With low flows and low to mid 90 ambient temperatures current release plan is grossly inadequte. Without any water, natural or through a release, water tempatures are skyrocketing quickly to very high levels.

Hancock will likely reach at least 73 today and temps over next couple could easily push toward the 76 and 77 degree mark. Worse yet temps will be warm at night not allowing for much of a break.

This is all very very sudden leaving the fish little time to find relief particulary on the upper mainstem. Temps at Lordville already pushing toward the mid 70's as I write this.

What needs to happen? WE MUST HAVE A THERMAL RELIEF TRIGGER (I'm pretty sure this was ended with the the new flow agreement). There needs to be a trigger for more release during hot spells like this one to at least cool the entire WBD down to 70 to 72 degrees at Junction.

Current releases are inadequate and should be boosted to at least the levels suggested last year in the alternative proposal.

Finally... I'd like to see the ability for a group concerned with the fishery to be able to tweak the valvle up or down from the set releases. Bring back the idea of a thermal bank but let those concerned with the fishery play with it. (e.g. cut flows by 50 CFS from set flow rates, bank the water for the fishery and then be able to use the water at times like today and the next several but at the command of someone watching out for the system). This could be down around set flows according to the plan. It requires no additionial water from the resevior!

Once again I do like in concept the new plan which makes water available depending upon the levels in the resevoir but set releases are clearly inadequate and there needs to be some safegaurds for the fishery for situations like what we are seeing today and over the next couple of days. A thermal trigger and/or a bank established and managed by those concerned with the fishery would make a huge difference.

Any thoughts?

I did just look again at the new forecast for Hancock and it looks like upper 80s to lower 90s with some chance of showers or storms. Lets hope for clouds and rain.

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