The schedule for this years flushing flow cycles has been set and will begin on March 22. Flows were postponed from the target date of March 14th to accommodate a bridge construction project.
In recent years flows were increased for 5 days each spring and occasionally repeated for another 5 days in the fall. However, the fall flush has been problematic in that it dislodges aquatic vegetation and moves it downstream, causing loss of vegetative cover and invertebrates in upstream reaches of the river. A 10-day flush in the spring may be better able to maintain high quality spawning habitat for trout.
There has been some concerns on the time of the year that this will occur along with how it will effect the fishing as well. We assume that the fishing could be tough the first few days but by this middle of the flush the fishing should pick up as usual. Here is the time and dates for the flushing flows.
Mar 22nd 00:01 to Mar 31st 23:59:
10 days of flushing flows begin on March 22nd.
HOURS GRAY REEF OUTFLOWS (cfs)
00:01 to 01:00 a.m. 500
01:00 to 03:00 a.m. 2000
03:00 to 06:30 a.m. 4000
06:30 to 08:00 a.m. 3000
08:00 to 09:00 a.m. 2000
09:00 to 10:00 a.m. 1000
10:00 to midnight 500
This schedule will be repeated daily on March 23 through March 31, 2013. After completing the flushing flow on March 31, 2013, the flows below Gray Reef Dam will return to 500 cfs.
Apr 1st at 00:01: Maintain Gray Reef release at 500 cfs until further notice.
If anyone has any further questions about the flush, please give us a call at the shop. (307) 234-6905