Krunching Klamath . . . A Numbers Game in Progress

Phil V. ^ | September 9, 2001 | Phil V.

[AuntB]

UN Flag?? Is this your hometown? People have totally lost their collective freaking minds.

[G-Rated]

Thank you for pursuing this.

[G-Rated]

"First, they came for the loggers...then, they came for the farmers..."

Powerful statement.

[Aquamarine]

No, not my hometown about an hour away in a small town. She also said that her ex husband is working for the World Police overseas in I think Romania. They pay him $100,000.00 a year (tax free) he works 2 weeks then hes off for 2 weeks which he spends in Greece. What a life, where do they get that kind of money to pay those guys? Is it from the American taxpayers?

[okie01]

So, if it's not the Trinity...and, according to Marsh2, the Scott's dry...and the Shasta amounts to a trickle...the 8000 cfs is coming out of minor tributaries (including the Salmon)...or Iron Gate. Where else could it come from?

However, according to this link, River Stages at Hornbrook, the current release at Iron Gate amounts to about 1025 cfs.

[christie]

I've gone to several local reservoirs to check out the water levels. It's easy to find the capacity, but not as easy to figure out currect level. Inflow and outflow data is available, but is there a place to find current percentage of capacity?

They are starting to talk about drought in a big way in central California; but then why are they depleting the reservoirs; several freepers think it's to run the hydro to help the energy crisis.

Here's my review:

8/31/01: Lake Berryessa: down about 24 ft from overflow; Putah Creek very high; hydro plant running; Lake Berryessa built with withstand 7 years of drought.

9/1/01: Klamath Lake: said to be down four feet; looks full.

9/2/01: Lake Shasta: looks to be about 60 feet down; very low, but many say this is typical. What is seasonal norm? Sacramento River very full and has been all summer.

9/7/01: Lake Berryessa: went back to take pictures, and was surprised to find water level had risen about 8 ft. in less than a week. Went to California Dept of Water Resources Web site BER data and data is missing from 9/2 on.

9/7/01: Folsom Lake: looks to be down to about 30% of capacity; down about 20 feet, and 100+ feet of shoreline in some places.

My very unscientific review; but seems water is being manipulated.

I have pictures if anyone can post them.

[Phil V.]

But the large flows have the earmark of a water release. Prior to Norton's release the trend at the mouth of the Klamath was below the 63 year median trend. Minor tributaries do not have stored water on them that can be dumped. The minor tributaries have pretty much emptied themselves of last winter's precip. Weather has been dry - no rain - no flash flooding. This is stored water reaching the ocean.

The gauge(s) is(are) out of calibration?

Reports from people on site say flows "Look big".

[hubel458]

We think that the measuring device at Irongate is located were it only measures from spillway and amount from turbine isn't counted.We are sure the Power co knows what goes through their tubes.Eyewitness at intake of turbine at Link River says water is going in at 15 mph.The tube is 13 ft dia. Means at least 3000cfs there.Plus what is over the spillway.The farmers are surveying levels and flows to get the truth.A person living down from Irongate posted that normally at this time of year she could ride her horse across, but now it is raging like in winter when it rains. Ed Hubel

[Yellow Rose of Texas]

Excellent!

[Phil V.]

Berryessa!

We'll be there next weekend playing on the water. I've looked at the trends on Berryessa and the elevation and flows have been remarkably consistent.

I'll check the others that you're interested.

[headsonpikes]

Stop Rural Cleansing Now!

[hubel458]

Phil-When you look at the chart you posted; the one with the climbing information that was stopped: Does it seem to you that the water was held back because it was needed for later in summer???I just noticed that if the figures we have was put on the rest of the graph (To update it) that the amount of area in the space where the early spring/summer flow is below norm is about the same as the area of the graph of the late summer to now.The spring/early summer time frame is longer, but area is about the same.Looks as if it was planned.I should have noticed quicker.And they did not want any more than nessessary sent to farmers; to make sure that the manipulation would work. Gave farmers a little to try to stop the backlash.Right before the rise started is when the deal was made for power.Does the graph look that way to you.Ed Hubel

[okie01]

Phil, here is another link that might be helpful -- hourly river flows as reported by the National Weather Service. Click on the Turwar Creek graph link for a complete picture.

NOAA Hydrology, Eureka

To summarize, current flow data by station:

Klamath River:
1025 cfs at Iron Gate
1073 cfs at Seiad Valley
1348 cfs at Orleans (just after junction with the Salmon and above junction with the Trinity)

Trinity River:
454 cfs at Lewiston
436 cfs at Douglas City
622 cfs at Hoopa (near where it joins the Klamath)

Klamath + Trinity Rivers:
8333 cfs at Turwar Creek (which is near the mouth, I assume)

So, somewhere between Hoopa and the coast, the Klamath+Trinity system gains over 6,000 cfs of flow. It's not a tidal effect, because the flow has been maintained between 8300-8800 cfs for the past 24 hours.

I've no explanation...

[marsh2]

I read some where that the sand spit opening from the estuary to the ocean was weirdly blocked this year. Could it be some sort of backup?

[Phil V.]

Ed, here's how I plot out the DOWR, California data. . . .

---

Either the gauge is screwed up (I don't think so - updates every 15 min. in smooth up and down increments) or someone is making sudden releases. These spikes are not tidal effects - at least not totally. Tidal effects would be noticed on a daily cycle.

ANYONE???!!!

[christie]

ping

[christie]

I've looked at the trends on Berryessa and the elevation and flows have been remarkably consistent.

I'm just curious about the period between 8/31 and 9/6 where the water level increased about 8 feet. Was water released into the Lake for Labor Day weekend and where did it come from.

Have fun on the Lake. Lots of water now. Grandpa Dave says the fishing is usually good at Putah Creek, but the water levels have been too high this year, and he had a friend stranded in the middle at high water.

[FReethesheeples]

BUMP!

[Phil V.]

Check my chart. As for marsh2's sandbar theory. . .

If that is the cause then the sandbar suddenly started effecting the gauge very suddenly. Perhaps the initial "Indian Release" blew a bunch of sedement into the "delta"? Is there a "Klamath delta"?