This is section is known as the Middle Santiam between Green Peter Dam and Foster Reservoir.It’s considered a solid Class IV run. Unfortunately, the newspaper account doesn’t indicate where in that section the event occurred. The last major rapid, Concussion, is truly a solid Class IV. The run is best with only one turbine releasing water.
It is likely is that this group was below the dam on fish flow, then peaking power generation flows kicked on and it rose rapidly to 2k. The USGS Gauge confirms that this is what happened about noon yesterday. Having been on the river when the water shut off one time, I can say it's unlikely these were whitewater paddlers going on an ELF mission. 50cfs is unrunnably low. It is more likely these were not whitewater paddlers.
A firefighter told AW that the group paddled up from the bottom, putting in at Sunnyside Park (a county park) and working their way upriver from there. The firefighter is unsure if they portaged up the river or just paddled as far upstream as they could. He shared they didn't have shoes, and one person didn't have a PFD. He described them as lake paddlers who were generally unprepared.
SWEET HOME Ore. (KPTV) - Sweet Home Fire rescued two stranded kayakers on the Santiam River on Saturday. Responders said the kayaks flipped while going under the Green Peter Dam around noon. The dam began releasing water, which caused the rapids to become much stronger and flipped the kayaks. The kayakers were able to swim to shore but were trapped on a rock outcropping between the water and thick brush and briars at the base of a very steep hillside.
Once responders got to the scene, they were able to lower rescuers down the 200-foot embankment while clearing away thick vegetation, helping them out. No one was hurt.
Sweet Home Fire District reminded people that the Green Peter Dam routinely lets water out which can quickly and drastically change the condition of the river below it.
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