The following is a joint statement of position on instream flows.
CalTrout, the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance (CSPA) and Trout Unlimited (TU) are continually in negotiations with hydropower interests on instream flow issues. In these negotiations, CalTrout, CSPA and TU collectively seek stream flows that mimic a river's natural processes. These natural flows that fluctuate seasonally establish the best conditions for supporting the long-term health of a fishery. This is in contrast to unnatural flows that are artificially kept from fluctuating by hydropower projects. Seasonal flows normally include high flows in the spring but do not include unnaturally high flows in the summer.
The following is a background on the collective TU, CalTrout and CSPA position on instream flows.
Unatural Systems
Healthy fisheries require healthy river flows. In California, however, healthy flows are hard to find. Hydropower dams have interrupted the natural flows of almost every major river system in the state. The resulting unnatural flows have caused much destruction to many of the state's once premier trout, salmon and steelhead waters.
"The inhabitants of rivers - fish, plants, bugs, other wildlife - have adapted to a physical environment that evolved over millions of years," says Chuck Bonham of Trout Unlimited. "Dams, in a variety of ways, disrupt the flow of sediment and water, the very foundation of a river, severely impacting the health of the habitat."
RESTORING SEASONAL FLOWS
In Hydropower negotiations, TU, CalTrout and CSPA seek seasonal or 'dynamic' flows that are patterned after natural processes, while taking into account that in most situations the rivers systems have been greatly altered for many years by hydropower projects.
Seasonal flows change over the course of the year. They include minimum flows in the late summer months and winter and spring pulse flows that are beneficial and necessary for the long-term health of a river.
"For trout, potential benefits of season flows include more water, cooler temperatures, more food, increased spawning and better habitat. For anglers, the benefit is more fish and healthier fish populations in the long run," said Curtis Knight, CalTrout's Northeast Conservation Manager.
As an angler, some aspects of a dynamic, natural river may cause concern. Anglers often look for stable flows that assure good drifts, feeding fish and easy wading. However, many anglers are coming to recognize that a fixed and stable, year-round stream is counter-productive for a healthy fishery in the long term.
"Seasonal flows create a more diverse river system and provide the foundation for long-term river recovery, which supports a healthy fishery and the potential for great angling," said Dick Galland, owner of Clearwater House on Hat Creek, a fly-fishing lodge, school and guide service.
In many cases, returning natural flows to California's rivers means eliminating diversions and side channels that remove water flow from the main river channel.
"Most of the state's hydro projects were licensed more than thirty years ago with very few constraints on how they would be run," said John Beuttler of CSPA. "Many of the hydro projects in California are designed to divert most of the summer flow out of the river channel, leaving hundreds of miles of river with less than 5% of historic summer flow. The first step in restoring a river is restoring a portion of these depleted summer flows. Restoring summer flows reduces water temperature, increases insect production, deepens pools and provides better habitat for wild fish."
Reestablishing high winter and spring flows are also important. Winter and spring flows cleanse spawning gravels. If spawning gravels are not renewed, eggs and young fish cannot survive.
"Supporting natural, seasonal flows does not mean that we seek high flows for other reasons, such as recreational boating, even though a healthy, dynamic river system's spring flows often provide opportunities for whitewater enthusiasts," said Curtis Knight. "The bottom line is that natural, seasonal flows are best for the fish in the long run, and that's what we seek."
Dam Relicensing - A Golden Restoration Opportunity
Some 51 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) licenses, representing 150 dams throughout California, will be up for renewal in the next fifteen years. This renewal cycle offers an unprecedented opportunity for Californians to ensure the best flows are implemented for specific rivers.
"Fifty years ago our knowledge of how river systems worked was limited," said Curtis Knight. "Fifty years ago we had yet to place a man on the moon. Similarly, we did not fully understand river systems and could not begin to predict the impact dams would have on river systems and the fish. The dam re-licensing process gives us the opportunity to establish flow studies that will help us determine the best flows for a fishery and to secure long-term flow agreements based on the findings of those studies."
The Need To Collaborate
Dam re-licensing negotiations are difficult, complex, and can take years. They are often dominated by hydro industry influence. Close cooperation between angling interests, recreational groups, and environmental organizations is required to secure positive results for rivers.
"The hydro re-licensing process is stacked in favor of the project operators," state Dick Galland. "The only way we can begin to restore rivers that are degraded by these projects is to work together with other conservation organizations to strengthen our voice."
The California Hydropower Reform Coalition (CHRC) was formed in 1997 to restore and enhance rivers throughout California that have been degraded by hydropower dams. Its steering committee includes CalTrout, CSPA, TU, Friends of the River, the Foothills Conservancy, American Rivers, American Whitewater, Natural Heritage Institute and California Outdoors.
"The central theme of all of the members of the CHRC," noted Steve Wald, Coordinator for the CHRC, "is restoring rivers. All of our members put the river first, recreation second."
Pit River Dam Re-licensing
The Pit River is a popular trout fishing stream where flows are a hot topic. The Pit River, like many of the state's rivers and streams, is going through the hydropower re-licensing process.
Recently, Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) conducted test releases as part of the ongoing dam re-licensing process for the Pit 3, 4 and 5 reaches. PG&E raised flows incrementally as part of a series of studies to collect information on fish habitat, water temperatures, spawning gravel, and stream insects. Many anglers question the purpose of test flows on the Pit River; specifically, whether they will provide any benefit, and at what cost.
The Pit River dam re-licensing process is entering its final stages, and studies are continuing. In May, PG&E incrementally increased stream flows from 150 cubic-feet per second (cfs) to 1200 cfs. In August, PG&E will again increase flows. Both of these activities are designed to support a host of studies including determining how fish habitat and temperature changes with flow discharge, how increasing flows affects stream inhabitants, and how spawning gravel moves through the system. CalTrout, CSPA and TU support these test flows because we must collect as much information as possible in order to make informed decisions about flows in the Pit River for the next 30 - 50 years. The next hydro license issued for the Pit 3, 4, 5 Project will extend into our children's and grandchildren's lifetime. The information we seek to obtain will be vital for ensuring that the best river management choices are for them are made today.
Regarding high flows in the summer months on the Pit River, CalTrout, CSPA, TU and American Whitewater have collectively provided written comments to FERC and PG&E stating that we "do no propose or support recreational boating flows that inconsistent with a 'normative' hydrograph" (i.e. natural flows). We are unaware of any group advocating for high flows past June on the Pit River - a historically stable flow period.
Ongoing Dialog
CSPA, CalTrout and TU continue to seek input from anglers and others who are familiar with the rivers that are up for re-licensing. The information they provide is very important for the development of a strategic approach. To this end we are seeking invitations to speak to fishing clubs to further discuss these issues or to provide further stream flow information. We also welcome input and feedback. Please contact any of the following individuals for information:
Curtis Knight, CalTrout, 530-926-3755, caknight@jps.net
John Beuttler, CSPA, 510-526-4049, JBeuttler@aol.com
Chuck Bohnam, Trout Unlimited, 510-528-4164, cbonham@tu.org
Steve Wald, CHRC, 510-664-2900 x 105, swald@calhrc.org
