Sacandaga (NY) Christine Falls Settlement Agreement Reached

American Whitewater reached a Settlement Agreement with the owner of a hydropower dam at Christine Falls on the Sacandaga River in upstate New York. The Settlement Agreement with Ampersand, USFWS, and DEC will improve river flows, recreation access, and provide flow information that supports whitewater boating below the Christine Falls Dam. The Middle Branch of the Sacandaga River is a great run when everything else has dropped after a long amount of rain. It holds water from the two big slow-draining lakes and still cranks class V rapids when everything else is back to low levels. Notable features on this 10-mile run from Christine Falls to East Branch include Christine's Revenge, Roadside Falls, and Austin Falls. The Settlement Agreement is significant because it requires this small (<1 MW) hydro dam to provide flow information and access for whitewater boating. Without information and access, boating opportunities at Christine Falls would be impossible.