Thomson whitewater releases are scheduled recreational flow events on the St. Louis River below the Thomson Hydropower Project near Carlton, Minnesota. On select dates each season, dam operations provide planned boating flows of approximately 700 cfs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., creating a rare opportunity to paddle the famous Thomson reach. This steep and technical stretch of Class III–IV whitewater is otherwise unavailable at normal river levels and offers one of the premier whitewater runs in the Midwest, with continuous rapids, powerful current, and a dramatic gorge setting.
These scheduled flows exist because of advocacy and collaboration during the project’s federal licensing process. American Whitewater worked with local partners and agencies to secure recreational releases as part of the operating requirements for the Thomson Project. The release program helps ensure that whitewater boating remains a recognized and protected use of the St. Louis River alongside hydropower generation and other resource priorities.
