Rock Creek Scheduled Recreation Flows Return to the North Fork Feather in 2026
The Rock Creek Reach of the North Fork Feather River continues to provide some of California’s most reliable summer and fall whitewater opportunities thanks to recreation releases secured through the relicensing of the Cresta Hydroelectric Project. Prior to the 2001 license, flows in this bypass reach were largely diverted for hydropower generation, leaving only minimal instream flows and making boating opportunities rare and unpredictable.
That changed through the efforts of American Whitewater, Chico PaddleHeads, and Shasta Paddlers, who spent years advocating for improved river conditions and dedicated recreation releases. Today, the Rock Creek Reach supports dependable boating opportunities throughout much of the year, with scheduled recreation releases supplementing the enhanced base flows that now support daily boating on portions of the run.
The Rock Creek Reach offers something for a wide range of paddlers. The Rodgers Flat section provides enjoyable Class III boating, while the Tobin and Lobin sections deliver some of the most exciting Class IV and Class V whitewater in Northern California. With Highway 70 paralleling much of the river, multiple access points allow paddlers to customize trips and run individual sections or the entire reach.
Scheduled Recreation Release Dates
The following recreation releases are scheduled for 2026. Flow targets are measured below Rock Creek Dam and are intended to provide quality boating opportunities throughout the reach.
June 27–28, 2026
- Saturday: 1,100 cfs
- Sunday: 900 cfs
July 25–26, 2026
- Saturday: 1,100 cfs
- Sunday: 900 cfs
August 22–23, 2026
- Saturday: 1,100 cfs
- Sunday: 900 cfs
September 26–27, 2026 (FEATHER FEST)
- Saturday: 900 cfs
- Sunday: 900 cfs
Boaters should always verify flows before traveling, as operational or system conditions can occasionally affect release schedules. By 9 a.m. on Saturdays, flows will be increased to the listed cfs before starting to reduce at 3 p.m. to 900 cfs. On Sundays, flows will be at 900 cfs until 2 p.m. when flows will be gradually reduced
Whether you’re looking for roadside Class III laps on Rodgers Flat or challenging Class IV-V whitewater through Tobin and Lobin, the 2026 recreation release schedule provides several excellent opportunities to experience one of California’s premier dam-controlled whitewater runs.
