H&N's Staff Writer
July 16, 2008
A fish
study will be changing the Link
River flows this summer.
The Bureau
of Reclamation will study different
release strategies to reduce
entrainment of endangered suckers at
the Link River Dam beginning July
21.
The Bureau
of Reclamation will make surface
releases from the surface of Upper
Klamath Lake, which differs from the
current bottom release through the
dam.
Suckers are
normally bottom dwellers, according
to the bureau, and the study will
evaluate if fewer suckers get caught
in the dam with a different release
method.
To conduct
the 10 -week study, altering spill
conditions at the dam are key.
The
“ramp-down” period — during which
flows will drop from more than 1,000
cubic feet per second to the target
flow of 300 cfs — will be from about
4 to 7:30 p.m. Mondays through
Thursdays. Evaluation of the release
and entrainment will be conducted at
night.
The low
flow is to ensure fish traps in use
are able to function properly. The
gradual “rampdown” period is to
mitigate potential stranding of
suckers and native redband trout.
The dam
will release water at 7:30 a.m.
following tests. Flows may reach
more than 2,000 cfs to make up for
lower nighttime flows down river and
provide water for irrigators.