08/28/2026
📢 Increased Flows Planned for Klamath and Trinity Rivers – Please Exercise Caution While on the Water
At midnight tomorrow, the Bureau of Reclamation will increase water releases at Keno Dam for the Yurok Tribe’s Boat Dance.
Flows at Keno will gradually increase to a peak of around 1,860 cubic feet per second. The increased flows are expected to reach Weitchpec around midday on Sunday, August 30. Peak flows will continue for approximately 14 hours after which they will gradually decrease.
The elevated flows on the Klamath will generally coincide with a separate water release from Lewiston Dam on the Trinity River. The additional flows from the Trinity are anticipated to reach Weitchpec at around 6 a.m. on Sunday. Flows will rise on the Yurok Reservation from 2,260 to 2,800 cubic feet per second, not counting the Boat Dance flows. Overall, the Klamath is expected to experience water levels that are one to two feet higher than current conditions. Trinity River flows may stay elevated for several weeks.
Residents and visitors are strongly encouraged to be vigilant on the water. You can expect colder water temperatures, swifter currents, and decreased visibility and should plan accordingly. Near some habitat construction sites, the river is expected to temporarily become more turbid than is typically observed at this time of year.
Please move parked boats away from the water’s edge before river levels begin to rise.
🛟 Here are helpful river safety tips:
• Assess the river conditions before swimming. If in doubt, stay out of the water.
• Fast-moving currents can be difficult to see. If caught in a current, swim diagonally toward shore rather than directly against it. If this is not possible, turn your feet down current to protect your head and try to stay relaxed until you reach a calmer section of river. Do not actively swim directly against any current.
• Young children and inexperienced swimmers should wear a properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard-approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD). PFD’s improve safety for all river users, even experienced ones.
• Beware of submerged rocks and logs, which can cause serious injuries.
• Keep an eye out for floating debris.
