How does the Bureau of Reclamation decide to make higher flow releases to the Trinity River during the winter?
During the winter, the Bureau of Reclamation maintains lower levels in Trinity Reservoir to provide a buffer in the event of an extremely large winter storm. The quantity of that buffer is based on several factors, and primarily references many years of hydrologic record for the basin. Maintaining storage space is a very important aspect of flood control operations, and is fundamental in protecting areas downstream of Trinity Dam, as well as the dam itself. As winter storms fill Trinity Reservoir, the Bureau of Reclamation may need to increase releases to the Trinity River to maintain the lower lake levels. Because these elevated winter releases help protect the dam, they are commonly called “Safety of Dams releases” and may or may not occur in conjunction with actual winter storms. Safety of Dams releases are typically no greater than 6,000 cfs, but may go higher if conditions warrant.
