Water
Year 2025 - 90% chance of normal or wetterWater
Year 25 thus far has been a good year for Trinity Reservoir. In October, Trinity measured in at 70% full with 1.7 million acre feet. Seasonal storms have recently pushed storage over 2 million acre feet (or 84%). In December, flows were held steady at 1500
cfs through January and increased to 3500 cfs after several atmospheric river systems passed through in early February.
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Snow
SurveysEach
year, the Watershed
Research and Training Center along with the U.S. Forest Service
– Shasta-Trinity National Forest conduct monthly snow surveys at specific locations in the Trinity Alps which are a part of the statewide California Cooperative Snow Survey program. The data from these local organizations help the California Department of
Water Resources in developing the forecast for the quantity of water available for our watershed each water year.
Click
here to read more about collecting this important yearly data.
California
Department of Fish and Wildlife Steelhead Report Card DashboardThe
California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) tracks steelhead angler effort and success through a reporting program. This reporting program consists of a mandatory report card that all steelhead anglers need to have in their possession while fishing.
Anglers record each day that they fish, where they fish, how many fish they catch, and whether those fish are from a hatchery (determined by the lack of an adipose fin, which is removed by hatchery staff before the fish is released) or were spawned in the
wild (determined by the presence of an adipose fin). Continue
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Benthic
Macro Invertebrate MonitoringPartners
of the Trinity River Restoration Program, USGS, and Cal Poly Humboldt are partnering to complete the largest benthic macroinvertebrate monitoring project on the Trinity River. This will be the most comprehensive sampling to date, including sampling biweekly
during the winter and spring months and monthly during the summer and fall months. Samples
will be collected in several different habitats including in the perennial channel and in newly inundated floodplains across the Trinity River. A graduate student from Cal Poly Humboldt will be processing and identifying all the samples collected as part of
their graduate work. The
goal of this project is to provide baseline data across the entire year as well as investigate how scour and inundation events affect the benthic macroinvertebrate communities. This project is one of the many that are designed to better inform flow management
on the Trinity River. Photo:
Ken Lindke (CDFW) and Keiki Yamasaki (Yurok Tribe) collecting benthic macroinvertebrates with a kick net. [Chris Laskodi, Yurok Tribe]
On the heels of the incredible WY 2023 and with an outlook for a strong El
Niño, many expected another banner year of precipitation. What happened instead was fairly... average.
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The
California Nevada River Forecast Center (CNRFC) is a field
office of the National Weather Service (NWS) located in Sacramento, California. The NWS is an agency of the National Oceanic Atmospheric and Administration (NOAA) under the United States Department of Commerce.
Program Update
Trinity
River Watershed Restoration Environmental AssessmentPublic
Comment Period: Spring 2025 The
Trinity River Restoration Program is working with the Bureau of Land Management - Redding Field Office and the US Forest Service - Shasta-Trinity National Forest to help increase restoration projects within Trinity River tributaries. The Watershed Environmental
A will cover projects related to;
instream habitat restoration
upslope habitat restoration
road maintenance, rehabilitation, and decommissioning activities
This Environmental Assessment will be available to organizations who wish to implement restorative projects on Bureau of Land Management and US Forest Service lands and TRRP-funded work on private land within the Trinity Watershed as well as for projects that
are funded by those agencies.
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Featured Article
The
Language of SedimentRivers
are dynamic ecosystems shaped by multiple interacting and overlapping physical and biological processes. A fundamental aspect of a river’s ecology is sediment, which is the foundational underpinnings of habitats, influence for water quality, and support for
wildlife. In this article, we explore terminology and features of Trinity River sediments, the building blocks of our river system.
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Trinity River Watershed Animal Spotlight
Bug
of the month: ChironomidsYou
may notice a distinct absence of bugs flying above the river during these winter months. However, if you look closely, you'll find an active colony of tiny midges buzzing on the surface. These midges, despite their small size, are extremely important to the
ecology of the Trinity River. Midges belong to the ‘true flies’ (order Diptera) and are related to other flies such as houseflies, craneflies, and mosquitoes.
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Chironomids are especially important to the ecology of the Trinity River because they are a major food source for juvenile salmonids and other native species.
Photo:
Newly inundated floodplain habitat with a Chironomid ‘bloom’. Each one of the tube-like structures are cases that Chironomids construct out of fine sediments. [Chris Laskodi]
Upcoming Meetings and Events
For a full list of events, click to view the
TRRP
Calendar.
Feb.
1 - Feb. 22Trinity
County RCD - Trinity River Photo Contest The
Trinity County Resource Conservation District and the Trinity River Restoration program invite you to submit your best photos of the Trinity River by Feb. 22 to Duncan McIntosh at TCRCD. Entries can be sent via email, mail, or dropped off at the TCRCD office.
Event Details
Local Shasta College instructor and birding aficionado Pat Frost will lead two special Birding Days in February. Join us for a fun-filled and educational outdoor adventure (weather permitting—events will be canceled if it’s raining or snowing).
Be an early bird to access our limited supply of binoculars and bird guides. Bringing your own is encouraged. Light refreshments will be provided.
For more information or to register for updates on weather cancellations, contact Duncan at the Trinity County RCD at 530-623-6004 x 222 or dmci...@tcrcd.net.
Feb.
26, 6pm - Science on TapTrinity
County Brewing Company This
month’s Science on Tap features a presentation from Todd Buxton, Ph.D., Hydrologist and Geomorphologist with the Trinity River Restoration Program on Trinity River fine sediments. Fine sediment such as sand and silt, play a critical role in river ecosystems.
Too much can harm aquatic life while too little disrupts physical processes, ultimately impacting fish populations. Dr.
Todd Buxton is an expert in sediment transport, streamflow, and river ecology, with extensive experience in the Western U.S., Alaska, New York, and Costa Rica. He holds a B.S. in Watershed Analysis and Restoration, an M.S. in Watershed Management from Humboldt
State University, and a Ph.D. in Water Resources from the University of Idaho. Event
Details
Mar.
1, Marti Gras Parade De SalmonUpNorthConfectionary&TheWeavervilleHotel,
2pm - 4pm Get
your masks and beads ready! The Krewe of Koho Reaux invites you to the Mardi Gras Parade de Salmon in Weaverville on Saturday, March 1st, starting at 2pm. Celebrate
the carnival season and salmon sightings with the Trinity County Resource Conservation District and Trinity Arts Council at an educational and crafting event at the Up North Confectionary’s Deck and the Weaverville Hotel. At
4:00 PM, the sidewalk parade begins at Up North Deck, winding through downtown to symbolize the salmon’s journey from river to ocean and back. Local businesses and artists will be along the parade route, so be sure to check out their offerings after the parade!
Mar.
1, Open HouseWeaverville
Hotel, 2pm - 7pm
Join us at our annual Open House! Participate in the Parade De Salmon from 2-4pm with arts, crafts, activities plus a parade which starts at the Up North Confectionary. Hop on over to the Weaverville hotel to vote on your favorite Trinity River photo submission,
meet program scientists and staff, learn about the Golden Mussel - a new invasive species threat to California waterways, and look to see if you can identify a juvenile salmon's favorite food. We'll have snacks and drinks. We hope to see you Saturday, March
1!
Water
Year 2025 - 90% chance of normal or wetter
Snow
Surveys
California
Department of Fish and Wildlife Steelhead Report Card Dashboard
Benthic
Macro Invertebrate Monitoring
Bug
of the month: Chironomids
Feb.
1 - Feb. 22
Feb.
15-16, Trinity County Birding Days
Feb.
26, 6pm - Science on Tap
March
19 & 20 - All Day - Quarterly TMC Meeting