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Dose anyone have information on what is going on with the river.
Level is 2' lower than previous years and much of the vegetation
is now gone on long stretches, leaving many barren areas.
I always thought this natural spring feed river was not subject
to much water level fluctuations.
Steve
I sure wish I could get some answers on this.
Could be geophysical we have had some earth quakes
further down south area.
Spoke with a friend who has been in the Fall River area all his
life and can not remember the water this low...
I am curious , and just don't like to see this river system under stress
as it is.
Steve
Don't have an answer for you, but give the Fly Shop in Redding a call.
Done that to no avail... Need experts here..Quote:
Originally Posted by TyroneFly
I know we have them..
I spent a number of years living nearby and guiding Fall River, the level fluctuates somewhat (not as much as a normal river) - but it's normal for Opening Day to lack any weed cover.
The water is very cold and sunlight is needed to trigger growth. The long grassy beds will grow until August - then they start tearing out and great gouts of weed flow down the river.
This time of year it should look like a desert, complete with sand dunes.
Two feet low sounds like a lot to me, I don't remember seeing the water drop that much while I lived there.
I've seen Fall River when it's a lot higher than normal, but only a little lower than normal. If I'm not mistaken, Bear Creek adds to the level of the Fall during snow melt and that can be a lot at times.
Cheers,
MontanaMoose
I just spoke with a friend of mine who called a fisheries biologist from that area. This is the email that I got back from him.
"I spoke with my buddy who lives about 5 miles from upper Fall River in the town of MacArthur and he said the river may be down a titch (6") but he didn't notice or hear it was down two feet. The area has been in draught for about 4-5 years so it wouldn't be surprising that it was down somewhat. Also, he said it's possible, though he can't verify, that levels may be low toward the lake because of the ag drawdown this time of year near Pit One powerhouse. Aquatic weed growth doesn't happen until a little later in the year. That's when the fishin' picks up due to an increase in insect activity."
That's all I could find out.
Dean
That's my old stompin' grounds.. I grew up just over the hill in Lookout, Modoc
County.... Hence the nickname I got years ago when I was trappin coyotes...
Fall river is mostly spring fed, and the water fluctuates very little. Yes Bear creek does feed into it, and when it is in flood, it may raise things a bit. I have seen Fall River about 6" to 1' low at times but very seldom. There have been very dry conditions in the last few years, but this winter has been pretty good for snowfall, and spring meltoff may have some effect. Like was already mentioned, this time of year vegetation is mostly died off from winter, and streamside vegetation will be very sparse. I found it like that most every year at opening day time. PG&E manages the flow out of Lake Britton, which is just below Fall River's inflow into the Pit River. If thay draw the lake down, which they sometimes do, due to Hydro generation demands, that can affect the level of the Pit river arm of the lake, and the Hat Creek and Fall river levels posibly as well. I spoke to my brother-in-law, who lives at Cassel, a bit south on Hat Creek. He sees Hat Creek, the Pit river, and Fall River every day on his way to and from work, and he doesen't think the river's down much at all.
He said he was recently fishing the Pit, and it's a little high and muddy. The guys at The Shasta Angler fly shop in McArthur work with several local guides on Fall River...
A call to those guys might tell you more. Far as I've been able to find out, the river might be a little low, but not 2 feet. Otherwise the vegetation issue seems pretty normal for the season. I'll be down there Memorial Day weekend fishin both the Pit and Fallriver with my Bro. I'll have a good report then:)...............ModocDan
By the way, in recent drought years, Bear creek's flow in summer and fall has been very low, even dry in some stretches for a time in late summer............................