Guest Editorial: McCloud Relicensing

From California Trout, Trout Unlimited, the Northern California Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers, and the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance

For over a century, the McCloud River has been a world-renowned fishing destination, known for its overwhelming beauty and as the historic home of rainbow trout now transplanted around the globe. The river has been transformed over the years with the construction of Shasta Dam in 1945 and the loss of salmon and steelhead.

In 1965, PG&E’s new McCloud Dam began the diversion of 80 percent of the McCloud’s spring-fed base flows to the Pit River. This led to the extirpation of bull trout in the McCloud, the southernmost population of bull trout in North America. Yet through all these changes, the beauty and wild-trout fishery continue to draw anglers from around the world. More than 90 percent of the visitors to the McCloud River come to fish for its outstanding rainbow and brown trout.

The McCloud Dam, James B. Black Powerhouse on the Pit River, and Pit Hydro Projects 6 and 7 are up for relicensing by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The relicensing process provides an opportunity to assess current conditions and enhance the river’s habitat.

California Trout, Trout Unlimited, the Northern California Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers, and the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance believe that the McCloud River and its wild trout are robust, and these organizations are working to protect the special attributes of the McCloud. We are recommending flows that preserve and enhance the existing conditions that make the McCloud such a special place.

While some believe the McCloud should be left exactly as is, we think it is possible to improve conditions for the fish. In particular, spring flows should more closely mirror natural circumstances, and flows immediately below the dam should do more to protect rainbow trout when spawning. Under the current license, PG&E has dual compliance points for flows at the base of the dam and at Ah-Di-Na Campground. Minimum flows from the dam are 40 cubic feet per second, and farther downstream at Ah-Di-Na, the minimum flows are approximately 200 cubic feet per second. During the summer months, the flows from the dam are typically around 200 cubic feet per second to meet the minimum flows at Ah-Di-Na. However, in the early spring months, Hawkins Creek, a significant tributary 1.2 miles below the dam, is flowing high enough to meet the minimum flow needs at Ah-Di-Na. This allows PG&E to drop flows in the critical spawning habitat below the dam to 40 cubic feet per second during the rainbow trout spawning period from late February through April. Additionally, in years when McCloud Dam spills in the spring, flows can change at extreme up-ramp and down-ramp rates. Both of these current practices can dewater redds and subject newly emerged fry to low and often highly fluctuating flows, leaving them vulnerable to stranding.

We can do better. We believe it is possible to establish a sound flow regime with-out compromising wading access or fishability. On the contrary, we think it is possible to enhance the overall fishing experience.

Finally, we want to make it clear that there is currently no discussion of summertime peaking flows for whitewater interests on the McCloud River, and we don’t think there should be. None of the conservation groups, none of the resource agencies, and no advocates from whitewater organizations think that special summer flows on the McCloud for whitewater recreation is a good idea.

Richard Anderson