Let it flow, a personal favorite Elvin Bishop song, is just exactly what is currently happening down the Trinity River. The Bureau of Reclamation and State water officials allocated a four day 11, 000cfs. water release down the Trinity River with hopes of restoring salmon-steelhead habitats. Years of restricted flows from Trinity-Lewiston Dams have drastically impacted salmon-steelhead spawning, rearing and holding habitats. The high flows are intended to mimic wild pre-dam river actions. It is anticipated the dynamics will scour river bottoms, eliminate sediment loads and loosen gravels that will help to recreate a wild alluvial system. Will it work? Time will tell.

Not since the flood waters of 1997 has the Trinity River received flows of this nature. Even though the 11000cfs. peak flows are short term anglers will have to wait quite a while before wetting a line. High flows are scheduled to last through early July. 3,000cfs. through May and slowly ramping down; becoming fishable at about 1500cfs in early July. As flows recede it will be exciting to see the impacts of the high flows. Many were aware of the scheduled 11000cfs. flows for the 2011 water year. However, to see the river’s hydraulics at 11, 000cfs. up close and personal is astonishing. To those who have never witnessed high flows down the Trinity River or believes the Trinity originates at Lewiston Dam—this pictorial is for you…

Salmon-Trinity Alps—53 high mtn. lakes, 1,600 miles of streams— the source	Trinity lake-145 miles of shoreline — 4th. Largest water impoundment in the state.
Trinity Dam/Power House in 1st. gear-11000cfs. into Lewiston lake.
	11,000cfs. release—Surf’s Up… Max. release is 28,000cfs.- shake-rattle-roll!
Lewiston Lake narrows and at 11000cfs. revealing a hint of pre-dam flows.	Lower Lewiston and at 11000cfs. still fishable!
Lewiston Dam releasing 11000cfs. into Trinity River.	Trinity “Fly Only “Waters.
TRRP doing what they do best-dozing & filling in vital adult staging/holding waters.	Diversion pool barely recognizable.
Upper Bridge Pool (Hey there are still trees growing along the river-don’t tell TRRP.)	Rarity at Steel Bridge—no trailers.
True meaning of “river front” property	H20 under the bridge—Heads up, No heads down– Zero clearance!
River hydraulics working over the famed Exhibition Run.

If you believe 11,000cfs. is a lot of water… 1964- after the completion of Trinity Dam engineers projected it would take 5 years to fill Trinity lake. That same year Trinity Lake filled to one (1) skinny inch from toppling over the earthen dam. The draft report stated, “thank God the Lord shut the spigot off just in time.” 1997-Trinity Lake was 93% full with a max. release of 28,000cfs. Peak inflows registered 82,000cfs… Do the math. Never under estimate the powers of Ma nature!