in a Normal water year designation for the Trinity River Basin. The Trinity Management Council (TMC) unanimously approved a recommended flow schedule on April 11, and forwarded it to the Bureau of Reclamation.
Although there have been concerns about the unusually dry spring, Reclamation’s Central Valley Operations office began to implement the increased flows in late April. In early May, the DWR issued updated information that reflected Dry water year conditions. Following deliberations with the TMC and the Trinity Adaptive Management Working Group and a series of internal discussions, Reclamation concluded that since the Record of Decision for the Program specifies a water year determination based on the April forecast, the recommended flow schedule for a Normal year would continue.
A total of 647,000 acre-feet of water will be released under this schedule, with a peak of 6,175 cubic feet per second occurring in early May.
Water Year 2008 Release Schedule from Lewiston Dam to the Trinity River as Recommended by the Trinity Management Council on April 11, 2008
From date:
|
To date:
|
Flow Release
(cfs) per day |
10/1/2007 |
10/15/2007 |
450 |
10/16/2007 |
4/22/2008 |
300 |
4/23/2008 |
750 |
|
4/24/2008 |
5/2/2008 |
1,200 |
5/3/2008 |
2,500 |
|
5/4/2008 |
2,500 |
|
5/5/2008 |
4,000 |
|
5/6/2008 |
5/13/2008 |
6,175 |
5/14/2008 |
5,450 |
|
5/15/2008 |
4,950 |
|
5/16/2008 |
4,450 |
|
5/17/2008 |
5/21/2008 |
4,000 |
5/22/2008 |
3,857 |
|
5/23/2008 |
3,717 |
|
5/24/2008 |
3,583 |
|
5/25/2008 |
3,453 |
|
5/26/2008 |
3,328 |
|
5/27/2008 |
3,208 |
|
5/28/2008 |
3,092 |
|
5/29/2008 |
2,980 |
|
5/30/2008 |
2,872 |
|
5/31/2008 |
2,768 |
|
6/1/2008 |
2,668 |
|
6/2/2008 |
2,572 |
|
6/3/2008 |
2,479 |
|
6/4/2008 |
2,389 |
|
6/5/2008 |
2,303 |
|
6/6/2008 |
2,219 |
|
6/7/2008 |
2,139 |
|
6/8/2008 |
2,062 |
|
6/9/2008 |
7/9/2008 |
2,000 |
7/10/2008 |
1,750 |
|
7/11/2008 |
1,500 |
|
7/12/2008 |
1,250 |
|
7/13/2008 |
1,000 |
|
7/14/2008 |
700 |
|
7/25/2008 |
700 |
|
7/26/2008 |
675 |
|
7/27/2008 |
600 |
|
7/28/2008 |
550 |
|
7/29/2008 |
500 |
|
7/30/2008 |
9/30/2008 |
450 |
Reservoir Levels (with boat ramp heights)
Automated Flow Release Notifications
Scheduled release changes at Lewiston for the Trinity River can also be obtained by calling the "River Release Recording" phone number. The phone message is updated daily, but only with the current release and any "scheduled" changes. "Scheduled" changes are those officially transmitted by Central Valley Operations, and therefore, occur usually only a couple of days to several hours before changes are made, depending on the circumstances. The recording lists the Keswick release for the Sacramento River first, so those interested in Trinity River releases need to wait for the Trinity portion of the recording. The phone number is (530) 246-7594.
Or, if you prefer to be directly contacted when release changes at Lewiston Dam are scheduled, you may sign up for automated notifications via email or phone.
Automated notification via email:
Automated notification via Telephone:
Call the Bureau of Reclamation at (530) 275-1554 and request to be placed on the automated release notification system for the Trinity River.
Flow Scheduling Process
There are three basic types of flow releases to the Trinity River: 1) ROD Flow Releases for River Restoration; 2) Safety of Dams; 3) Other. The flow scheduling process varies for each type of flow release as described below.
ROD Flow Releases for River Restoration
Based on preliminary water year forecasts in February and March, technical representatives of the Trinity River Restoration Program and program partners develop flow release recommendations to meet various restoration objectives and management targets listed in Chapter 8 of the Trinity River Flow Evaluation Final Report [PDF - 10mb]. Deliberations start with the daily flow release schedules recommended in the ROD (see figure below) that may be adapted to meet specific restoration needs for the current year. The flow recommendations are then presented to the Trinity Adaptive Management Working Group and the Trinity Management Council (TMC) in late March or early April for consideration. The flow release recommendation approved by the TMC is then forwarded to theBureau of Reclamation which has the final authority over dam releases.
"Safety of Dams" Flow Releases
During the winter, the Bureau of Reclamation maintains lower levels in Trinity Reservoir to provide a buffer in the event of an extremely large winter storm. The quantity of that buffer is based on several factors, and primarily references many years of hydrologic record for the basin. Maintaining storage space is a very important aspect of flood control operations, and is fundamental in protecting areas downstream of Trinity Dam, as well as the dam itself. As winter storms fill Trinity Reservoir, the Bureau of Reclamation may need to increase releases to maintain the lower lake levels. Because these elevated winter releases help protect the dam, they are commonly called "Safety of Dams releases" and may or may not occur in conjunction with actual winter storms. These releases are made independently from the ROD releases for river restoration.
Safety of Dams releases are scheduled by the Bureau of Reclamation in response to storm events and typically have no more advance warning than a few days. The Bureau of Reclamation uses a combination of increased releases to the Trinity River through Lewiston Dam and trans-basin diversions to the Sacramento River through the Clear Creek Tunnel to lower the water level in Trinity Reservoir. Consequently, releases from Trinity Dam to Lewiston Reservoir may be higher than releases from Lewiston Dam to the Trinity River. Safety of Dams releases from Lewiston Dam to the Trinity River are typically no greater than 6,000 cfs, but may go higher if conditions warrant.
Other Flow Releases
The Bureau of Reclamation occasionally makes flow releases from Lewiston Dam to the Trinity River for other purposes such as tribal releases or to mitigate late summer conditions in the lower Klamath River for fish health purposes. The Bureau of Reclamation coordinates these releases with the Trinity River Restoration Program and usually provides several weeks public notice. Such releases are independent from the ROD releases for river restoration.
Links to Current Conditions and Flood Forecasts
Current River Conditions
Real-time streamflow information for all rivers in California (including the Trinity River) can be obtained from either one of the following two websites:
Current Trinity Reservoir Conditions
Current condition at Trinity Lake (inflow, outflow, reservoir storage, and lake level)
Flood Forecasts
The National Weather Service provides rainfall and river flow storm predictions for the Trinity River at Burnt Ranch and the Trinity River at Hoopa. The predictions are updated twice daily.
- Trinity River at Burnt Ranch
- Trinity River at Hoopa
Contact Information
Emergency Contact Telephone Numbers
| Emergency Services | Dial 911 |
| Trinity County Sheriffs Department | (530) 623-2611 |
| Shasta Trinity National Forest (Weaverville) | (530) 623-1760 |
| Shasta Trinity National Forest (Big Bar) | (530) 623-6106 |
| Six Rivers National Forest (Willow Creek) | (707) 441-3673 |
Non-Emergencies
Under non-emergency situations, please contact the Trinity River Restoration Program Office (530) 623-1800 for information about the Trinity River and releases below Lewiston Dam.