Savage, |
|
| Name | Range | Updated | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAVAGE RIV BL SAVAGE RIV DAM NEAR BLOOMINGTON, MD | 250 - 2000 cfs | 00h57m | 53 cfs (rc= -0.1 ) |
American Whitewater is working aggressively to obtain regularly scheduled recreational whitewater releases (600 - 1000 cfs) for the second weekend of each month between June and September. This is contingent upon water availability and UPRC cooperation.
These efforts have worked very succesfully in the past, and have resulted in water releases for recreational purposes. However in 2009, the following text was posted on the Army Corp's of Engineers Website: "Constraints have been placed on operations at Savage River Dam during the 2009 season due to a malfunctioning outlet gate. These constraints may result in a wider than normal range of lake elevations along with a slight increase in the possibility of flow over the spillway." You can view the text at their website.
SOURCE FOR THE FOLLOWING TEXT: William Nealy's Whitewater Home Companion, Southern Rivers
Volume I, which has more on this run. Text used with permission.
The Savage is THE whitewater rocket ride! With an average gradient of 75 feet per mile (with
sections exceeding 100 fpm) the action is fast and continuous. The Savage's overall difficulty
rating below 800 cfs is Class III-IV. At 800 - 1,200 cfs it is Class IV. Above 1,200 cfs the
Savage is the longest Class IV-V rapid in Maryland!! Due to the steep, narrow and unrelenting
nature of this run paddlers should be: 1) Well insulated (water temp 46), 2) Adept at fast
self-rescue and wave-crest scouting, and 3) In possession of paddling skills commensurate with
water levels... below 800 cfs - intermediate to advanced, 800 - 1,200 cfs - advanced to expert,
above 1,200 cfs - expert only.
Savage River Road follows along the entire 4.5 mile run. At approx. mile 1.5 and just before the
swinging bridge that marks the end of the slalom course there is a large undercut rock (House
Rock) on river left.
The takeout is on the North Branch of the Potomac just upstream of the confluence. Please respect
the locals and refrain from drinking or changing clothes in the open, here. The putin is just
minutes up the road and its relative remoteness lends itself to these activities.
Another good source of information about this run is Ed Gertler's Maryland and Delaware Canoe
Trails.
| Name | Range | Updated | Level | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAVAGE RIV BL SAVAGE RIV DAM NEAR BLOOMINGTON, MD | |||||||||
| usgs-01597500 | 250 - 2000 cfs | 00h57m | 53 cfs (rc= -0.1 ) | ||||||
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| When | River/Gauge | Subject | Level | Reporter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Savage [MD] |
Savage!
|
n/a | Matt Muir | |
| Savage [md] |
Savage 89 Worlds Jon Lugbill - 3
|
n/a | Jason Robertson | |
| 3y164d19h10m | Savage [MD] |
Memorial Rock
|
3.00ft, 861cfs | Patricia Hachick |
| 5y86d19h10m | Savage River [MD] |
Yet another great drop.
|
350cfs | Chris Brock |
| 5y86d19h10m | Savage [MD] |
Savage in the race course
|
350 cfs | Bill Kirby |
| 6y168d19h10m | Savage [MD] |
Savage Strainer
|
n/a | Matt Muir |
| > 10 years | Savage River [MD] |
Savage River Slalom 1976
|
n/a | Ken and Fran Strickland |
| > 10 years | Savage [MD] |
Savage River Slalom 1976
|
n/a | Ken and Fran Strickland |
| > 10 years | Savage [MD] |
Carrie Ashton, Savage Races, 1974
|
n/a | Bill Kirby |
| > 10 years | Savage [MD] |
John Hefti at the Savage Races, 1973
|
2500-3000 cfs | Bill Kirby |
No rapids entered. If you know names, and locations of the rapids please contact and advise the StreamTeam member for this run. (iCal)
River Alert
State News
River Links
NWRI - Savage Dam to North Branch Potomac River (mobile)
User Comments
clean (the dam looks sketchy), its not til the last third when the river braids a bit that it gets
scrapy at all. At 250cfs it'd probably be turning into a rock fest...but at 350 we did multiple
laps and it was worth it Edit
around ~250? AW now shows it as green. Are we talking a fun ELF or ass scraping level 2? I've run
the Savage once during a release weekend and it's a hell of a ride. What's it like at lower levels? Edit
pulled under / behind the curtain. Don't ask me how I know this! Edit
down to around 250 cfs, as indicated in the rankings of river difficulties accessible from the MCC
home page, and from the earlier comment posted here about recreational releases of 300 cfs. Edit
she would call the police if I tried to put in below the dam. What's with that?! Just FYI. I put in
lower.
<br />
April 10 and 11<br />
April 24 and 25<br />
May 8 and 9<br />
May 22 and 23 <br />
Large releases suitable for whitewater recreation may be scheduled for several other weekends
during the summer and fall, provided sufficient water is available. These weekends will be
announced about two to four weeks in advance on this website, or on a telephone recording at (410)
962-7687.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />
NEW<br />
There are plans for an Artificially Varied Flow (AVF) release beginning on August 14, 2004 at 10 AM
and lasting until August 15, 2004 at noon. AVF flows are scheduled periodically to help improve
downstream habitat. The release rate will be 850 cfs from Jennings Randolph Lake,<b> with a
corresponding release of 350 cfs from Savage River Dam.<br /></b>
Additional AVF releases are being considered for September 11-12 and October 9-10, 2004. More
information will be provided here at a later date.<br />
The Thursday afternoon releases have been cancelled due to lack of interest!<br />
Smaller recreational releases of 300 cubic feet per second are scheduled to occur from 10:30 AM
until 2:30 PM each Thursday from July 15 until August 26.<br />
<br />
Additionally, attempts will be made to avoid large releases during selected weekends, unless such
releases are required as a result of highwater conditions, downstream water supply needs, or
unforeseen circumstances. These weekends are as follows: April 3-4 and 17-18; May 1-2, 15-16, and
29-30; June 12-13 and 26-27; July 10-11 and 24-25; August 7-8 and 21-22; September 4-5 and 18-19;
and October 2-3 and 23-24. <br />
Releases from Jennings Randolph Lake are made for a variety of purposes and are subject to increase
or decrease without prior notice. <br />
<br />
The whitewater releases are sponsored by the Mineral County Parks and Recreation Commission. They
can be reached for further information at (304) 788-5732.<br />
paddled creekboats.
(in middle of run). Trees down on each side of the river give the false appearance that the middle
line might runnable. It's not. Eddy out before you get to these trees. There is another tree in the
water behind them that you cannot see until it is too late.
channels are blocked with wood. You can identify this rapid by a blue warehouse on river left. I
highly suggest scouting this from the bank or the road. unless conditions improve it is highly
advisable to walk this one.