Whitewater Rafting Season: Middle Fork American River Flow Releases

Auburn, Calif. – With whitewater rafting season rapidly approaching, Placer County Water Agency (PCWA) issued its 2015 recreational flow release schedule for the Middle Fork American River today.

Through careful planning and prudent management of water during the last several years of drought, PCWA will again this year be able to structure its Middle Fork American River Project (MFP) releases to provide for its customers’ water needs and produce hydroelectric energy on a schedule that supports whitewater recreation in the Middle Fork American River. 

⤥ Summer Fun Starts Here ⤦

⤥ Summer Fun Starts Here ⤦

⤥ Summer Fun Starts Here ⤦

⤥ Summer Fun Starts Here ⤦

Based on current MFP water supply conditions, PCWA will provide recreational boating releases to the Middle Fork American River on the following dates in 2015: 

• Last two weekends in May and Memorial Day (May 25);
• All weekends in June and June 30;
• Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in July & August;
• September 1 and Labor Day weekend (including Labor Day, September 7).

For each specified rafting day, PCWA will release 1,000 cubic feet-per-second (cfs) from the Oxbow Powerhouse to the Middle Fork American River at Indian Bar, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.  Please note that it takes the high flows (1,000 cfs) about 6 hours to reach the Ruck-a-Chucky/Drivers Flat area on the Middle Fork American River and about 10 hours to reach the Confluence area.

PCWA’s whitewater flow release schedule will be modified for both the Western States Endurance Run scheduled on Saturday, June 27, 2015, and the Tevis Cup Equestrian Race scheduled on Saturday, August 1, 2015, to accommodate race participant safety.  PCWA will release the flow schedules for those race days when they are finalized.

The flows in the Middle Fork American River below Ralston Afterbay Reservoir and Oxbow Powerhouse and the North Fork American River downstream of the Confluence are subject to change at any time without notice.  Always use caution when recreating in and around the Middle Fork American River and below the Confluence.