Document text
SUNNY Temp: 67 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Wednesday, June 18, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend May 19, 2003 A sunny day on the Rogue River draws drift boats and bank anglers sunday two miles downstream from Lost Creek Lake. Officials say river flows should be consistent all summer, unlike the up-and-down fluctuations that marked the past five dry years. Mail Tribune / Andrew Mariman Enough water for all Plentiful April showers were wet enough that 2003 could bring the first "normal" summer in five years — good news for migrating fish and those who catch them By MARK FREEMAN Mail Tribune A very cool and very wet April helped fill Lost Creek and Applegate lakes and create what could be the first "normal" water summer in five years. The two reservoirs now house enough water that neither is expected to drop below its targeted minimum water level. Biologists predict stable flows in the Rogue River and no summer die-off of migrating Rogue salmon as can happen in drought years. If the summer plays out as predicted, it will be the first time since 1998 that both U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoirs will follow their summer water-release plan as originally scripted. "We certainly haven’t done that in a while," said Jim Buck, who manages the two reservoirs for the Corps. "After that wet, wet April, things have changed dramatically." Advertisement The change should be welcome to the creatures that live in the Rogue as well as those who take advantage of its fishing and rafting opportunities. The full water complement should keep lower Rogue temperatures cool enough to protect migrating spring and fall chinook without regularly raising and lowering dam releases to save every drop of stored water possible. "We have enough water this year that we don’t have to use any real intensive management strategies," said Mike Evenson, a fish biologist with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. "Fishermen appreciate a more constant flow without changes occurring daily." The water-release plans for both reservoirs are detailed in proposals issued by the ODFW to the Corps, which operates the facilities. The Corps will hold public meetings Wednesday in Medford and Thursday in Gold Beach to present its strategy and gather public comment. The Wednesday meeting will be in Room A of the Rogue Regency Inn, 2345 Crater Lake Highway, Medford. The Thursday meeting will be at the Gold Beach City Council Chambers, 29592 Ellensburg Ave., Gold Beach. Both begin at 7 p.m. The Corps each spring sets its summer water-release schedules for the two reservoirs, relying on recommendations from the ODFW, the state Water Resources Department and other agencies. But the ODFW recommendations carry heavy weight because enhancing salmon and steelhead runs are the projects’ top summer priorities. The ODFW proposal calls for distributing most of Lost Creek Lake’s roughly 180,000 acre-feet of water first to ensure the Rogue flows are high and cool enough for spring chinook migrating upstream now into July. The next priority is to provide the same protection for fall chinook during July and August. The ODFW proposes to spend 78,000 acre-feet of water for spring chinook protection, then 72,000 acre-feet of water for fall chinook protection. The releases would be relatively constant, not the daily yo-yo releases of drought years, when fish managers have less water to work with, Evenson said. "There’s not the urgency to conserve water like the past two years," he said. But even the best-made plans could go out the window if the region experiences a long hot spell that threatens to warm the Rogue to the high 60s — a level unsafe for migrating salmon. Every cool and damp May day offers added insurance that water flows will be fine this summer, however. "Every cool day helps stretch that water out," Buck said. Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 776-4470, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times