Klamath

This trip was for purposes of a flow study conducted by Confluence Research, under the direction of Klamath River Renewal Corporation, as part of an effort to quantify instream flow needs for recreation and impacts of dam removal on existing and future recreational opportunities on the river.

A flow of 800 cfs was evaluated which is in the range of anticipated flows in late spring and early summer associated with the Proposted Action of dam removal. At the Whitewater Boater Study flow of 800 cfs below Keno Dam, the study found that the segment’s Class II/III rapids are well-suited for hard shell kayak trips, particularly instructional trips for beginners or intermediates. Varied features and abundant eddies provide excellent opportunities for skill building. A flow of 800 cfs in the segment offers marginal opportunities for outfitted trips, particularly in larger rafts. Few rapids have strong hydraulics or large waves, and several reaches have shallow boulder gardens that produce multiple hits and stops for lightly loaded rafts. Although some outfitters considered this flow and segment suitable for challenging inflatable kayaking among clients with more experience, others were less sure about demand for or risks of such trips. Several rapids require more than a single move to avoid obstacles and linking several moves in a complex rapid is challenging for less experienced boaters. Outfitters thought such trips would need safety set-ups at key locations to provide directions, physically redirect boats, or retrieve people or boats in case of mishaps.

Boaters considered the 800 cfs study flow close to the low end of the boatable range. Although some suggested 500 cfs can be boated in a two-person raft, hard shell kayak, or inflatable kayak, the challenge and pace of the trip would be marginal. Major problems include the first half mile below the dam and the lower two-thirds of the segment, which have wide and rocky channels that would produce multiple hits and stops even with constant vigilance. Boaters reported that flows in Keno occasionally drop several hundred cfs within a single day, which further limits the potential for outfitted trips. Trips at 800 cfs are already marginal; a drop of 200 cfs could leave some craft high and dry in shallower reaches.