Mike Wier Video Showcases the “New” Pit River
After CalTrout helped force the rewatering of the Pit River Powerhouse #3 stretch in 1986, one of California’s best — and toughest — fisheries was born.
Pit River California – CalTrout from California Trout on Vimeo.
Renowned for its difficult access and exhausting wading, the Pit River’s PG&E-owned hydroelectric facilities recently came up for a FERC relicensing, which resulted in new (and higher) flows. Studies showed higher flows were needed to protect trout from too-high summer temperatures on Pit #4 and #5 reaches, though unfortunately, flows on Pit #3 ended up higher than we recommended.
Recently, a group of CalTrout staff visited Pit #3, #4 and #5 to survey the new flows, in part to inform the ongoing “adaptive management” process we insisted be part of the FERC relicensing. In effect, adaptive management allows for flows to be revisited if the best available science tells us the relicensing goals aren’t being met (including recreational use).
Clearly, the Pit River is not easy to wade or fish (it never has been), though equally clearly it’s filled with trout. CalTrout is continuing to work on this issue.
Shot by noted fly fishing filmmaker Mike E. Wier, this video is part documentary, part science, part fish porn, and all Pit River.
More On The Pit River
- The facts about the Pit River relicensing process (and the new flows)
- PG&E adds new flow gage to Pit River #3
- To see longtime fly fishing guide Art Teter’s take on the “new” Pit River, click here
