Rowlett Creek, Texas, US
|
|
Ben Davis Rd to Pleasant Valley Rd (1.65 miles)
| Usual Difficulty |
II-III (for normal flows) |
| Length |
1.65 Miles |
| Avg. Gradient |
6 fpm |
| Max Gradient |
10 fpm |
2nd ledge again
2nd ledge againPhoto of steven by Robert H taken 07/13/05 @ 1700cfs
Gauge Information
| Name |
Range |
Difficulty |
Updated |
Level |
|
Rowlett Ck nr Sachse, TX
|
|
usgs-08061540 |
200 - 2500 cfs
|
II-III |
01h14m |
10
cfs
(rc= -0.1 ) |
River Description
1st Ledge:
|
Level
|
Description
|
|
500-1000cfs
|
Shallow and scrapy but there is good surf on river left after the main drop.
|
|
1000-1500cfs
|
Much better level. Deep enough for squirts lots of play. Above the drop at 30 foot wide
wave starts to form.
|
|
1500-2000cfs
|
1st ledge gets big run it center or right of center. Above the drop there is a great 30
foot wide wave/hole that is a blast.
|
|
2000-3000cfs and above
|
Things start to get big at this level. Watch out for strainers coming in from either bank.
|
2nd Ledge:
|
Level
|
Description
|
|
500-1000cfs
|
2nd ledge has lots of play but its very shallow at the last hole..
|
|
1000-1500cfs
|
Surf everywhere at this level.
|
|
1500-2000cfs
|
At these levels, the ledge is best run right of center. The hole in the middle starts to
become a bit of a keeper.
|
|
2000-3000cfs and above
|
The middle hole of the second ledge is best left alone. I have watched this hole surf logs
for 20 minutes. Run both ledges right of center.
|
General Description:
There are 2 natural ledges on this section of Rowlett Creek, with at least 3 play holes at each
one. The first significant rapid after the put-in will be marked by about 70-100 meters of
insignificant standing waves/fast water (and at levels above 2K, a small surf hole or two). The
meat of the drop is a two-tier affair; the first a hole extending halfway across the river (more
than halfway at higher levels). This in itself is an excellent surfing hole. The one concern here
is the next drop, a mere 20-30 meters downstream, which is probably the steepest drop of the
run.
At levels above 2100-3000+ cfs, the last drop before the takeout should only be attempted by
someone with solid Class IV paddling skills. There are numerous holes, essentially river-wide at
the higher levels and producing a large hydraulic with significant back flow, capable of churning
and tumbling truck-size trees around like matchsticks. An unskilled boater flushed into this
maelstrom will get severely thrashed and likely extracted from his boat, placing him in the
dangerous position of swimming on a flooded creek.
The drop can be run with a sneak route on river right; however, care must be taken in the
execution because, at the rapid entrance, there is a hole on the right, under a large overhanging
tree, which may pose a strainer threat.
Put-in is approximately 458' elevation.
Take-out is approximately 448' elevation.
Therefore total elevation change is approximately 10'.
StreamTeam Status: Verified
Last Updated: 2008-11-20 16:06:29
Editors
Ben Davis Rd to Pleasant Valley Rd (1.65 miles), Rowlett Creek Texas, US (mobile)