Will Fishing Be Allowed Again in the Lower Nacimiento River? Camp Roberts JLUS Seeks Input

Camp Roberts is currently accepting public comments for its Joint Land Use Study, which can determine whether fishing will be allowed again in the Lower Nacimiento River. There is currently no angler access for its entire length. The upper 3/4 mile (below the dam) is private property, and the rest is all located on the Camp Roberts base. There were limited fishing opportunities at Camp Roberts (a dozen or so days per year), for the past couple years.  Though trout were scarce, it was a wonderful opportunity to try to find a holdover or catch some bass and pikeminnow. The Hunting and Fishing programs were suspended in July of 2011 because ongoing construction at the base caused concern for public safety. 


The Lower Nacimiento River is the only summer tailwater fishery located near San Luis Obispo and Monterey Counties.  It is unique in that its virtual length is located on an army base.  Unlike other river systems in California, permission to use any part of it must be granted.


You can visit camprobertsjlus.com for more information. If you want to offer your input you can email it to Kami Griffin at kgriffin@co.slo.ca.us.  PLEASE take a few minutes and offer your own input, and help preserve angler access to our ONLY local tailwater!

No Lower Naci Steelhead Trapped in 2011

No o. mykiss have been found there for the second year in a row.

Monterey County's Nacimiento River rotary screw trap, which is placed in the river at Camp Roberts during steelhead outmigration season and monitored daily as part of the requirements of the Salinas Valley Water Project, yielded zero trout in 2011.

The annual study is conducted by Fishbio (http://fishbio.com/), and involves the placement and monitoring of  the rotary screw trap (RST), which is a large rotating cone mounted on floats designed to sample fish moving downstream. The RST is inspected daily by biologists for the entire monitoring period. Daily inspections included cleaning out the trap and recording each fish captured. A variety of water quality and flow data was also obtained.  Fish enter the RST through the large end of the trap. As the cone is turned by the river’s current, it guides fish downstream into the live car, where they are held in river water until retrieved for sampling.

A total of 1,081 non-salmonid fish (16 different species) were captured during the 2011 sampling.  The three most abundant fish were Sacramento Suckerfish, speckled dace, and lamprey.  Notable gamefish captured included black crappie (2), largemouth bass (2), smallmouth bass (1), and white bass (1).

To read the entire 2011 RST Report, visit http://www.mcwra.co.monterey.ca.us/Agency_data/Fish_Monitoring/2011%20Salinas%20Basin%20Juvenile%20Outmigration.pdf

Camp Roberts fishing, hunting program temporarily suspended

(From the Paso Robles Press http://www.pasoroblespress.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&page=73&story_id=6009

Camp Roberts has suspended its fishing and hunting program for the rest of 2011 and for most of 2012 due to several new construction projects on base.

“Temporary closure of the camp’s fishing and hunting program is essential to facilitate construction and ensure safety of the public during the construction period,” said Colonel Barbara A. Nuismer, Camp Roberts Garrison commander.

Additionally, plans are in the works with San Luis Obispo County, Caltrans and construction contractors to ensure that the high volume of equipment coming to the installation does not affect the surrounding residents or impact normal traffic flow.

Officials anticipate fishing and hunting will resume once the construction is completed near the end of 2012. These programs on Camp Roberts are open to the public and are operated by the State Fish and Game Department. Last year, close to 6,000, mostly on weekends, came on base to fish and hunt.

To gain further information on the program closure and construction progress, please contact Suzi Thomas at 238-8308 or susanne.e.thomas@us.army.mil or Major Jonathan Shiroma at 916-854-3391 or jonathan.shiroma@us.army.mil.

Lower Naci Memorial Day Fishing Report

25 anglers tried their luck over the Memorial Day weekend at Camp Roberts.  This was the first of 5 weekend fishing opportunities that will be offered this year on the Lower Nacimiento River.

One trout was reported caught and released.  Other fish reported caught were pikeminnow, largemouth bass, white bass, and striped bass.

Camp Roberts and DFG are offering limited fishing this season.  NO TROUT WILL BE STOCKED.  The current regs in the Lower Nacimiento River require barbless artificial lures, with a zero limit on trout.  Trout were last stocked in the Lower Naci in 2008. 

The remaining fishing opportunities of 2011 are:

 July 23-24

August 13-14

   August 27-31
October 15-16

The flows during the Memorial Day weekend were 220 CFS.  The flows during the upcoming open dates will likely be in the 400 CFS range, except for October 15-16, when the flows may be minimal.

For more information on the CampRoberts/DFG fishing program, visit http://www.calguard.ca.gov/CpRbts/Pages/HuntFish.aspx

REMINDER: Camp Roberts Fishing This Weekend

The Lower Nacimiento River at Camp Roberts will be open this weekend for the first time this season.  Limited fishing will be offered Saturday through Monday, May 28-30.  Fishing is artificial barbless with a zero limit for trout.  NO TROUT WILL BE STOCKED.

Last season, only 2 trout were reported caught to the Camp Roberts DFG station.  There were numerous pikeminnow caught, and 2-3 reports of bass. 

For more information on the Camp Roberts Fishing Program, visit:
http://www.calguard.ca.gov/CpRbts/Pages/HuntFish.aspx

The flows are currently a very fishable 220 cfs.  The flows should remain constant throughout the weekend.

Limited Fishing Will Be Offered at Camp Roberts in 2011

Camp Roberts and DFG will again offer limited fishing opportunities this season in the Lower Nacimiento River. Fishing is catch-and-release only with artificial lures with barbless hooks and a zero limit for trout.
NO TROUT WILL BE STOCKED.

2011 Camp Roberts fishing schedule:
May 28-30
July 23-24
August 13-14
August 27-31
October 15-16

For fishing hours and other info visit
http://www.calguard.ca.gov/CpRbts/Pages/HuntFish.aspx

Nacimiento Reservoir is Spilling Over

Naci Reaches Max Elevation of 800' For First Time Since May '83.

A series of March storms sent Lake Nacimiento over the brink and down the spillway this weekend. According to the USGS Lower Naci River Flow Gauge, the flow spiked after midnight Saturday night as the reservoir exceeded its maximum elevation of 800' and began to spill.

The last time Naci exceeded 800' was in May, 1983, according to data on the MCWRA website. It came close to spilling in 1995 and 1998 when it reached 799'.


The flow gauge data shows the Lower Naci flow last night far exceeded the maximum peak of record, 7000 CFS in 1969.

Special Releases Initiated from Naci and San Antonio Reservoirs

The MCWRA has initiated releases from Nacimiento and San Antonio Reservoirs to comply with required Steelhead Smolt Outmigration flow criteria as described in the National Marine Fisheries Biological Opinion for the Salinas Valley Water Project. Release rates will vary, depending on natural river flow and weather conditions, to meet target flows at specified United States Geological Survey (USGS) streamflow stations.

Here are the details from the NMFS Biological Opinion for the Salinas Valley Water Project: Downstream Migration of Smolting Steelhead. To facilitate the downstream migration of smolts and rearing juvenile steelhead in the Salinas River during normal category water years, MCWRA will provide, beginning March 15th, reservoir releases (hereafter referred to as “block flows”) when the following flow triggers are met:

• the water year type is dry-normal, normal-normal, or wet-normal,

• combined storage of Nacimiento and San Antonio reservoirs is 150,000 AF or more, and

• 125 cfs or higher at the Nacimiento River below Sapaque Creek gage (USGS stream gage 11148900), or 70 cfs at the Arroyo Seco below Reliz Creek gage (USGS stream gage 11152050).

If block flows are triggered between March 15 and March 31, 700 cfs will be provided at the Salinas River near Soledad (USGS stream gage 11152000) for 5 days, and then thereafter 300 cfs will be maintained in the Salinas River near Spreckels (USGS stream gage 11152500) until April 20. If the block flow triggers occur in April, 700 cfs will be provided at the Salinas River near Soledad for 5 days, and then thereafter 300 cfs will be provided at Spreckels for an additional 15 days. Thus, the duration of the block flow will range from 20 to 45 days.

To read the entire Biological Opinion, visit: http://www.mcwra.co.monterey.ca.us/SVWP/SVWP_Final_BO_6-21-07.pdf

Final Camp Roberts fishing opportunity yields no trout

Anglers caught zero trout in the final Camp Roberts fishing opportunity of the season, October 16th and 17th. Pikeminnow and suckerfish were the only reported catch.

83 anglers tried their luck in the Lower Nacimiento River this season; 1 single trout was caught twice, on two seperate occasions.

The MCWRA is currently attempting fish surveys in the Lower Naci, as required by the NMFS. We will pass on any updates from these surveys when they become available.

REMINDER: Final Camp Roberts fishing opportunity of the year is this weekend

This weekend is the final opportunity of the season to fish the Lower Nacimiento River. Camp Roberts will be open for fishing Saturday and Sunday, October 16th and 17th.

For more info on limited fishing at Camp Roberts, check out http://www.calguard.ca.gov/CpRbts/Documents/Final%20Hunt%20Fish%202010%20Schedule.pdf

Good luck!