Obey, E. Fork

Regarding runnable flow:  In my notes I have 800 cfs on the Jamestown (Hwy. 52) gauge as the minimum flow.  Sehlinger et al say “A 700+ reading on the Jamestown gauge indicates the likelihood of runnable levels on section [Hwy. 85 to Hwy. 52]”, and that generally matches my 800 cfs low limit.  The flow on this river drops very fast and it is rare that there is enough flow.  Much of the flow disappears at an insurgence one mile above the Hwy. 85 bridge and then resurges at a big spring about five miles below the Hwy 85 bridge.  So the stretch of concern during low flow is from the Hwy. 85 bridge to the resurgence.  On this paddle trip there was 1300 cfs on the Jamestown gauge at the start and 1000 cfs at the end.  A few times some of us got hung up on rocks but in general there were routes through the rocks that would otherwise have gotten us through without getting hung up.  i.e. It was very runnable.

Regarding the Jamestown (Hwy. 52) gauge:  This gauge has been in and out of service in the recent past.  It does not currently show up on the USGS web page list for Tennessee stream flows (Fentress County).  However, if you google “USACE east fork obey” you can get the US Army Corp. of Engineers web page showing this gauge.

We paddled the 13 river miles from the Hwy. 85 bridge to the Hwy. 52 bridge.  Our crew consisted of two creek boats, several duckies, and one solo canoe.  All made it through OK.  I was surprised at how constant the flow was; the gradient drops steadily.  There was very little flat water.  I would classify some of the rapids as low class III.  There were some deadfall and overhanging branches but these were generally avoidable.  This is a beautiful paddle with lots of limestone bluffs lining the river.

We took out on the east (north) downstream side of the Hwy. 52 bridge.