River Riffle Newsletter – June26

Kids explore the riparian area during the River Days event held in May at the Junction City Campground river access. [TRRP/Kiana Abel]

Current Conditions

Fish Health

The Klamath Fish Health Assessment Team (KFHAT) hold regular meetings throughout the summer months to assess Klamath Basin Fish Health.

Determinations are currently favorable for most of the Klamath and Trinity basin. However, the Upper Mid Klamath is experiencing high percentages of juvenile fish mortality (likely related to C. shasta and other pathogens) – FWS C. shasta Update Report (June 1).

Fish in the lower Klamath and Trinity River are healthy with some juvenile catch showing signs of copepods in the Lower Trinity.

Photo: Screenshot of the KFHAT map which presents the readiness level for the Klamath Basin. Click here to read the 2026 reports.

image

Flow

The last scheduled pulse for Water Year 2026 (peak 1400 cfs) began Saturday, June 13 and held through Monday June 15. After, June 15, an incremental decrease until baseflow of 450 cfs, which will be reached on Friday, July 3.

Trinity Reservoir Conditions

Trinity Reservoir is at 85% capacity. Snowpack for the 2026 water year was below average and reports indicate that the Central Valley Project will rely more heavily on stored water through the spring and summer, including from Trinity Reservoir.

Monitoring

The Junction City Weir, located just upriver of the Evan’s Bar boat launch was installed on June 1, and began monitoring for adult salmonids beginning June 2. The purpose of the weir is to provide run-size estimates for adult salmonids and to monitor fish health by trapping, counting and performing fish health assessments.

River recreationists be aware that the boat gate is closed from dusk until dawn Monday through Friday and open on the weekends.

The weir is run collaboratively by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Hoopa Valley and Yurok Tribes with funding from the Bureau of Reclamation. The installation of the weir and day to day operations are collaboratively handled by CDFW & Hoopa Valley Tribal Fisheries. The Yurok Tribal Fisheries Department collaboratively operates the the Coho natural origin brood stock collection, which begins in October.

Program Update

Summer Art Contest

We’ve created “how to paint a salmon” templates for kids and adults for your summer break. Download the coho, chinook, steelhead and/or sturgeon instructions below. Once complete submit a photo of your artwork to info@trrp.net. Entries may be turned into a sticker or magnet!

How to Paint a Coho

How to Paint a Steelhead

How to Paint a Chinook

How to Paint a Green Sturgeon

Trinity River Watershed

Foothill Yellow-Legged Frog (Rana boylii )

The foothill yellow-legged frog is a native amphibian who inhabits the fast‑moving, snowmelt‑fed rivers of the Trinity Watershed. With their rock‑mimicking camouflage, underwater vocalizations, and remarkable ability to anchor themselves beneath rushing currents, these “river specialists” showcase evolutionary traits found in no other North American frog.

Click to Read

Photo: Foothill Yellow-legged Frog [Applied River Sciences/Don Ashton]

Upcoming Meetings and Events

For a full list of events, click to view the TRRP Calendar.


Aerial image of the restoration area.

June 22 – Fall 2026 | Sawmill Gravel Processing Site Channel Rehabilitation Project

Lewiston, Ca. – Rehabilitation to improve rearing habitat for young salmon and steelhead will begin June 22. Work includes reshaping floodplain surfaces, addressing the long-term processing area and, staging material for future restoration efforts. Neighbors may notice temporary truck traffic and construction noise during work hours. Disturbances will be limited to active construction periods, Mon.– Fri., 7a.m. to 7p.m. Dates: June through mid-October. Please contact us with any questions: (530) 623-1800

Trinity River Community Survey

UC Berkeley School of Environmental Science, Policy and Management

The Trinity River Community Survey will close in about a week! The survey is a watershed-wide study exploring local perspectives on the Trinity River. The survey aims to understand what Trinity County residents and visitors value about the river, how river restoration interacts with local communities, and what people hope for the future of the Trinity River and its water.

Link to Survey

TMC Partnership Ring

June 17 & 18 | All Day Quarterly TMC Meeting

In Person: Eureka, Ca.

Join the meeting now

Meeting ID: 277 024 568 305 01

Passcode: BR7yK7Lj

Download Teams | Find a local number

Reading, Listening, Watching

On Oregon’s McKenzie River, an unprecedented approach to restoration takes shape

High Country News | By Jaclyn Moyer | Jun. 8, 2026

A bold process aims to repair the damaged watershed. Continue Reading…

Image: Images of Quartz Creek made in 2026 show the Stage 0 project restoration. Sarah Koenigsberg/High Country News

Rising odds of a strong-to-historic El Niño event in 2026, with growing likelihood of significant regional-to-global scale impacts

Weather West | By Daniel Swain | Jun. 11, 2026

What is El Niño and how can it affect global weather patterns? Continue Reading…

Image: Schematic diagram depicting the large-scale atmospheric effects of El Niño and La Niña. The diagram shows how El Niño shifts the primary region of deep tropical thunderstorm activity well eastward across the basin, which is the primary mechanism through which it alters global weather patterns. (Image via the NOAA Climate.gov)

Klamath River Recovery Is Underway, But the River Still Needs Time, Water, and Healing

Karuk Tribe | Press Release | Jun. 16, 2026

Juvenile Salmon Disease Problem Highlights that Recovery Will Take Time. Continue Reading…

Image: Great Seal of the Karuk Tribe


Contact Us

Call Us: 530-623-1800 Email Us: info@trrp.net