The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), American Whitewater and other consultation group members including Jim Eicher, BLM Mother Lode Associate Field Manager, have scheduled the required 2016 recreational flows for South Fork Silver Creek below Ice House Reservoir and the South Fork American River below Slab Creek Dam. The releases are part of the FERC license for the Upper American River Hydropower Project and this will be the first required release for the long awaited gem of the South Fork American River below  Slab Creek.

Although the new hydropower license was issued in 2014, American Whitewater remains engaged during implementation to insure elements that protect our river habitat, provide access and recreational flows are fully executed within the spirit of what was originally negotiated. This includes implementing a whitewater boating monitoring plan, securing streamflow and reservoir level information in a usable format for the lifetime of the license, relocating hazardous large woody debris on SF Silver Creek, and advocating for a permanent take-out facility for Slab Creek.

So mark your calendars…here’s when you’ll be able to get out on the water!  

 

South Fork Silver Creek below Ice House Reservoir Class IV*

 

Pulse Flow Dates:

May 18^th & 19 at 450 cfs

May 20 at 550 cfs

Duration: Continuous

 

Recreational Flow Dates:

May 21 & 22 at 450 cfs

Duration: Continuous

June 25 & 26 at 500 cfs

Duration: 10 am – 3 pm

Additional dates may be added and announced depending on the final water year type.

 

South Fork American River below Slab Creek Class IV-V*

April 23 & 24

April 30 & May 1

May 14 & 15.

At 1100 cfs.

Duration: 10 am - 4 pm

As these recreational dates approach American Whitewater will get the word out on Slab Creek final take-out arrangements, shuttle service and monitoring sites.

**Note there is criterion that will modify or suspend recreational flows at Slab Creek:

• If the Licensee determines expected inflows from SFA River into Slab Creek Reservoir are not controllable to 1500cfs, flows can be suspended and only made up within the recreational flow time frame that ends on May 31.

• If water temperatures rise above 12 degrees Celsius mean daily temperature for a seven-day running average, flows can be cancelled to protect FYL Frogs and other biological resources. In Critically Dry 2015 this threshold was crossed on March 31st with a minimum instream flow of 63 cfs. But in a Below Normal water year the minimum instream flows are almost triple that amount at 180 cfs and the consultation group has made an educated guess (and roll of the dice) that the temperature threshold will not be crossed.