Dead

The gage house and equipment is long gone; the lower half in the stream bed came out a few years ago, all that's left is the upper half (good for 5000+ cfs measurements) fastened to a tree.

Evil-Nasty-Hole at the bottom of Mile Long Rapid during the 2400 cfs release in August. The actual water level is heavily affected by inflow from side streams. So 2400 in one year may be very different from 2400 in another year.

quick trip report for 1300cfs:
Three of us put on at 9:30 and set our own shuttle. One paddler had two swims: one in the first rapid that was just nerves coming into play and tightening him up…and then he swam about 1/2 of lower poplar before I got him to shore. We didn't get his boat back until almost the end of that rapid so he had a little hike to catch up to us.
The other paddler (there were three of us on the river) got caught in a little (shallow) hole about halfway through the run and he pulled his skirt because he was having a hard time rolling up. He self rescued about twenty feet below where he swam.
The run is quite shallow in spots and except for the Poplars would be a great intro run. The only thing I could think of and what I hammered home a few times to the new paddler is that if he swims, he needs to get into a feet up position until you are heading for an eddy. I think foot entrapment is a real risk at this level.
The bulk of the run is a casual boulder dodge. Poplars are solid class III and a bit bigger than the rest of the run.
There really isn't any play on this run (meaning eddy service play hole or wave). There are tons of spots to practice ferrying, eddying out, peel outs, and general boat control. The water is slow enough that if you blow your line you can correct it easily.
We took out at the public parking area above Webb's at 3pm…without any play stops and a short 10 minute snack break. So it was a long day, but sunny and 75 good company.
FWIW this would be a really nice open boat trip or good beginner to intermediate run with the caveat that foot entrapment is a real concern and with so many boulders you could get a boat pinned on something pretty easily and have to deal with that.
cheers,
Peter

Latest update from Nextera Energy:
This just in from Nextera Energy.... I suspect the last minute change is due to the US Canoe Nationals being scheduled on the Dead this weekend. They really-really wanted the 1300 release level. Kudos to the power company for being responsive to paddler requests.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
On Fri, Jul 3, 2009 at 10:29, Carol Clark wrote:
Subject: Dead River Release rescheduled for Satuday and Sunday

Hello-

Good news. The flow into Flagstaff Lake has slowed and the weather forecast is more promising. We will be able to do the 1300 cfs releases of Saturday and Sunday as originally scheduled.

Carol Clark, P.E.
NextEra Energy Resources and Kennebec Water Power

The bottom of Mile Long is full of holes; an upstream river-left shore view of Evil Nasty Hole (in the foreground) is shown here, in the background the wide FBI Hole on river-right.

Sam Drevo, Eric Southwick and I ran 3 lines off Grand Falls at low water filming 'Royal Flush' - a point on the river right of center, the crack beside it, and the fishladder. The fishladder was very shallow at the landing.

No where near the level in these photos.

Clay Wright

The level here is unknown. In the morning the level at Flagstaff Dam was 8,000 cfs, but by evening the level had been dropped to 2,800 cfs. This photo was taken late in the day.

Riding the wave train

This is a typical crowd at a high water release about 10:30 am. If you are just running the river get there early. If you play the river hard come later and miss the rubber bus parade.

Grand Falls is just above the put-in. It's takes a little trouble to see but it's definitely worth a look. Portage upstream 100 yards or so from the put-in, and then paddle up the large eddies to the falls.

The shuttle takes up to an hour down gravel logging roads and when the roads are freshly graded tire punctures are common. Web's shuttle can be a convenient alternative.
A typical rapid a medium level.

Grand Falls is just above the put-in. It's takes a little trouble to see but it's definitely worth a look. Portage upstream 100 yards or so from the put-in, and then paddle up the large eddies to the falls.

See other Julie Keller photos at www.juliekeller.com.