It's winter out there. A brief warm spell today and tomorrow followed by daily temperatures under ZERO.Today the shortest day of the year. Everyday from here on out is closer to summer.We here in central Montana want lots of precipitation this winter and spring and summer and fall. That should do it for us Santa.Merry Christmas.Not many anglers around. Pretty quiet. Good fishing if you go.The water will go up daily to over 4K as we move towards the 25th. This action to alleviate anchor ice from developing which is bad. A slippery slope type of deal. Not as bad right now with the lower flows, but you do not want the freezing to originate from the bottom. Bad things happen.So beware of not as shallow conditions out on the river. Shelf ice growing daily from the shores now so be aware and safe out swinging or nimpin'.Lodging and such available throughout the holiday session if you are in the neighborhood and need a bed. It's gonna be cold AF as the kids say. Call before you do anything rash. If you are stuck at the house with your in-laws and need to get out come down and see us. We'll put another pot of coffee on.
FROM the Bureau of ReclamationGENERAL COMMENTS:NorthWestern Energy has requested winter release increases due to extreme cold weather. The following operational changes are required at Canyon Ferry Dam and Powerplant.At 0800 hr on Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021:Maintain releases through the river outlet gates at 0 cfs.Maintain releases through the spillway gates at 0 cfs.Increase turbine release to ≈ 3,050 cfs ( ≈ 28.0 MW-Hrs/hr using 108.7 cfs/mw). Maintain releases for Helena Valley Project at 0 cfs.Increase release to the Missouri River to 3,050 cfs.Increase total release from Canyon Ferry to 3,050 cfs.At 0900 hr on Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021:Maintain releases through the river outlet gates at 0 cfs.Maintain releases through the spillway gates at 0 cfs.Increase turbine release to ≈ 3,150 cfs ( ≈ 28.9 MW-Hrs/hr using 108.7 cfs/mw). Maintain releases for Helena Valley Project at 0 cfs.Increase release to the Missouri River to 3,150 cfs.Increase total release from Canyon Ferry to 3,150 cfs. Page 1 of 3
At 1000 hr on Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021:Maintain releases through the river outlet gates at 0 cfs.Maintain releases through the spillway gates at 0 cfs.Increase turbine release to ≈ 3,220 cfs ( ≈ 29.6 MW-Hrs/hr using 108.7 cfs/mw). Maintain releases for Helena Valley Project at 0 cfs.Increase release to the Missouri River to 3,220 cfs.Increase total release from Canyon Ferry to 3,220 cfs.At 0800 hr on Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021:Maintain releases through the river outlet gates at 0 cfs.Maintain releases through the spillway gates at 0 cfs.Increase turbine release to ≈ 3,330 cfs ( ≈ 30.6 MW-Hrs/hr using 108.7 cfs/mw). Maintain releases for Helena Valley Project at 0 cfs.Increase release to the Missouri River to 3,330 cfs.Increase total release from Canyon Ferry to 3,330 cfs.At 0900 hr on Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021:Maintain releases through the river outlet gates at 0 cfs.Maintain releases through the spillway gates at 0 cfs.Increase turbine release to ≈ 3,440 cfs ( ≈ 31.6 MW-Hrs/hr using 108.7 cfs/mw). Maintain releases for Helena Valley Project at 0 cfs.Increase release to the Missouri River to 3,440 cfs.Increase total release from Canyon Ferry to 3,440 cfs.At 1000 hr on Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021:Maintain releases through the river outlet gates at 0 cfs.Maintain releases through the spillway gates at 0 cfs.Increase turbine release to ≈ 3,515 cfs ( ≈ 32.3 MW-Hrs/hr using 108.7 cfs/mw). Maintain releases for Helena Valley Project at 0 cfs.Increase release to the Missouri River to 3,515 cfs.Increase total release from Canyon Ferry to 3,515 cf.sAt 0800 hr on Friday, Dec. 24, 2021:Maintain releases through the river outlet gates at 0 cfs.Maintain releases through the spillway gates at 0 cfs.Increase turbine release to ≈ 3,640 cfs ( ≈ 33.5 MW-Hrs/hr using 108.7 cfs/mw). Maintain releases for Helena Valley Project at 0 cfs.Increase release to the Missouri River to 3,640 cfs.Increase total release from Canyon Ferry to 3,640 cfs.At 0900 hr on Friday, Dec. 24, 2021:Maintain releases through the river outlet gates at 0 cfs.Maintain releases through the spillway gates at 0 cfs.Increase turbine release to ≈ 3,765 cfs ( ≈ 34.6 MW-Hrs/hr using 108.7 cfs/mw). Maintain releases for Helena Valley Project at 0 cfs.Increase release to the Missouri River to 3,765 cfs.Increase total release from Canyon Ferry to 3,765 cfs.
At 1000 hr on Friday, Dec. 24, 2021:Maintain releases through the river outlet gates at 0 cfs.Maintain releases through the spillway gates at 0 cfs.Increase turbine release to ≈ 3,835 cfs ( ≈ 35.2 MW-Hrs/hr using 108.7 cfs/mw). Maintain releases for Helena Valley Project at 0 cfs.Increase release to the Missouri River to 3,835 cfs.Increase total release from Canyon Ferry to 3,835 cfs.At 0800 hr on Saturday, Dec. 25, 2021:Maintain releases through the river outlet gates at 0 cfs.Maintain releases through the spillway gates at 0 cfs.Increase turbine release to ≈ 3,995 cfs ( ≈ 36.7 MW-Hrs/hr using 108.7 cfs/mw). Maintain releases for Helena Valley Project at 0 cfs.Increase release to the Missouri River to 3,995 cfs.Increase total release from Canyon Ferry to 3,995 cfs.At 0900 hr on Saturday, Dec. 25, 2021:Maintain releases through the river outlet gates at 0 cfs.Maintain releases through the spillway gates at 0 cfs.Increase turbine release to ≈ 4,150 cfs ( ≈ 38.2 MW-Hrs/hr using 108.7 cfs/mw). Maintain releases for Helena Valley Project at 0 cfs.Increase release to the Missouri River to 4,150 cfs.Increase total release from Canyon Ferry to 4,150 cfs.Page 3 of 3
