Current releases from Lewiston Dam to the Trinity River are 300 cubic feet per second (cfs). Releases will be increased on Monday, April 28, 2003, ramping up to 4,500 cfs by Friday, May 2, 2003. The 4,500 cfs release will be maintained for 5 days and then gradually decrease over a 2-month period. The daily release schedule is available online at the Central Valley Operations Office (CVO) website at: www.mp.usbr.gov/cvo/.

The Trinity River Mainstem Fishery Restoration Record of Decision (ROD), signed December 19, 2000, would have increased flows down the Trinity River by 25 to 48 percent of the average annual inflow to Trinity Reservoir depending on the water year classification. The current water year has been classified as "wet" based on reservoir inflow and runoff forecasts from the California Department of Water Resources.

In December 2002, Judge Wanger capped annual releases at "dry" water year volumes pending completion of the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. On April 7, 2003, Judge Wanger denied a request by the Hoopa Valley Tribe and Yurok Tribe to allow for "normal" water year volumes (647,000 acre-feet) to be released from Lewiston Dam reaffirming that only "dry" water year volumes (453,000 acre-feet) be released this year. However, Judge Wanger ruled that Reclamation could release up to 50,000 acre-feet down the Trinity River if needed to avoid fish mortality similar to last year's die-off in September. The 50,000 acre-feet would be in addition to the 453,000 acre-feet annual flow currently in place.

For additional information or to obtain a copy of the new flow schedule for the Trinity River, please call Jeffrey McCracken in the Public Affairs Office at 916-978-5100, TDD 916-978-5608. You may also contact Tom Patton at CVO at 916-979-2185, TDD 916-979-2183.