The Black Canyon of the Bear River is going to flow all summer and likely next summer as well. PacifiCorp has advised American Whitewater and other stakeholders that they are beginning a multi-year project to replace the infrastructure that diverts the water from Black Canyon of the Bear to the generation turbines. The Grace hydro diversion dam (near Grace, ID) will be taken out of service in the next couple weeks, and all flows will remain in the canyon river channel. This will significantly alter the current recreational flow schedule for this section of river and create a tremendous boating opportunity, particularly given the record dry winter we just experienced in the western US.
The new flows in Black Canyon will be based on a combination of natural and irrigation flows between April 15 and October 15 of 2026 and the same time frame in future years through project completion. Despite the low snowpack in the West, irrigation flows will be provided throughout the growing season. This will create boating opportunities almost every day of the summer!
Anticipated summer flows will typically be 900–1200cfs daily (generally higher flows at higher temperatures in July), trending upward to these levels in the spring and downward in the fall, and they can also be altered by PacifiCorp for a number of reasons, such as weather (temp and precipitation), tributary flows, irrigation calls, power emergencies, etc. Please check the flow forecast prior to making the drive.
PacifiCorp will continue to provide flow forecasts on their flow phone 1-800-547-1501 and website.
The remaining whitewater recreation weekend releases scheduled for this year (April 24–26 and September 12–13, 2026) and future years will be canceled until the project is complete (currently expected to last at least three years).
This will be a new situation for everyone involved, including Pacificorps, consulting groups like American Whitewater, and the public. Please be patient while we all work through the details of this new flow regime. American Whitewater will post any additional information as it becomes available on our Black Canyon River page.
Enjoy this summer on the Bear! Please take pictures and post trip reports on the Black Canyon page to help us document various flows.
