A new permit issued In April of 2007 by the Maryland Department of the Environment instituted a new schedule of releases from Deep Creek Reservoir into the Upper Youghiogheny River. The new release schedule offers significant improvements to whitewater boating opportunities on one of the nation’s premiere class IV/V whitewater rivers, located in western Maryland. The releases are also expected to benefit fisheries, power generation, local businesses, and other recreationists.

The permit represents a regional consensus based on over a year of collaborative discussions among many stakeholders including representatives from Brookfield Power, the Maryland Department of Environment, local (Team Friendsville) and national (American Whitewater and American Canoe Association) paddling organizations, commercial rafting outfitters (led by Roger Zbel, owner of Precision Rafting), local angling organizations, the Town of Friendsville, Garrett County, and area residents.

Under the new permit, there will be new whitewater releases on ten summer Saturdays. These releases are expected to benefit private boaters, commercial outfitters, and rafting customers by providing new paddling opportunities on weekends. Temperature enhancement releases may also be modified to provide additional recreational benefits. Previously, whitewater releases generally occurred only on Fridays, Mondays, and the first Saturday of every month. The additional recreational use is expected to generate economic benefits to the area. The releases are also expected to benefit coldwater fish by lowering high water temperatures on hot summer days.

The permit contains several other provisions which benefit other interests. Brookfield Power will now be able to subtly change the flow in the river on a minute-to-minute basis to better participate in the dynamic energy market. Homeowners on the reservoir are guaranteed acceptable reservoir levels for recreation and scenic qualities. Anglers who prefer fishing the river when the dam is not releasing will have more certainty regarding release times and several additional spring days with no scheduled releases.

The new permit is the direct result of everyone working creatively and openly to envision a new release schedule that could benefit all stakeholders. AW is honored to have helped on this venture, but believes that the vision of an honest-to-goodness upper yough “season” could not have been brought to fruition without local heart soul and mind, particularly Team Friendsville, the local outfitting community and local government, as well as the solution-oriented, forward thinking of Brookfield Power.