The drought balancing act continues on June 24 in Sacramento when the State Water Resources Control Board will hold a workshop on maintaining water temperatures in the Sacramento River on behalf of the winter-run Chinook Salmon.
Thomas Howard, Executive Director of the State Water Resources Control Board, announced the workshop in a June 16 letter to David Murillo, Regional Director of the Bureau of Reclamation.
Howard temporarily suspended provisional approval of the Bureau of Reclamation’s draft temperature management plan on May 29. He said that until a new plan is approved by him, “Keswick releases should optimize temperatures for winter-run Chinook salmon using real-time decision-making. Specifically, Reclamation shall maintain Keswick Reservoir base releases of 7,250 cfs, and target 57°F at Clear Creek, not to exceed 58°F, until further notice. Reclamation shall also convene real time meetings if it appears that projected temperatures will exceed 58 degrees, or as needed, but at least weekly, with the fisheries agencies, DWR, and State Water Board staff to determine what actions are most advisable to maintain temperature control and conserve cold water resources in Shasta Reservoir for temperature control this season.”
The workshop is open to the public.
