Feather River hatchery in peril, spillway failure, 20-21 salmon seasons with it?

This article is troubling, looks like a developing story:

http://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/water-and-drought/article131743014.html

"At the fish hatchery just below the dam – one of a handful the state counts on to sustain its $1.4 billion commercial and recreational fishing industries – 4 million salmon were being trucked to holding ponds adjacent to the nearby Thermalito complex, a system of downstream reservoirs. Those ponds would be safe from the cloudy water conditions, said Morse.

That represents just half the baby fish at the hatchery. Morse said the Thermalito facility can’t accommodate all the fish at risk, so more than 4 million will remain in the hatchery while filtration experts try to devise a solution.

Each year the Feather River Hatchery releases 7 million baby salmon into the Central Valley’s waterways. Last March, state officials estimated that fish raised in the Feather River accounted for 63 percent and 76 percent of the state’s recreational and commercial ocean catches, respectively.

“The loss of hatchery-produced salmon from Feather River Hatchery would be a major blow to salmon fishermen in California,” said John McManus, executive director of the Golden Gate Salmon Association.

At the hatchery Thursday, workers waded waist-deep through concrete holding ponds filled with water the color of chocolate milk. They used screens to push baby fish toward tanker trucks that would transport them a few miles southwest to Thermalito."

Does anyone have any better information as to what is going on?

That sounds dire. I am very pessimistic.

Why are they even susceptible to cloudy water conditions?  I mean, what happens to the wild salmon smolts in the river during these events?  Or is it because they are crowded in these conditions?  If so, then just flush them into the river and let them fend for themselves.

-Allen

Geez ! First there is not enough water. Now there is too much !!   

Alex

... let them fend for themselves.

-Allen

They are worried about the "Turbidity".

Turbidity is the cloudiness or haziness of a fluid caused by large numbers of individual particles that are generally invisible to the naked eye, similar to smoke in air. The measurement of turbidity is a key test of water quality.

At least that is what I heard from the News conference they had today.

I'm curious what affect all this erosion is going to have on the Diversion Pool.  Rumor has it, there are, or were some nice fish in there.

The sac bee is reporting the use of the emergency spillway as "likely".

http://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/water-and-drought/article131743014.html

It could happen as early as tonight.  There is also a map in that link with the locations of the different structures, but not much new news about salmon.  Brett, what was the general mood at the press conference?  Is it resignation?  Why isn't this a bigger story?  It's a massive infrastructure failure that is going to cost hundreds of millions of dollars in repairs and lost economic opportunity.

The sac bee is reporting the use of the emergency spillway as "likely".

http://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/water-and-drought/article131743014.html

It could happen as early as tonight.  There is also a map in that link with the locations of the different structures, but not much new news about salmon.  Brett, what was the general mood at the press conference?  Is it resignation?  Why isn't this a bigger story?  It's a massive infrastructure failure that is going to cost hundreds of millions of dollars in repairs and lost economic opportunity.

The emergency spillway will happen tonight or tomorrow.  7ft from the top as of now.

Not much has been said around here in regards to the fish, because the focus has been placed on the status of the spillway and what to expect with the emergency spillway.  The local press conferences have been reserved.  They say there is no concern with the dam itself and they expect more damage to spillway.  Their big concern with the outflows on the spillway is any erosion that undercuts and works it's way back up under the spillway, but with the natural bedrock under the spillway they haven't seen much evidence of that.  Now, with the emergency spillway, which is basically down a hillside to the west of the main spillway, the concern is with the trees and vegetation that would be eroded into the diversion pool and down.  It could cause havoc for the bridges and smaller diversion dams downstream.  They say everything will be just fine, but that they have never had to use the emergency spillway before.  So, they're not sure what the outcome could be.  In the meantime, they have cancelled all the Oroville schools for today and have some of the residents on evacuation alert just in case.

As of 9am, the lake is at 895', 6 feet from the top. 

Here's some pictures taken with the last hour.  Pictures from our local reporters FB page.

Here is one from the otherside.  The dam is to the left of the tower, and the spillway is off to the right of the tower.



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It sounds like they say it may not be needed.

It sounds like they say it may not be needed.

I hope not.  Who said that Victor? 

I just heard from a coworker his dad who owns a rock truck was just called in to lay rock at the emergency spillway and he lives in Yuba County.

It sounds like they say it may not be needed.

I hope not.  Who said that Victor? 

I just heard from a coworker his dad who owns a rock truck was just called in to lay rock at the emergency spillway and he lives in Yuba County.

From the latest news reports, when I googled it. They may still prep just in case. You guys probably know more up there.

Why are they even susceptible to cloudy water conditions?  I mean, what happens to the wild salmon smolts in the river during these events?  Or is it because they are crowded in these conditions?  If so, then just flush them into the river and let them fend for themselves.

-Allen

Now you sound like Trump...