Warm Flows Imperil Feather River Salmon Run

August 15, 2005
By Dan Bacher

More Editorials By Dan Bacher

(Oroville) Normally king salmon fishing is excellent for bank anglers and boaters on the Feather River this time of year. But the action this year has been so poor because of warm water temperatures that many experienced fishing guides are canceling their fishing trips on the Feather and going elsewhere.

"The river water temperature below the Afterbay Outlet is 72 to 74 degrees," said Hardy Dunn, fishing guide. "The fall run won't enter the Feather if the warm water conditions don't cool down."

Anglers are concerned that the water temperatures are a result of the hydrology of the river being designed to further the needs of agribusiness at the expense of fish. The water is warmed up in the afterbay, since the rice farmers prefer the warmer water for irrigation purposes, according to Rene Villanueva of Steelie Dan's Guide Service.

Current releases to the Feather River are 600 cfs. in the low flow area below Oroville Dam and 2900 cfs below the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet, a combined release of 3500 cfs. Anglers are hoping for more cold water to be released from the dam through the low flow area to cool water temperatures down.

"I've cancelled my trips on the Feather River because the fishing is so slow," said Villanueva. "This is the worst ever season for salmon I've ever spent on the Feather since 1992, when I started guiding there. The rice growers have control of the water and this is hurting the fish."

Kevin Brock, fishing guide, found a dead salmon, apparently with gill rot (columnaris), on the bank of the Feather River outside of Oroville last week. "The water temperature has been above 70 degrees all week below the outlet hole," he said. "The fish was showing the start of gill rot."

Neither Ryan Broddrick, Director of the Department of Fish and Game, and Sonke Mastrup, the Deputy Director, were available for comment at press time. However, they were investigating the matter.