Releases on Dam Controlled Whitewater Rivers

Dams are one of the most significant impacts to our Nation's rivers - and to public enjoyment of those rivers. American Whitewater recognized this long ago and has been working for over 50 years to prevent new dams, remove old dams, and to ensure that the hundreds of existing dams impacting whitewater rivers are managed responsibly. Regulated river restoration is a key focus of our River Stewardship Program. Through this program we seek to restore both ecological and recreational values to rivers through the restoration of a continuous flow regime that includes a range of flows, the protection of riparian and watershed lands, water quality improvements, and enhancements to public flow information and river access.

The table below describes the many dam controlled whitewater rivers in our country, and the effects of the dam on flows suitable for whitewater boating. Some of these rivers feature scheduled recreational releases while others remain dewatered or run only on natural spill over the dams. Through sharing this information we hope to improve the paddling community's ability to enjoy these rivers. American Whitewater is directly responsible for many of the recreational releases listed below and played some role in a large majority of them. River names with the AW logo are rivers on which American Whitewater has actively played a role in assuring that paddlers' needs are met.

STATE	RIVER	RIVER SEGMENT	RELEASE TYPE	RELEASE DATES	WEB SITE	FLOW PHONE	VOLUME	CLASS	LENGTH
AL	Coosa	Below Jordan Dam	Scheduled	daily Nov 1-Mar 31 at 2000,daily Apr 1-May 31 6am-12pm at 8000, daily Apr 1-May 31 12pm-6am at 4000, daily Jun 1-Jun 15 6am-12pm at 8000, daily Jun 1-Jun 30 12pm-6am at 4000		800-525-3711 - 4,7,2	2000 - 8000	II-III	7
AR	Oachita	Remmel Dam to Rockport A,B	Scheduled + power generation	Weekends Memorial Day-Labor Day 12 PM-3 PM + unpredictable–year round	Gage	501-620-5760 or 501-844-2148	3600	I-II	5
CA	American, Middle Fork	Tunnel Run	spill & power generation	Spring - Summer	Gage		800-1500	II-IV	17
	American, S Fk.	Chili Bar	Scheduled	May - Sept		916-368-8682	1200-1600	III	7.4
	American, S Fk.	The Gorge	Scheduled	May - Sept	Dream Flows	916-368-8682	1200-1600	III+-IV	11.2
	Bear River	Taylor Crossing			Dream Flows		280-600	IV+(V)	2.3
	Cache Creek	Robboat Rapid	spill / water delivery	winter,spring,summer		530-662-0266	500-5000	II-IV	6
	Feather, N Fk	Rock Creek	Scheduled	Schedule to be set end of March, starts 4th wkend each month Jun-Oct	Schedule		800-1600	IV-V(V+)	14
	Feather, N Fk	Cresta	Scheduled	adaptive, starts 1st wkend ea month Jun-Oct	Schedule
	Fordyce Creek	Fordyce Dam to Lake Spaulding	water delivery	late Aug - Oct			250-600	IV-V(V+)	10
	Kern River	Democrat Dam to Cataracts	water delivery	power generation and irrigation needs		877-537-6356	1000-3000	IV	18
	Kern River	Fairview Dam to KR3 powerhouse	Scheduled	Fri,Sat,Sun Apr 1-wkend prior to Memorial Day 10 AM-5 PM / Daily wkend before Memorial Day-Jul 4 10 AM-5 PM / Wkends after Jul 4-Jul 31 10 AM-5 PM	Sierra South
	Kern River	Lake Isabella to Borel Powerhouse	both spill / run-off & scheduled	unpredictable	Sierra South
	Mokelumne River	Salt Springs to Campground	Scheduled	two wkends prior to Mem Day thru Sept 9 AM-3 PM. Dependent on streamflow, check StreamTeam page for updates	Forecast	877-708-8828	800-1500	V	3
	Mokelumne River	Campground to Devils Nose	Scheduled	two wkends prior to Mem Day thru Sept 9 AM-3 PM. Dependent on streamflow, check StreamTeam page for updates	Forecast	877-708-8828	800-1500	III-IV	8
	Mokelumne River	Devils Nose to Tiger Creek	Scheduled	two wkends prior to Mem Day thru Sept 9 AM-3 PM. Dependent on streamflow, check StreamTeam page for updates	Forecast	877-708-8828	800-1500	III-IV	4
	Mokelumne River	Tiger Creek to Hwy 26	Scheduled	two wkends prior to Mem Day thru Sept 9 AM-3 PM. Dependent on streamflow, check StreamTeam page for updates	Forecast	877-708-8828	600-1200	IV	3
	Mokelumne River	Hwy 26 to Ponderosa Way	Scheduled	two wkends prior to Mem Day thru Sept 9 AM-3 PM. Dependent on streamflow, check long term forecast on specific flow page	Forecast	877-708-8828		V-VI
	Mokelumne River	Ponderosa Way to Electra	Scheduled	two wkends prior to Mem Day thru Sept 9 AM-3 PM. Dependent on streamflow, check long term forecast on specific flow page	Forecast	877-708-8828	600-1200	III	3
	Mokelumne River	Electra to Middle Bar	Scheduled	two wkends prior to Mem Day thru Sept 9 AM-3 PM. Dependent on streamflow, check long term forecast on specific flow page	Forecast	877-708-8828	600-1200	II	3
	Mokelumne River	Electra to Middle Bar	market driven	power generation	Forecast	877-708-8828	600-1200	II	3
	Pit River	Fall River Mills Bridge to Route 299	scheduled	a set weekend in July and August	Forecast			III-IV	10
	San Joaquin	Tied For First	spill	spring	Gage		600-1500	IV-V	7
	San Joaquin	Chawanakee Gorge	spill	spring - early summer	Gage		500-800	V	8
	San Joaquin	Horseshoe Bend	spill & scheduled		Gage		Class III-IV 1000-2500 Class V 2500-8000	III-V	6
	San Joaquin, South Fork	Florence To Mono Hotsprings	spill	Jun or Jul	Gage		Class IV 500-1000 Class V 1000-1500	IV-V	7
	San Joaquin, South Fork	Mono Creek: Vemillion to S. Fk. San Joaquin	water delivery	August	Gage		200-400	IV(V)	1.5
	Stanislaus	Goodwin Canyon	water delivery	flow dependent spring & fall			900-2000	IV+(VI)	3
	Stanislaus, Middle Fork	Hell's Half Acre	Scheduled	spring pulse flow 2006			500-1000	V-VI	8.3
	Stanislaus, Middle Fork	Sandbar and Mt. Knight reaches	Scheduled	spring pulse flow 2006	Schedule		800-1200	IV-V	14
	Truckee	Tahoe City to River Ranch					200-800	I	4
	Truckee	River Ranch to Truckee	spill / power generation	Apr-Oct			700-1500	II-III	11
	Truckee	Truckee to Glenshire					700-2000	II+(III)	6.7
	Truckee	Boca to Floristan	run off / power generation				600-3500	II-III(IV)	6.5
	Truckee	Floriston to Crystal Peak Park		Apr-Oct			800-3500	III+(IV)	10
	Truckee	River Bend to Patagonia					900-3500	II-III	4.5
	Tuolumne	Cherry Creek	spill/run-off and water delivery	Spring to end of Sept			1000-2900	V	6(8)
	Tuolumne	Lower T	spill/run-off and water delivery	Spring to end of Sept	Dream Flows		1000-12,000	IV+(V)	18
CO	Arkansas	Granite	Scheduled	May, June, July, Aug		303-831-7135	>750	III-IV	5.5
	Arkansas	Pine Creek	Scheduled	May, Jun, Jul, Aug			>750	V	3
	Arkansas	Numbers	Scheduled	May, June, July, Aug		303-831-7135	700-3000	IV-IV+	5
	Arkansas	Fractions	Scheduled			303-831-7135	>750	III-III+	7
	Arkansas	Milk Run	Scheduled	May, June, July, Aug		303-831-7135	700-4500	II	6
	Arkansas	Brown's Canyon	Scheduled	May, June, July, Aug		303-831-7135	700-4500	III-IV	12
	Arkansas	Parkdale	Scheduled	May, June, July, Aug		303-831-7135	400-3500	III-IV	7.7
	Arkansas	Royal Gorge	Scheduled	May, June, July, Aug		303-831-7135	700-3000	III-IV+	11.5
	Boulder Creek	Town Run	power generation	market dependent		303-831-7135	variable	III	3
	Boulder Creek	Upper Run	power generation	market dependent		303-831-7135	variable	IV	3.2
	Gunnison	Gunnison Gorge	?	May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep		303-831-7135	800-4000	III	13.4
	Dolores	Bradfield to Slick Rock	spill/run-off	Apr 15 - Jun 15		800-276-4828	variable	III(IV+)	47
	North Platte	Northgate Canyon	?	May, June, July		303-831-7135	1000-4000	III+	10
	N Fk South Platte	Bailey Canyon	?	March-Oct		303-831-7135	150-600	IV+-V	12
	N Fk South Platte	Buffalo Creek	?	March-Oct		303-831-7135	300-800	III	11
	Blue	Green Mountain Resorvoir	spill/run-off	Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept		303-831-7135	400-2000	III	4
	Blue	Boulder Canyon	spill/run-off	May, Jun, Jul		303-831-7135	400-2000	III-IV	3
	Colorado	Gore Canyon	?	July-Oct		303-831-7135	800-1500	V	9.2
CT	Housatonic	Bulls Bridge	spill / run-off	Feb, Mar, Apr	Gage			IV(V)	3
	Housatonic	Falls Village	power generation	market driven
	Farmington	Upper, Upper	Scheduled	3rd & 4th wknds Oct.			400	III-IV	4.5
GA	Tallulah	Gorge	Scheduled	First 3 weekends in Nov / First 2 weekends in Apr			500 Sat / 700 Sun	III-IV	1.8
ID	Bear	Black Canyon	Scheduled	Apr 1 - Jul 15		800-547-1501	800-1200	IV(V)	6.2
	Bear	Oneida	Scheduled	Memorial Day - Labor Day		800-547-1501		II(III)
	Snake	Milner Gorge	Scheduled	4 wkend days May 1-June 30 including Memorial Day		800-422-3143		V	1
	Snake	Star Falls	power generation			800-422-3143		I-II	7.3
	Snake	Hells Canyon	power generation	Apr - Oct		800-422-3143		III-IV	32
MA	Deerfield River	Monroe Bridge	Scheduled	May - Oct		888-356-3663	900-1100	III-IV	3.5
	Deerfield River	Fife Brook	Scheduled	Apr - Oct		888-356-3663	700-900	I-III	7
	Westfield River	Becket to Chester	spill / run-off	Mar-Apr after heavy rain			1000	III-IV(IV+)	9.5
MD	Savage	Dam to N. Branch	spill / run-off	after heavy rain / no scheduled releases		703-260-0305 - 1 - 3	800-1200	III-IV	5
	Savage	Keyser	spill / run-off	after heavy rain / no scheduled releases		703-260-0305 - 1 - 3	500	I-II
	Potomac	N Br / Kitzmiller	Scheduled	4 releases Apr & May and summer & fall releases posted month in advance		703-260-0305 - 1 - 3	800-1100	II-IV	6
	N. Br. Potomac	Barnum to Bloomington	Scheduled	4 releases Apr & May and summer & fall releases posted month in advance	Schedule	703-260-0305 - 1 - 3	600-1000	II-II+	6
	Yough	Upper	Scheduled	Fridays, Mondays, first Saturday of month - mid April - mid October	Schedule		600	IV-V	9.9
ME	Magalloway	Various	Scheduled	Jun-Sept		800-557-3569	900-1200	I-V+	4.5
	Rapid	Gorge	Scheduled	Jul, Aug		207-723-4341 ext 163	1300	IV	3.5
	W Br Penobscot	Ripogenous Gorge, below RIP dam		July 1 - Sept 30		207-723-4341 ext 163	100	IV	1
	W Br Penobscot	Ripogenous Gorge, below RIP dam		after Oct 1		207-723-4341 ext 163	1,000+	III-V	1
	W Br Penobscot	Ripogenous Gorge, below Mckay	power generation	May 1 - Nov 16		207-723-4341 ext 163	1000+	III-V	2.5
	W Br Penobscot	Debsconeag	spill/run off	May 1 - Nov 16		207-723-4341 ext 163	1000+	IV	14.5
	W Br Penobscot	Seboomook	water delivery	July 15 - Oct 15		207-723-4341 ext 163	variable	III-IV	3.5
	S Br Penobscot	Canada Falls A B	water delivery	June 1 - Oct 1		207-723-4341 ext 163	variable	III-V	3.5
	Ragged Stream	Ragged Lake to Greenville Road	water delivery	natural flows or by notice from Great Northern Paper co.			50-500	IV	0.2
	Kennebec	Harris Dam - Lower	Scheduled	May 1-Columbus Day, 7 days wk		800-557-3569	2400-4800	II-III	7.8
	Kennebec	Gorge	Scheduled	May 1 - Columbus Day		800-557-3569	2400-4800	I-IV	3.5
	Dead River	Spencer Falls to West Fork	Scheduled	May-Sept	Schedule	800-557-3569	1300-7000	II-III	13.3
MI	Ontonagon, W.Br.	Victoria Falls	Spill	Spring			500-1500	III-IV+	5.3
	Paint	Horserace Rapids	Scheduled	Apr - Nov			2500-??00	II-III+	2.8
MN	St.Louis	Upper Saint	Spill/Generation	Spring/Summer			500-XX00	II-III+	3.4
	St.Louis	Lower Saint	350 Min/Schedule	Summer			350-1500	II-IV+	3.25
MT	Madison	Bear Trap Canyon	water delivery	Jun,Jul,Aug		406-533-3508	1000-2500	III	8.5
	Swan	Wild Mile	Scheduled	Jul - Aug each Wed at 5:00 pm			800 - ?	IV	1
NC	Green	Narrows	power generation	Most Days (call ahead)		800-829-5253-1-4-2	216-432	V	3
	Green	Upper	power generation	Most Days (call ahead)		800-829-5253-1-4-2	216-432	II-III, IV	3.6
	Green	Upper Upper	spill	Extreme Flood		800-829-5253-1-4-2	216-432	III-IV	1.3
	Green	Lower	power generation	Most Days (call ahead)		800-829-5253-1-4-2	216-432	I-II	6
	Nantahala	Main	Schedule	Most Days		800-232-7238	700	II-III	8
	Nantahala	Cascades / Upper	Scheduled	2007		800-232-7238	400-850	IV-V, III-IV	.25 / 3
	Nantahala	Main		Daily (Dec - Oct 31)		800-232-7238	3' 2”	II-III, IV	8.2
	Neuse	Below Falls Dam	?	variable		919-846-9332 -1	variable	III	0.5
	Pigeon	Dries	spill / run-off	dependent on spill		800-830-5253 - 2	varies	IV-V	10
	Pigeon	Walterville / Hartford	Scheduled + Generation	Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, memorial day through labor day		800-899-4435	500-700	III	4.5
	Tuckasegee	Gorge	Schedule	Most Days		800-238-2264 - 3	500-5,000	II	5
	W Fork Tuckasegee	West Fork	scheduled	2007				III-IV+	8
	Cheoah	Along 129	scheduled	2006: 2/8&9, 3/21&22, 4/1&2, 4/8&9, 4/15&16, 5/6&7, 5/27&28, 6/3&4, 10/1, 11/1				IV-V, III-IV	7
	Catawba	Bridgewater	Generation	Most Days			Variable	I-II	8.5
NH	Androscoggin	Pontook	Scheduled	Fri,Sat,Sun from July 1 thru Labor Day (10am-4pm) Sat/Sun 2 wknds fol Labor Day		800-557-3569	2200	II	2.4
	Otterbrook	Lower	Scheduled	Mar,Apr			250-300	III-IV	3.2
	Blackwater	Blackwater Dam	Scheduled				600-900	I-IV	2.5
	Pemigewasset	Ayers Island Dam	Scheduled	4 summer releases		603-634-3569 or 603-669-4000	1500	II-III	1.6
	Contoocook	Freight Train	Scheduled					III-IV	2.3
	Contoocook	Jaffrey	Scheduled					II	5
	Contoocook	Heniker	Scheduled					II-III	2
NM	Rio Grande	Taos Box		Apr,May,Jun,Jul		888-882-6188	500-7000	III-IV	15
NY	Ausable	Ausable Chasm	Power Generation	run of river				IV+	3
	Beaver	Moshier	Scheduled	1 day Labor Day Wkend			400	IV-V	5
	Beaver	Taylorville	Scheduled	5 days, Sept.			400	IV	1.5
	Beaver	Eagle	Scheduled	5 days, Sept.			200	V	1
	Black	Gorge Run		May-Oct, almost daily in Jul & Aug		315-788-9121	2000	III-IV	7
	Esopus Creek	Allaben portal to Mt. Pleasant		Daily in Summer				II-III
	Hoosic	Schaghticoke	provided inflow to the Johnsonville reservoir is >638 cfs / < 638 cfs release postponed until following Wed	1st Wed after Apr 15th				III-IV	4
	Hudson	Indian River Section		3rd week in June - Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun				III+	2(10)
	Mongaup	Rio	Scheduled & power generation: Apr 16; May 1,14,29; Jun 11,26; Jul 24; Aug 6,21; Sep 3,18; Oct 1,16,29			609-883-9500	?	II-III	5
	Moose	Middle	Scheduled	April - June, Oct.				II-III	3
	Moose	Lower	Scheduled	April into May, Oct.				III-IV	11
	Moose	Bottom	Scheduled	20 days - April thru early June, again in Oct. 10 am - 5 pm / sign-in required			varies	IV-V	5
	Raquette	Stone Valley / Colton	Scheduled	spring spills, summer releases: Jul 23; Aug 6, 20; Sep 5, 17 8 am - 5 pm			720	IV-V	3
	Raquette	Stone Valley / Colton	Scheduled	spring spills, summer releases: Sep 3 8 am - 6 pm			900	IV-V	3
	Sacandaga	Lower	Scheduled	Daily - June until day after Labor Day			3000	II-III	3
	Salmon	Pulaski	Scheduled	10 days, June-Sept		800-452-1742 #365123	750	II-III	4
OR	Upper Klamath	Hell's Corner	power generation	daily		800-547-1501	1500-3000	IV-IV+	17
	N. Umpqua	Soda Spgs Pwrhouse to Boulder	power generation	always boatable			700-2500	III	1.5
	N. Umpqua	Boulder Flat to Horseshoe Bend	power generation	always boatable			700-2500	III	6.5
	N. Umpqua	Horseshoe Bend to Gravel Bin	power generation	always boatable			800-2500	III-III+	7.5
	N. Umpqua	Gravel Bin to Bogus Creek	power generation	always boatable but voluntary closure Jul 15 - Oct 31			1000-3000	II-III	5
	N. Umpqua	Bogus Creek to Cable Crossing	power generation	always boatable			1000-4000	III-IV	13
	N. Umpqua	Idleyld Pk. To Winchester (above dam)	power generation	always boatable			1200-5000	II-III	25
	N. Umpqua	Amacher Pk. To River Forks Pk.	power generation	always boatable			1200-5000	II	6.5
PA	Youghiogheny	Lower	power generation	Daily		724-329-8591		III	7
	Youghiogheny	Middle	power generation	Daily		724-329-8591		II	10
	Tohickon	Ralph Stover	scheduled	Third weekend in March and the first weekend in November, Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.		610-982-5560	700	III+	5
	Lehigh	Francis E Walter Dam to White Haven	Scheduled - power generation	See Schedule	Schedule			II-III	11
	Lehigh	White Haven to Rockport	Scheduled - power generation	See Schedule	Schedule			II-III	11
	Lehigh	Rockport to Jim Thorpe	Scheduled - power generation	See Schedule	Schedule		700	II-III	13
	Lackawaxen	Release Section	power generation	Often, See Website	Schedule	800-807-2474		II	5
	Stony Creek	Stony Creek Gorge	spill/run-off	none		703-260-0305 - 3	4/5' - 7'	II-III
SC	Saluda	Columbia	power generation	market demand		800-830-5253 - 2	200-18,000	II-IV+	12
	Catawba	Great Falls	Spill	Spills only after significant rain	No Scheduled Releases			III+	2
TN	Hiwassee	Lower	Scheduled + Generation	May through October, see schedule on web site	Schedule			II	5.8
	Hiwassee	Dries	spill / run-off	none	Levels		>3500	IV	4.8
	Ocoee	Lower	Scheduled	Tuesdays and Wednesdays, June - August	Schedule	800-238-2264		II
	Ocoee	Middle - #2 dam to #2 powerhouse	Scheduled	March - November, various days, see website	Schedule	800-238-2264	1200-1400	IV-	6
	Ocoee	Upper	Scheduled	Weekends Late April-October	Schedule		1600	IV	6
	Lower Caney Fork	Rock Island	power generation	market demand		800-238-2264	variable	IV	0.25
	Watauga	Below Wilbur Dam	Scheduled	Daily June-August	Schedule		variable	I-II	3-8
VA	Russell Fork	Upper	Scheduled	October			800-1000	II-III	3
	Russell Fork	Gorge	Scheduled	October			800-1000	IV-V	1.5
	Russell Fork	Below Gorge	Scheduled	October			800-1000	II-III	3
	Appomattox	Matoaca	Scheduled	winter,spring,early summer		757-899-4200 - 6	2.4' - 6.4'	II-III	6.5
	North Anna	Butler Ford	Scheduled	winter,spring,early summer			40 - 1100	II-III	9.5
VT	West River	Upper (Jamaica), Lower	Scheduled	Last weekday Apr- last weekday Sept			1500	I-III+	3
WA	Chelan	Chelan Gorge	Scheduled	July & September			2006	V+	5
	Green	Headworks	spill/runoff	dependent on spill, Nov-May		206-764-6702	variable	II(III)	3.5
	Green	Gorge	spill/runoff	dependent on spill, Nov-May		206-764-6702	variable	III/IV	5
	Green	Yo-Yo	spill/runoff	dependent on spill, Nov-May		206-764-6702	variable	II	2.8
	Sultan	Dam to Powerhouse	spill/runoff	demands heavy rain and full reservoir		360-347-5549	variable	IV	11
	Sultan	Powerhouse to Fishing Access	power generation needs	consistent in winter, year around possible		360-347-5549	variable	III/IV	2
	Tieton	bl Rimrock Dam	water delivery	2-4 weeks in Sept (after Labor Day)		206-764-6702	1000-3000	III/IV	11.5
	Cle Elum	bl Cle Elum dam	water delivery	summer		206-764-6702	variable	II	7.8
	Cedar	Landsburg to Maplewood	spill/runoff	winter/spring		206-684-3167	variable	II	15.5
	Wynoochee	bl Wynoochee Dam	spill/runoff	consistent in winter, year around possible		206-684-3167	200-1000	II-III(IV)	11.1
WI	Wisconsin	Wausau Course	Scheduled	Jun, Aug, Sep posted annually				II-III
	Wisconsin	Rhinelander (Pelican Rapids)	Scheduled	80 hours posted annually	Schedule	715-842-1284	600	III
	Black	Bl Hatfield Dam	Scheduled and spill/runoff	Apr-Aug (3rd Sat of Month), spills in early spring		1-888-hydrowi	variable	II-III	3.2
	Montreal	West Branch	spill/runoff	spring		715-893-2213	variable	IV	6.3
	Montreal	Canyon	spill/runoff	spring		715-893-2213	variable	II-III	3.1
	Menominee	Piers Gorge	spill/runoff	always			800-3000	II-IV	2.9
	Peshtigo	Johnson Falls to Schaeffer Rd	run of river	spring/summer		1.800.236.7341	variable	I-II	7.8
	Fox	Kaukauna	spill	spring/rains			6000-10,000	I-III(IV)	1.5
WV	Gauley	Upper	Scheduled	6 weekends		304-872-5809	2800	V	8
	Gauley	Lower	Scheduled	Fri-Mon(1st wknd after Labor Day)		304-872-5809	2800	IV	13
	N. Br. Potomac	Barnum to Bloomington	Scheduled	4 releases Apr & May and summer & fall releases posted month in advance		703-260-0305 - 1 - 3	600-1000	II-II+	6
	Tygart	Valley Falls						II-IV	1.5
*Scheduled–releases built into a FERC license condition, dam operations or enabling legislation for a federal dam
*Power Generation–ww flows that occur as a result of power generation schedules. These are typically market driven and unpredictable.
*Water Management–ww flows that occur as the result of water management practices such as irrigation deliveries, winter reservoir drawdowns or spill from storm/run-0ff events that exceed reservoir storage.