This is the stream my grandfather fished,and where I caught my first steelhead. Drought,pumping of the aquafirs ,and 2 dams along with a myriad of other issues have plagued this poor river for over a century,it's fish are hard fighting and average 10 pounds and fish in the high teens have historically spawned here.
I remember reading a study that 20,000 fish historically ran up this river. Not sure as to the accuracy of that but when grandpa fished it the limit was 3 and he said it was no problem getting a limit . At one point they had 28 adult steelhead return to the river .
As of this year fish have already been spotted spawning above the old dam site,water that had been blocked off for over a century. It's awesome.

Beyond cool!

Awesome!

Good to see Robert!

You guys had some pretty good el nino storms earlier this year, how did that engineered section hold up to the high water? I would think mother nature is gonna do what she wants after some point.

It's holding up just fine. We need way more rain. It's like 80 degrees today

There is an interesting aspect of dam removal that will be talked about in the AFS meeting in Reno in March. Removal of a specific dam will open up lots of miles of stream. But, the dam provides enhanced summer flows and cooler water. Removal of the dam will open more miles of stream but have less water and it will be warmer. Be interesting to hear what they say.

Any hint as to which dam/or basin, Carcassman?

Some dams like up on the Klamath I would think HEAT the river more? Larger storage ones like Shasta would make sense for cooling the river below.

Take care,

I think this one is in the Monterey Bay area. I see if the abstract names it. They already took out one lower in the system and it really helped.

Lust look at all the tailwater fisheries for trout. Same concept.

Also, look at how many dams up here are now providing "spawning and rearing flows" in summer and fall. But, if less water is coming in than is going out the dam is actually enhancing the flow downstream and removal of that dam will actually lower the flows in summer/fall.

It is at least food for thought for the thinkers.