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SINCE YOU ASKED Since You Asked: Lost Creek Lake water releases tracked down the Rogue by time MailTribune.com Writer Posted Aug. 18, 2015 @ 12:01 am Posted Aug. 18, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Most of us Rogue River fishermen have been following the water-release strategy this summer of Lost Creek Lake water to help migrating chinook salmon during the low and hot water period in the Wild Rogue Canyon. Most of us get it that the changes are necessary to help the fish, but the pulse of water that comes down when the releases are turned up can put salmon and steelhead off the bite. My question is, how long does it take for the released water to wind its way down the river? — D.D., Medford This is a question that often comes toward the Since You Asked Central desk in mid-August when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers increases releases from Lost Creek Lake to aid migrating fall chinook salmon. The releases come at the request of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, which requests flows based on fish needs — a main summer priority based on the federal law that created the Corps' Rogue Basin Project. The latest increase in flows came Sunday night in preparation for another heat wave that is expected to bring 106-degree temperatures to Medford. At the ODFW's request, the Corps at 10 p.m. Sunday increased the flows from 1,750 cubic feet per second to 1,850 cfs, according to the Corps. Based on the Corps' water manual, it takes about four hours for the increased releases to travel the 18.4 miles to reach Dodge Bridge, the first water gauge downstream from the reservoir. It takes about two more hours to traverse the 12.6 miles to reach the gauge just downstream below the old Gold Ray Dam site. The next gauge is at Grants Pass, and the little pulse of extra water needs about four hours to travel the 23 miles between those gauges, according to the Corps. The last Rogue gauge is at Agness about 27 river miles east of Gold Beach. It takes about 20 more hours to cover the 76 miles from Grants Pass to Agness, according to the Corps. So, to travel from Lost Creek Lake to Agness takes about 30 hours, so water released at 10 p.m. Sunday should have reached Agness at 4 a.m. today. Pete Samarin, an ODFW fish biologist who helped craft the flow regime, says he prefers to see the increases occur when anglers, driftboaters and rafters are off the water. That's why the 10 p.m. release time is chosen, Samarin says. Send questions to “Since You Asked,” Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected]. To see a collection of columns, go to mailtribune.com/youasked. We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Aug. 18, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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