Just when things were looking promising for the 2022 Sacramento River salmon season. We face what looks to be another kick in the n_ts! Expectations are high for Norcal salmon anglers. Expecting a estimated 100,000 more fall run chinooks salmon then last year. Which wasn’t a terrible run by any means. Less then two months after the PFMC (Pacific Fishery Management Council) released there generously estimated run counts for the Sacramento River. A unseen advicary looks to cause this years returning salmon, great despair. Possibly even devastation! This advisary? Lethal Sacramento River water temperatures. The culprit? Bureau Of Reclamation and the State Water Resources Control Board. The issue? Heavily restricted outflow releases from Lake Shasta are causing river water temperatures to spike to lethal levels. For the entirety of the 2022 salmon season on the Sacramento River. In late March 2022 the Bureau Of Reclamation (BOR) drafted a proposal to the State Water Control Board (SWCB). Submitting the draft proposal for water year 2022 (WY2022), in April 2022. Let’s take a look at the ignorance of this proposal.

Currently, as of 5/20/22 the Sacramento River water temperatures at Woodson Bridge in Corning, Ca are hovering around an astonishing 70 degrees. Ten degrees warmer then historical averages, and several degrees above our states maximum temperature threshold of 68 degrees, throughout the entire river system. These river water temperatures are going to get much higher as we move deeper into summer. And this is where the “Plan” fails. As of yet we have had only a handful of days where daytime air temperatures have reached the century mark here in the northern Sacramento Valley. Expect river temps to skyrocket to beyond lethal levels for incoming Fall Run Chinook Salmon. For the endangered Winter Run Chinooks? The ones that have initiated spawning will have zero surviving offspring. The ones that will spawn in the two months to come will be stressed out, fighting parasitic gill rot and face similar lethal water temperatures for the incubation of their young. The Sacramento River Temperature Management Plan (SETMP2022) calls for nothing to be done about this impeding doom. In fact the plan calls for only a single location above the Red Bluff, Ca Diversion Damn where river water temperatures are to be taken, recorded, and managed by the Bureau of Reclamation. Who’s plan proposed a estimation of river temperatures to be around 56 degrees in the deep dark lava pools of the upper Sacramento River. A region we refer to as the “canyon”. The “plan” is strait forward in stating the estimated river temperatures are exactly that. A estimation! Making sure to confirm there is no possible way to ensure a specific temperature threshold with river flow restrictions set at 4,500cfs by the State Water Control Board, after adopting the bureau’s SRTMP proposal. Pretty much leaving the gate wide open for river temperatures to become whatever they may. With no accountability for lethal Sacramento River water temperatures to the federally endangered spawning Winter Run Chinook Salmon. As well as incoming Fall Run Chinook Salmon. Who will migrate over 250 miles through scorching hot and deadly river temperatures on their way to the spawning grounds in the northern Sacramento Valley. Something that the plan lays out for the public to be confused by. In reality there is absolutely no way the agencies estimated 56 degree temperature reading above the RBDD will ever exist. In fact on 5/22/2022 Sacramento River water temperatures just below the Bend, Ca bridge, already hovered in the mid 60’s. Again almost 10 degrees above historic averages. Likely the highest recorded river temperatures in this region since the construction of Shasta Dam. Certainly since the implementation of the “cold water curtain” several decades ago.

The states multiple governing agencies who drafted and adopted the SRTMP, didn’t only climb in bed with each other, and the states largest water districts. They got under the covers and had a full on orgy with each other. Knowingly leaving California’s salmon runs to suffer complete devastation in 2022. Sacramento River flows are historically three times the level they are currently here in Northern California. The canyon region of the Sacramento River which always holds water temperatures in the mid 50’s, giving returning salmon a safe place to reach maturity. At these restricted flows the salmon seeking refuge and safety, will become susceptible to warm water flesh eating bacteria, and fatal gill rot. Suffering a irreplaceable loss of a entire year class of returning salmon. Never before in my quarter century of time spent on the Sacramento River, have I witnessed such temperatures. Not even close to what we are already experiencing in the upper Sacramento River. Little alone what the scorching hot summer temperatures will do to the upper river. Water grasses, several kinds of moss, weed beds, and algae blooms are already taking hold and growing by the day. This will not be the Sacramento River we have all come to know.

Assuming the restricted flows coming from Keswick Dam, in Redding, Ca stay as planned. According to the SRTMP, flows passing the dam will be at or around 53 degrees Fahrenheit. This being the case we have already documented water temperatures at the bottom of the canyon region, at Payne’s Creek to be 65 degrees Fahrenheit. As of the last week in May, 2022. Something you can expect to get much worse as summers daytime temperatures stay around the century mark for the next three months. At the scheduled flow releases of the SRTMP being 4,500cfs, until September 2022 when they will be cut to 4,000cfs. River temperatures will sustain at a deadly level for all Sacramento River salmon species. Even in the upper river’s canyon region. This includes the state and federally listed as “threatened” Spring Run Chinook Salmon. As well as the state and federally listed as “endangered” Winter Run Chinook Salmon. Which since the mid 2000’s have had Sacramento River water releases from Keswick Dam kept at artificially high flows until the last Winter Run Chinook Salmon has been witnessed by state biologists to have vacated its spawning bed. Becoming deceased. This typically happens in mid to late October. Only at this point would the Bureau Of Reclamation be aloud to cut river water flows to what they are currently running at real-time. Typically through the hot summer months the Sacramento River runs at an average flow rate of 9,000-10,000cfs. Roughly double what the SRTMP calls for. Ensuring a one hundred percent mortality for the federally endangered Winter Run Chinook Salmon (for the second year in a row) and for the federally listed Spring Run Chinook Salmon. It can also be assumed (weather depending) that all or any wild (natural) spawning Fall Run Chinook Salmon’s offspring will also meet their demise due to excessive water temperatures brought on by the SRTMP. This being the case, a conspiracist could come to the conclusion that this was a planned attempt to get the Fall Run Chinook Salmon a place on the endangered species list with its Winter and Spring Run Chinook cousins. Freeing up tightly squeezed water allotments to water contractors.

Not to be forgotten is the fact that our Sacramento River salmon were to be protected and secured under the federal courts rule after the completed construction of Shasta Dam. This has not changed by any courts rule since it was initially established . Nor has the fact that the State of California is and will continue to violate its own endangered species act, as well as the federal endangered species act. While carrying out the Sacramento River Temperature Management Plan 2022. Bringing us to the sad conclusion that the mighty dollar can and will buy anything. Money is above the people, and the law. Certainly above our wildlife.

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Mike's Fishing Guide Service for Sacramento River fishing targeting King Salmon, Striped Bass, White Sturgeon, American Shad and Rainbow Trout. The Best Sacramento River Salmon Fishing Guide and Striped Bass Fishing Guide on the Sacramento River.