Last week, American Whitewater took part in the annual scheduling meeting for the New River Dries releases. Each year these releases will follow the same pattern: a weekend in mid-March, and then 3.5 consecutive weekends starting with the last weekend in June. For 2020, this means the releases are on March 21 & 22, June 27 & 28, and July 4, 5, 11, 12, and 18. Inflows have to be in a very specific range for a release to occur or it will be rescheduled for the next free weekend, so double check the gages and the power company website before heading to the river.

Paddlers will find a new public take-out on the Dries this year, just upstream of the campground. American Whitewater negotiated this access area along with the dam releases as part of the relicensing of Hawks Nest Dam. A new put in is also under construction downstream of Cotton Hill Bridge but the opening date for that site is still in flux. It also is downstream of some fun whitewater, so choose your adventure with intention.

We hope people get out and enjoy these releases!