Greetings! At long last, the North Fork Feather season draws near. 2003 brings a modified release schedule due to concerns on the effects to Yellow Legged Frogs, a sensitive species in California. This year’s release weekends have been shifted to the end of the month to give more time for amphibian development in the bypass reaches. Further, the June release on Cresta has been cancelled due to new egg masses, which may have been delayed due to the late season run-off. These egg masses are very sensitive to the shearing forces of higher flows and we have agreed to cancel this release if egg masses were surveyed within three weeks of the release date. Below are the release dates and flow amounts:
June 29th Rock Creek 1,600 cfs
July 26th Cresta 1,200 cfs
July 27th Rock Creek 1,200 cfs
August 23rd Cresta 1,000 cfs
August 24th Rock Creek 1,000 cfs
Sept. 27th Cresta 1,000 cfs
Sept 28th Rock Creek 1,000 cfs
Oct. 25th Cresta 1,000 cfs
Oct. 26th Rock Creek 1,000 cfs
The July and August releases are subject to a one-week delay in the event of a “heat storm”. PG&E is required to provide at least 48 hours notice if their weather forecast predicts an unusually hot period. Last minute news will be posted on the AW web site at www.americanwhitewater.org so, to avoid extreme disappointment, check the AW web site prior to heading to the Feather in July and August.
Logistics:
This year, there is earthquake retrofitting occurring on all the bridges over the North Fork Feather so the traffic issues will likely be compounded over last year. During the off season, we met with Caltrans and the CHP to get their input on how last season went and how we could improve this years traffic and parking problems. Both agencies are very concerned for boater safety on highway 70 and feel that we were quite lucky last year in not having a major accident. Of particular concern, was the parking of private vehicles near the Cresta put-in. We need EVERYBODY to bring as few vehicles as possible, park at the powerhouse, and use the shuttle. Granted, the shuttle can be a bit of a wait, but everybody gets on the water. The other alternative is, we fail to self regulate ourselves and we lose these releases.
We are in dire need of volunteer help for directing traffic and parking cars! Here’s what we need:
For each day of the release weekends, we need 12 volunteers, six for the morning, and six for the afternoon. Volunteers will work at several key areas helping to keep parking, traffic and pedestrians (boaters) from impacting the highway. Volunteers will work 4-hour shifts (morning shift 9:00AM to 1:00PM, afternoon shift 1:00PM to 5:00PM) Volunteers will have special privileges on the shuttle. In other words, you won’t have to wait in line to get your shuttle on days that you volunteer. So, please sign up as soon as possible. The first release day is just around the corner, June 29th. If you need more information or are ready to sign up to help, please contact Eric Petlock at northfeathervolunteer@yahoo.com . Please email and let us know when you can help.
Public Relations:
There are a number of people who would be quite pleased if recreational boating ended on the North Fork Feather. While paddling is often a solitary sport, everybody’s attitude and actions reflect upon out sport as a whole. While the CHP took a relaxed approach last year, we expect to see more active enforcement of traffic laws this year. Illegal turns, passengers in the back of pick-up trucks, stopping in unsafe areas or on the roadway, or drug and/or alcohol usage will likely get you cited or arrested. Please don’t let a moment of poor reasoning lead to a weekend of grief. If people upset with the recreational releases approach you, feel free to direct them to the AW booth at the Cresta Powerhouse (Saturdays) or the Tobin Vista parking area on Sundays. Above all, smile and be polite.
Entertainment:
The Tobin Resort will have food available so stop by and help the local economy. Last year the social hub of the Feather River Canyon was the Tobin Resort and we expect the same friendly atmosphere will help you forget that blown move at County Line Hole.
Finally:
Once again, let me take this opportunity to reinforce that the recreational releases on the North Fork Feather would never have happened without the massive effort of the staff and volunteers of American Whitewater and our coalition partners, with whom we spent years working to negotiate the settlement which increased instream flows, provided over seven million dollars to reduce water temperatures in the bypass reaches, restore spawning habitat, and yes, recreational flows! Without your support, American Whitewater loses effectiveness… and the public loses rivers!