diff --git a/pipeline/stages/04_frame_extract.py b/pipeline/stages/04_frame_extract.py
index a939188..064815e 100644
--- a/pipeline/stages/04_frame_extract.py
+++ b/pipeline/stages/04_frame_extract.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 import argparse
 import json
 import os
+import yaml as _yaml
 import subprocess
 import sys
 import time
@@ -32,7 +33,18 @@ from orchestrator.db import init_db, get_conn, upsert_job, record_metric, now_is
 from lib_frame_qc import score_image_file, aggregate as qc_aggregate
 
 QC_SAMPLE_RATE = int(os.environ.get("COSMA_QC_SAMPLE_RATE", "5"))
-QC_BOTTOM_OK_PCT = float(os.environ.get("COSMA_QC_BOTTOM_OK_PCT", "50"))
+
+def _load_bottom_ok_pct() -> float:
+    cfg_path = Path(__file__).parent.parent / "config" / "thresholds.yaml"
+    try:
+        with open(cfg_path) as _f:
+            _cfg = _yaml.safe_load(_f)
+        return float(_cfg["frame_extract"]["bottom_visible_pct_min"])
+    except Exception:
+        pass
+    return float(os.environ.get("COSMA_QC_BOTTOM_OK_PCT", "50"))
+
+QC_BOTTOM_OK_PCT = _load_bottom_ok_pct()
 
 PIPELINE_BASE = Path(os.environ.get("COSMA_PIPELINE_BASE", "/home/cosma/cosma-pipeline"))
 SSD_BASE = Path(os.environ.get("COSMA_SSD_BASE", "/mnt/ssd"))
diff --git a/pipeline/stages/04b_trim_water.py b/pipeline/stages/04b_trim_water.py
index ebdb6d3..bcc01e6 100644
--- a/pipeline/stages/04b_trim_water.py
+++ b/pipeline/stages/04b_trim_water.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 import argparse
 import json
 import os
+import yaml as _yaml
 import subprocess
 import sys
 import time
@@ -35,7 +36,18 @@ from lib_frame_qc import score_image_file, aggregate as qc_aggregate
 
 PIPELINE_BASE = Path(os.environ.get("COSMA_PIPELINE_BASE", "/home/cosma/cosma-pipeline"))
 QC_SAMPLE_RATE = int(os.environ.get("COSMA_QC_SAMPLE_RATE", "5"))
-QC_BOTTOM_OK_PCT = float(os.environ.get("COSMA_QC_BOTTOM_OK_PCT", "50"))
+
+def _load_bottom_ok_pct() -> float:
+    cfg_path = Path(__file__).parent.parent / "config" / "thresholds.yaml"
+    try:
+        with open(cfg_path) as _f:
+            _cfg = _yaml.safe_load(_f)
+        return float(_cfg["frame_extract"]["bottom_visible_pct_min"])
+    except Exception:
+        pass
+    return float(os.environ.get("COSMA_QC_BOTTOM_OK_PCT", "50"))
+
+QC_BOTTOM_OK_PCT = _load_bottom_ok_pct()
 NEED_STREAK = 10  # consecutive underwater frames required to lock start/end