Gauge Description:

The Black has releases all through the summer, for rafting trips. Kayakers can surf off those releases for a run down the river.

The scheduled releases occur roughly halfway down the run, in the vicinity of Glen Park Falls. Therefore, one can put in about an hour before the beginning of the scheduled release. Don't hang out and play too long, or else you'll run out of water below Glen Park Falls.

There is usually a special release on the Friday of Moose Festival weekend, from 11 AM-1 PM.

The General shared the 2010 Summer schedule:

Whitewater releases in the Black River Gorge are available to commercial rafting outfitters and private boaters during the month of July on every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and during the month of August on every day except Tuesday.

However, releases are NOT initiated on the scheduled days without an official request made by either a boater or outfitter 48 hours in advance of the proposed date.

Consequently, most boaters choose to simply schedule their trip to the Black to correspond with the dates and times that outfitters have already requested a release.

The following schedule reflects the dates and times that outfitters have requested water in the Black River Gorge during the month of July and August to support rafting as of 7-19-10.  The schedule will be updated every two weeks during the season with additional dates and times if and when the outfitters add more trips.

Wednesday, July 21   11:15-2:00
Saturday, July 24:      11:15-2:00
Sunday, July 25:      12:00-2:00
Thursday, July 29:      11:15-2:00
Friday, July 30:      11:15-2:00
Saturday, July 31:      11:15-5:00
Sunday, August 1:      11:15-2:00
Wednesday, August 4:   11:15-2:00
Thursday, August 5:   11:15-2:00
Friday, August 6:      12:00-2:00
Saturday, August 7:   11:15-3:30
Sunday, August 8:      11:15-2:00
Monday, August 9:      11:15-2:00
Wednesday, August 11:   11:15-2:00

All times are approximate.  Questions regarding the availability can be made to chris@mckbuildingassociates.com or by contacting the raft companies.

Boaters can schedule their own releases on days when water is available (Wednesday/Thursday/Friday/Saturday/Sunday in July or every day except Tuesday in August) by calling Glen Park Hydro at (315) 788-9121 a minimum of 48 hours in advance of your desired trip.  However—if you schedule a release—you will be expected to utilize the water.  Boaters who schedule a release and waste the water by failing to show or neglecting to call and cancel the release will be hunted down like dogs and hung from the nearest tree with their throw-rope.