Silver Creek

Description:

6 miles of Silver Creek + 3 miles on SF American (Golden Gate run)

This is a high quality classic class V Sierra run.   It would definitely be on the list of any class V kayaker in California, if flows were more readily available.  If you get the chance to run Silver creek take it, it is likely to be a once in a decade event. Majority of rapids are clean bedrock with some boulder gardens mixed in. There are many multiple move rapids. No single drop over ~10 feet vertical.  Lots of great boofs.

Comparisions: Similar but easier than golden gate or SF Merced.  Similar but harder than 49 to Bridgeport on SF Yuba – Silver creek is smaller and steeper than SF Yuba below 49.

Most groups should budget about 5-7 hours of river time.

Flow:

This section rarely has boatable flows and it is diffucult to know what the flow is when it does have water.  If Union Valley Reservoir spills into Silver Creek, those flows will pass through two small reservoirs befor passing through this reach.  Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) controls the reservoirs and powerhouses and monitors flows in this section.  Find flows by having connections at SMUD, or drive to the put in and look.

Typically flows only in high water years based on dam releases. Flow into this stretch comes from releases from Camino Reservoir. Note: this dam chooses to release water and does not 'spill' (there is no spillway). Flow into Camino comes from Jaybird Power House (estimated capacity of up to 2000 CFS),  releases from Union Valley Dam (~6 miles upstream), and some natural accretion.

Ideal Class V flow judged to be ~600-800cfs.  Most rapids consist of water features at this flow. In between pushy and padded.

Hazards:

3 -4 rapids are commonly portaged on Silver Creek proper. Some boaters may not have any.  All porta

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