Huffman Statement on Increased Flows From Trinity Lake in Response to Possible Fish Kill
WASHINGTON—Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) today released the following statement after the Bureau of Reclamation increased water flows on the Trinity River in response to a possible fish kill:
“I am pleased that the Bureau of Reclamation responded quickly to the infectious outbreak of ‘Ich’ in salmon on the lower Klamath River documented by the tribes and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,” Rep. Huffman said. “That said, there is very little cold water left in Trinity Lake after several years of poor management that saw millions of gallons flow south to the Central Valley, depleting the reservoir. This unbalanced management has worsened the effects of an already record drought.”
Rep. Huffman also pointed out that BOR initially hesitated in August to release water from Trinity Lake – and to release water for the Yurok Tribe’s ceremonial boat dance from the Upper Klamath River – until pressured by the tribes and his office. That’s despite a legal authority to release up to 50,000 acre feet at the request of Humboldt County, an authority Interior has refused to assert even after multiple years of crisis.
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