Mokelumne, California, US

5) Electra to Middle Bar (Electra)

Usual Difficulty	II-III (varies with level)
Length	5.5 Miles
Avg. Gradient	24 fpm

Mokelumne, Ponderosa Way

Mokelumne, Ponderosa Way
Photo of Megan runs the last and biggest drop

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Difficulty	Updated	Level
Mokelumne, Electra
pge-ELEC	400 - 4000 cfs	II-III	03h36m	398 cfs (rc= -0.1 )

River Description

The Electra Run is a wonderful class 2 section suitable for beginning white water boaters. It has dependable summer flows and nice scenery.

John Gangemi reports:

The opening of the Middle Bar Bridge take-out now makes the run from Electra Afterbay Dam to the bridge about 5.5 miles. This is a great Class-II reach with nearly dependable water in the summer due to peaking power generation. Getting this formerly restricted area open to boaters was a key focus for American Whitewater in the relicensing of the upstream PG&E Mokelumne hydropower project.

To view a movie of the Mokelumne, click on the link below.

Click To Play

Annual Mokelumne River Races:

Each September since 1978, the Sierra Club Loma Prieta Paddlers has hosted slalom and downriver races on the Mokelumne. The official race website is at: mokeraces.com

Pardee Expansion Plans:
The East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) diverts large amounts of water out of the Mokelumne for use by the cities and counties of the east San Fransisco bay. They use Pardee and Comanche reservoirs to store the water till they need it in the summer and fall. EBMUD has recently developed a plan to enlarge Pardee reservoir to store a lot more water. The high water mark of the enlarged reservoir would be about 1 mile upstream of the Highway 49 bridge. When the new lake is at its highest, the Electra run would only be 2 miles long. The last mile of the Electra run and the entire Middle Bar section would be underneath the reservoir. The Middle Bar Bridge would be abandoned and the Highway 49 bridge would have to be rebuilt at a higher elevation.

Specifics of the proposal can be found in the EBMUD Water Supply Management Program 2040 Draft Program Environmental Impact Report.
The Foothill Conservancy asks that users Save the Mokelumne from Pardee Expansion.

Column by Calaveras County Supervisor Steve Wilensky from Upcountry News/West Point News

Other Information Sources:
cacreeks.com
Foothill Conservancy: Wild and Scenic possibilities for Mokelumne
Foothill Conservancy: Photos
BLM River Database
CA Hydro Power Reform Coalition: Mokelumne page
AW-PG&E flow page
1-866-629-3925 AW-PG&E Flow Phone

Schematic Map of Diversions and gauges

StreamTeam Status: Not Verified

Last Updated: 2011-08-22 22:28:44

Editors

Middle Bar take-out

Detail Trip Report Middle Bar take-out Mokelumne, CA(523.58KB .jpeg)

Mokelumne, Ponderosa Way

Detail Trip Report Mokelumne, Ponderosa Way Mokelumne, CA(18.66KB .jpeg)

Topoduo down Devil's Tolit

Detail Trip Report Topoduo down Devil's Tolit Mokelumne, CA(1.93MB .mov)

Larry's Swim

Detail Trip Report Larry's Swim Mokelumne, CA(5.06MB .mov)

Here comes Larry

Detail Trip Report Here comes Larry Mokelumne, CA(1.68MB .mov)

Topoduo Peel Out

Detail Trip Report Topoduo Peel Out Mokelumne, CA(1.32MB .mov)

Geoff and Kim

Detail Trip Report Geoff and Kim Mokelumne, CA(2.89MB .mov)

Larry's Move

Detail Trip Report Larry's Move Mokelumne, CA(3.94MB .mov)

Holy Cow, it can roll!

Detail Trip Report Holy Cow, it can roll! Mokelumne, CA(1.44MB .mov)

Mokelumne Put-in

Detail Trip Report Mokelumne Put-in @Mokelumne 5) Electra to Middle Bar , (81.83KB .jpeg)

S-Turn

Detail Trip Report S-Turn Mokelumne, CA(82.08KB .jpeg)

Take out

Detail Trip Report Take out Mokelumne, CA(75.87KB .jpeg)

Goal Post

Detail Trip Report Goal Post Mokelumne, CA(83.60KB .jpeg)

Boulder Bar

Detail Trip Report Boulder Bar Mokelumne, CA(81.89KB .jpeg)

Devil's Toilet Bowl

Detail Trip Report Devil's Toilet Bowl Mokelumne, CA(82.00KB .jpeg)

Gauge Information

Gauge Description:

The Electra run has dependable year round outflows from the PG&E Electra powerhouse which is just upstream. Powerhouse flows are generally around 700 cfs.

AW-PG&E flow page
1-866-629-3925 AW-PG&E Flow Phone

Pardee Reservoir - CDEC

USGS historical data for Mokelumne near Mokelumne Hill. Gauge is located near the Highway 49 bridge and is operated by EBMUD.

Schematic Map of Diversions and gauges

Gauge Information

Name

Range

Difficulty

Updated

Level

Mokelumne, Electra

pge-ELEC

400 - 4000 cfs

II-III

03h36m

398 cfs (rc= -0.1 )

Range	Water Level	Difficulty	Comment
0 - 400 cfs	extremely Low-barely Low	II-III
400 -4000 cfs	barely runnable-high runnable	II-III	Please help your fellow paddlers by providing a comment or report.
1500 -3000 cfs	a bit pushy runnable-high runnable	III
3000 -4000 cfs	a bit pushy runnable-high runnable	IV

Report - Reports of Mokelumne 5) Electra to Middle Bar and related gauges

Reports give the public a chance to report on river conditions throughout the country as well as log the history of a river.

Reports

When	River/Gauge	Subject	Level	Reporter
	Mokelumne5) Electra to Middle Bar [ ]	Mokelumne Put-in	n/a	Evan Lloyd
	Mokelumne [CA]	Mokelumne, Ponderosa Way	n/a	Matt Muir
5y42d14h34m	Mokelumne [CA]	Take out	750	Evan Lloyd
5y204d14h34m	Mokelumne [CA]	Holy Cow, it can roll!	1200 cfs	Daniel Lundberg
5y205d14h34m	Mokelumne [CA]	Topoduo down Devil's Tolit	1200 cfs	Daniel Lundberg
8y243d14h34m	Mokelumne [CA]	Middle Bar take-out	n/a	John Gangemi