On Wednesday, Dec. 6 the Trinity Management Council decision was NO Decision. The TMC is made up of 4 Federal Agencies, 2 Tribal Representatives and 1 County Government (TAMWG Chairperson) for seven (7) votes. Because the Secretary of Interior is a Federal Government Agency the 4 Federal Government Agencies abstained from voting for a letter to the Secretary of Interior in support of Re-Instating TAMWG. Therefore there was a No Vote. This means that NO letter for Local Stake Holders will be sent for Re-Instatement of TAMWG. Any local input for Trinity River Restoration projects will be heard at the public comment period of TMC meetings. According to Roberts Rules of Order that would mean NO Action can be taken there by eliminating any input for restoration projects. If this is going to be the way Trinity River Restoration Projects are going to be done from now on I would recommend that the TRRP be disbanded and ALL restoration projects cease for the good of the river and that ALL Restoration funds be put towards restoring the watersheds and restoring the streams that feed the Trinity to allow Coho and steelhead fisheries to improve. This would cause the disbandment of the TMC and allow stakeholders a voice for which the monies would be used for. 

Emails can be sent to the Secretary of Interior at exsec@ios.doi.gov.

With no rain in the immediate future, fishing will be difficult and not many fish are going to be coming into the Klamath-Trinity River system at this time. You can bet that at the first rains there will be an immediate change to that! Both rivers are clearing up very well but the flows will be lowering to the extent that several low flow river closures will be coming. We are into the winter steelhead time of year and everyone will be chomping at the bit to get out there and hook a few nice big winter steelhead. (Me too)

The latest news I received is that the Fish and Game Commission felt a delay in the implementation of the new leader regulations might best be decided after the first of the year. Let’s hope so!

Trinity River Hatchery: For the week ending Dec. 2 ; Fall Run Chinook salmon , jacks 121, adults 409, total 530, season total 5,524, Coho salmon, jacks 16, adults 75, total 91, season total 334; steelhead 324, season total 610. 

Klamath Iron Gate: For Nov. 19; Bogus Creek, Chinook season total 2,010; Scott River Nov. 15, Chinook salmon 0, season total 2,255, Coho 329; Shasta River Oct. 21, Chinook salmon season total 2,295. These are the last counts I have received. 

Fishing: The Lower Trinity has cleared up with visibility of about 2ft. Fishing is still slow due to the lack of fishermen but that is good for the few of us that are out there plying the waters with our favorite bait, plug or spinners. There are a few nice adults moving up the river and if you are in the right location you will get a fantastic hookup. It is cold in the early mornings so it does no good to be out there at first light but as the sun starts to show over the mountains and hit the water you will be able to fish without freezing. Up River fishing for small adults is good in the Junction City area but further up you will run into more drift boats and rafts. More and more hatchery adults are heading for the hatchery as you can see by the counts so I would imagine that fishing closer to the hatchery waters would be a better bet for some great action. 

Mid-Klamath: Iron Gate Dam is releasing 1,002cfs today. This is a decrease over last week and should provide some very clear waters above I-5. The Seiad Valley (1,750cfs in Happy Camp) is seeing lower flows which will make fishing a bit harder. More rain would be a great help.  

Lake Conditions: Whiskeytown is 98% of capacity with inflows of 265cfs and releasing 217cfs into Clear Creek and to Keswick. Shasta is 71% (no increase of 0% and 0ft) with inflows of 4,390cfs and releasing 4,080cfs, Keswick is 89% of capacity (a decrease of 1%) with inflows of 4,153cfs and releasing 4,432cfs; Oroville Lake is 36%  capacity (no  increase of 0% & plus 01ft), inflow is 3,222cfs and releases are 3,203 cfs; Folsom Lake is 62% of capacity (minus 1% & minus 1ft.) inflows are 2,933cfs and releases are 3,638cfs. 

Trinity Lake: The Lake is 47ft below the overflow (increase of 1ft) and 72% of capacity (0% increase) Inflow to Trinity Lake is 416cfs and Trinity Dam is releasing 718cfs to Lewiston Lake with 437cfs going to Whiskeytown Lake and on to the Keswick Power Plant and it is releasing  4,432cfs to the Sacramento River. 

Trinity River Flows and Conditions: Lewiston Dam releases are 281cfs with water temps of 42.5 and air is 40 degrees at 2:00pm today. Limekiln Gulch is 4.7ft at 327cfs, water temps of 45.2 degrees.  Douglas City is 6.2ft at 338cfs, water temps of 43, air is 41. Junction City is 1.6ft at 370cfs.  Helena is 8.6ft at 427cfs with water temps of 42.3. 

Cedar Flat is 3ft at6739cfs. Willow Creek is estimated at 1,008cfs air is 44 and water at 45. Hoopa is 12.8ft at 1,605fs with water temps of 42.6.  Flows at the mouth of the Trinity River at Klamath River are estimated to be 5,270cfs.

Klamath: Iron Gate Dam releases are 1,002cfs.  Seiad Valley is 2.9ft at 1,750fs. Happy Camp is estimated at 1,922fs, Salmon River is 2.8ft at 825cfs, Somes Bar is estimated at 2,040cfs and Orleans is 4.4ft. at 3,665cfs and the Klamath River at Terwer Creek is 10.3ft at 7,529cfs, with water temperatures of 43.1 degrees. Flows at Smith River, Dr. Fine Bridge are 7.2ft at 1,940cfs. 
Temperatures in the Valley last week were 48/34 degrees with 0.10in of rain with a season total of 17.6in of rain and 0.0in of snow. The temperatures for next week are expected to be 65/34 degrees with clouds the first part of the week then a little bit of sunshine then back to scattered showers for the weekend.

Websites: MyOutdoorBuddy.com, Willowcreekchamber.com,
from Willow Creek, CA Phone 530-629-3554, E-mail yen2fish@yahoo.com