Increased flows on lower McCloud River bringing rising water levels

Flows on the lower McCloud River are expected to surge in May and Pacific Gas & Electric Co. officials are urging caution.

PG&E spokesman Paul Moreno said flows may be be about a foot-and-a-half higher as the winter snowmelt increases and the utility performs planned maintenance on the James B. Black Powerhouse.

Officials anticipate the McCloud Dam will start spilling over on Monday night, which is expected to increase flows in the lower McCloud River from 900 cubic feet to 1,000 cubic feet per second. Flows in the lower McCloud this time of year are usually about 450 cfs.

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“Those recreating in or near the river are urged to use extra caution during the increased flows,” Moreno said in a news release.

Moreno said one of two generators is operating at the James B. Black Powerhouse, which means less water than usual is being diverted from the McCloud Reservoir to the Iron Canyon Reservoir and then to the powerhouse on the Pit River near the rural town of Bend.

This will cause the McCloud Reservoir to fill up and make excess water cascade into the dam’s spillway and into the lower McCloud River, which stretches from the McCloud Dam to Lake Shasta, Moreno said.

Moreno said the powerhouse should be back in service May 31. Once the facility's back online, PG&E will gradually reduce flows to the seasonal norm, around 200 cfs from the dam, Moreno said.

Click here to see the flow data on the McCloud River.