Due mostly to a vast increase in groundwater pumping since 1977
the Scott River now goes dry even in some non-drought years
Of
even more concern is that, in the last day or two, Yurok fishermen
have reported to the Yurok Tribe and to neighbors that they've
observed a couple of dead adult salmon and numerous dead juvenile
salmon in the Lower Klamath River near Blue Creek. Rising in
wilderness, Blue Creek forms a major cold water refugia for salmonids
and other fish where that cold stream enters the Klamath. If dead adult
salmon are turning up there, it may indicate that cold water refugia
on which Klamath Salmon rely to stay alive in a lethal river have
become less effective.
Along the Scott River, dead juvenile salmon and steelhead have been regularly seen by swimmers and
others since mid-July. KlamBlog editor Felice Pace has personally
observed dead juvenile steelhead recently in the Scott River at Jones Beach.
Where's
the information?
The
Califoirnia Department of Fish and Wildlife, the North Coast Water
Board, US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Yurok and Karuk Tribes and
others collaborate on monitoring fish disease levels and mortality on
the Klamath River. CDFW's “season summary” report on 2013
out-migrant salmon monitoring was issued on July 23rd.
However, this report is not available on the CDFW website or on any
other website as far as KlamBlog can determine. The latest fish
health update from the US Fish and Wildlife Service was issued on
July 22nd.
This too is apparently not available on line.
KlamBlog
has obtained a copy of the most recent fish health report. It
includes the finding that by late June up to 100% of fish in the
reach between the Salmon and Trinity River and 50% of the fish
examined in the Klamath Estuary were found to be diseased. The
scientists doing this work say this level of disease is not abnormal
for the Klamath at this time of year; they're keeping the disease
alert level at “yellow” rather than “red” because, they say,
widespread fish mortality has not yet been detected.
Weekly prevalence of Ceratomyxa shasta infection in juvenile Fall Chinook salmon
captured in the Salmon to Trinity River reach on the Klamath River, June-July 2013
The
current situation then is that scientists are producing information
on the state of fish disease and mortality in the Klamath and its
tributaries but those responsible for getting that information out to
the public are not doing their jobs. Why is information collected
with taxpayer money which the public wants and needs not getting out?
Where are the fish health and mortality updates and weekly press
releases to inform the public?
KlamBlog
believes it is the responsibility of the California Department
of Fish & Wildlife to keep the public informed about disease
and fish mortality on the Klamath River. During times of drought, the agency should
issue weekly media updates on Klamath and tributary fish and water conditions. CDFW insists that it is the top fish
manager in California waters; therefore, they are the ones who
should be getting out the information.
The
KBRA effect
KlamBlog
suspects that the lack of public information on the People's Klamath
River and the People's Klamath Salmon is a product of the culture of
secrecy which has developed in the Klamath River Basin as a
consequence of the KBRA Dam Deal and the KBRA Water Deal. Having
bought into low Klamath River flows, those tribe's and fishing
organizations which signed the KBRA will face embarrassment and
criticism if the public learns that fish are dying for lack of water
while federal irrigators continue to get full – or nearly full –
deliveries. Many of those who would once have been screaming bloody
murder over this are now meekly staying in their seats in the
backroom – or, even worse, shilling for the Bureau of Reclamation
- as more and more salmon die in the Klamath River.
It
is sad that the past defenders of Klamath Salmon have been
compromised and co-opted into silence at a time when Klamath Salmon
need their help so critically.
Meanwhile
on the Trinity
A
major controversy is developing over plans by the US Bureau of
Reclamation to release additional water from behind Trinity Dam down
the Trinity and Lower Klamath in hopes of preventing another massive
adult salmon die-off like what occurred in the Lower River in 2002.
However, Reclamation plans no complementary increase in Klamath River
flows. This has some salmon advocates concerned that Klamath River
salmon will be lured upriver by the increased flows only to encounter
lethal conditions in the Klamath River above the confluence with the
Trinity River. Severely depressed Shasta and Scott River Salmon
stocks could be placed at even greater risk if that is what takes
place.
Meanwhile,
rich and power agricultural interests in the San Joaquin Valley have
filed a letter declaring their intent to sue to prevent Reclamation
from releasing more water down the Trinity River. They want that
water diverted to the Sacramento River instead so that it will come
to them as irrigation water. Ironically, while blocking the increased
flow would hurt Trinity River origin salmon, it may be better for
Klamath, Salmon, Scott and Shasta River Salmon. That is because –
if flows remain low – the large run of salmon will remain longer in the
nearby ocean and Klamath estuary until flows naturally increase with
the coming of fall. Naturally higher flows and lower
temperature in the fall would mean less chance of adult salmon
mortality.
Huge pumps suck Trinity and Sacramento River water from the
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and send it south to San Joaquin growers
Of course a better solution would be for Reclamation to allow more water to flow down BOTH the Trinity and Klamath Rivers. As the holder of high priority water rights, the federal government could - and should - make that decision. Any irrigation deficit within the Klamath Project can be made up by pumping more groundwater. Federal and state taxpayers have already provided these irrigators with plenty of wells and pumps.
Allowing
the Salmon to delay their spawning run, however, would inconvenience
tribal commercial fishing interests and in-river sports fishermen and
guides who count on catching these fish in Klamath and Trinity Rivers beginning now.
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