projects

Join AW Staff and Volunteers on the Pit River in Northern California this weekend!  Whitewater releases are scheduled for October 1st/2nd, and October 15th/16th and are expected to be about 850-950 cfs. Come on out Saturday night and join us at the Pit River Recreation Area to celebrate the releases and get caught up on our Stewardship work in California. We look forward to seeing you on the river!

Whitewater boating flows will be coming to the Pit River in Northern California each October. On June 14, 2011, FERC issued an order approving four days of whitewater boating flows annually in the Pit 1 Bypass reach. These flows implement the 2003 license issued to PG&E by FERC for its operation of the Pit 1 Hydroelectric Project (FERC # 2687), and attempt to mitigate the loss of whitewater recreation on the Pit River due to the project. Fall 2011 releases have been scheduled for the weekends of October 1st/2nd and 15th/16th.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) will increase and vary water flows in the Pit River in October to test and calibrate newly installed flow gates on the Pit 4 and Pit 5 dams in eastern Shasta County.

The releases on the Pit River could be canceled this summer.  The California State Water Resources Control Board  has issued a 21 day notice that they will respond to the US Fish and Wildlife Service  recommending that the releases on the Pit River should be canceled this summer due to concerns about Shasta Crayfish.  Paddlers need to act now if these releases are going to be saved.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has written a letter to FERC and the State Water Resources Control Board recommending that the releases on the Pit River, above the Pit 1 Powerhouse, should be canceled this summer.  They cite concerns of potential impacts to Shasta Crayfish.  American Whitewater was not consulted before making this recommendation and USFWS staff has stated that impacts to recreation was not a consideration.  If you wish to boat the Pit this summer or in the future you need to write a letter now!

Although this has shaped up to be a very dry year, there will be a number of paddling opportunities for boaters to take advantage of here in California.

The Pit 1 reach of the Pit River will have releases again this summer.   Many people got on this run for the first time two years ago and found it to be a great class III/ IV run.  This years releases will be for one weekend in June, July and August.  This year dates are June 21 - 22, July 19 - 20 and August 16 - 17.

Update!  The project is anticipated to spill starting Sunday the 16th. Flows are projected to be in the 2000 to 3000 cfs range through March 19th.  Look under the River Info menu at the top of this page for the most current release information. Increased Water Flows  in March will Help Maintain Pit River Channel and Create Additional Whitewater Boating Opportunity.