Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
| Messages 1 - 73 of total 73 in this topic |
justthemaid
climber
Jim Henson's Basement
|
|
|
Topic Author's Original Post - Feb 22, 2017 - 05:25pm PT
|
OWENS RIVER GORGE ALERT!
Edit/Update Word now is early March and around 400 cfs is more realistic.
See pg 2 for current update.
***
We talked to a 30-year veteran engineer for DWP today, and he said, starting tomorrow, the utility is going to open the main valve from the Crowley Lake Dam ALL THE WAY - something that has never been done. This will release 750+ CFS of water into the Owens River Gorge.
The dam evidently is filled to the limit, and there are concerns about it overflowing. Due to repairs that had to made to the generators, they have been unable to release the necessary water until everything was fixed.
Climbers are advised to use extreme caution in the coming weeks. Many of the river crossings may be submerged under fast moving water making access to most of the east side dangerous or impossible. Stay safe people.
Should be quite a show.
|
|
rottingjohnny
Sport climber
Sands Motel , Las Vegas
|
|
|
Feb 22, 2017 - 05:47pm PT
|
Drove over the Owens by Clowns Town about an hour ago...the river is near the top of the banks and moving quickly...
|
|
Stimbo
Trad climber
Crowley Lake
|
|
|
Feb 22, 2017 - 06:14pm PT
|
This will release 750+ CFS of water into the Owens River Gorge.
I guess that means fishing is out of the question....
|
|
Kalimon
Social climber
Ridgway, CO
|
|
|
Feb 22, 2017 - 07:25pm PT
|
750 cfs is substantial, equivalent to the San Miguel on a mid-summer afternoon . . . Be careful folks, leave your pets at home and respect the water.
|
|
rottingjohnny
Sport climber
Sands Motel , Las Vegas
|
|
|
Feb 22, 2017 - 07:36pm PT
|
That's Bull sh#t...!!!
|
|
justthemaid
climber
Jim Henson's Basement
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 22, 2017 - 08:32pm PT
|
Guess we'll see if it happens tomorrow- hoping we didn't get trolled by some random DWP dude. He was older- said he'd been working there for 35 years so it seemed legit.
The crew has been climbing all over the plant working like crazy 7 days a week for the last month. The giant tool trailer was hauled out today too to service the lower plant.
|
|
Kalimon
Social climber
Ridgway, CO
|
|
|
Feb 22, 2017 - 08:49pm PT
|
The giant tool trailer
Yikes! Must be serious then . . . bring on the 750 cfs for chrissakes!
|
|
Urmas
Social climber
Sierra Eastside
|
|
|
Feb 22, 2017 - 09:00pm PT
|
Hope some of the bridges survive.
|
|
phylp
Trad climber
Upland, CA
|
|
|
Feb 22, 2017 - 09:00pm PT
|
Wow!!!
Let us know what the aftermath is. I can't even imagine.
|
|
TwistedCrank
climber
Released into general population, Idaho
|
|
|
Feb 23, 2017 - 05:17am PT
|
Pics please (when the release happens)
|
|
rwedgee
Ice climber
CA
|
|
|
Feb 23, 2017 - 09:10am PT
|
Nobody works at the DWP for 35 years, they can retire at 85% after 25 years with full medical.
How many CFM does it normally flow ?
|
|
FRUMY
Trad climber
Bishop,CA
|
|
|
Feb 23, 2017 - 09:43am PT
|
385 cfs.
|
|
justthemaid
climber
Jim Henson's Basement
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 23, 2017 - 10:39am PT
|
MisterE went out to the ORG this morning - no release yet. BUT, he passed a DWP truck with a snow-cat on it heading north on the 395 on his way back into town...
Maybe to access the valve?
|
|
G_Gnome
Trad climber
Cali
|
|
|
Feb 23, 2017 - 10:47am PT
|
Normal flow thru the gorge is 45 cfs. Most of it goes thru pipes for power generation and gets dumped into Pleasant Valley. From there the lower Owens often runs between 250 and 400 cfs. it will be really good for the river to get all the silt scoured out at this flow. Fishing will be really good once the flow goes back near normal. I believe they are now obligated to do flushing flows thru the gorge if there is enough water in the system.
|
|
Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
|
|
|
Feb 23, 2017 - 04:29pm PT
|
This thread is gonna need pictures when the water is ripping. Some of you locals up there have a journalistic responsibility to prove that this is not fake news.
Anybody getting their kayaks ready?
|
|
neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
|
|
|
Feb 23, 2017 - 04:55pm PT
|
hey there say, justthemaid...
thanks for sharing...
i heard erik share this, too, at facebook...
how is it going...
any more news yet?
i do not know much about these areas...
i only lived in san jose...
am curious about SO much stuff now, though,
seems they never taught us enough in school,
back in the 60!s, :(
about our wonderful lovely state...
:(
|
|
Stimbo
Trad climber
Crowley Lake
|
|
|
Feb 23, 2017 - 05:40pm PT
|
The flow through the Gorge is at 13 cfs, still. Nothing to get a burr in your britches yet.
|
|
rottingjohnny
Sport climber
Sands Motel , Las Vegas
|
|
|
Feb 23, 2017 - 05:41pm PT
|
Yeah right dude...? When you saw her...
|
|
rottingjohnny
Sport climber
Sands Motel , Las Vegas
|
|
|
Feb 23, 2017 - 05:45pm PT
|
did you say hello ?
|
|
10b4me
Mountain climber
Retired
|
|
|
Feb 23, 2017 - 05:56pm PT
|
Normal flow thru the gorge is 45 cfs. Most of it goes thru pipes for power generation and gets dumped into Pleasant Valley. From there the lower Owens often runs between 250 and 400 cfs. it will be really good for the river to get all the silt scoured out at this flow. Fishing will be really good once the flow goes back near normal. I believe they are now obligated to do flushing flows thru the gorge if there is enough water in the system.
I believe Bob Harrington mentioned, in a previous thread, that was going to happen.
|
|
Peater
Trad climber
Salt Lake City Ut.
|
|
|
Feb 23, 2017 - 09:15pm PT
|
YES let her rip
Whatever. If they flush the gorge I think lots of really cool stuff will come out and it will not hurt anybody long term. What I mean by cool stuff is old beer cans, bottles and discards from the old power plant workers there.
There's really a lot of historic stuff in there though that will get washed away forever.
|
|
Fat Dad
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
|
|
|
Feb 23, 2017 - 09:30pm PT
|
How much, if any of this, winds up in Owens Lake?
|
|
justthemaid
climber
Jim Henson's Basement
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 23, 2017 - 10:03pm PT
|
Quote someone on facebook
"MORE FAKE NEWS"
LOL. Probably get an angry twitter from the Mango-in Chief :)
Trolled by the DWP guy. Apologies for the knee-jerk post.
The big flush is coming eventually though. Going to be quite a sight once it gets going.
We'll update with stuff we've seen with our own eyes from this point.
|
|
Bob Harrington
climber
Bishop, California
|
|
|
Feb 23, 2017 - 10:05pm PT
|
I talked with DWP this morning. They are planning on releasing up to 400 cfs below the Middle Gorge Power Plant starting between March 2nd and 5th. They are preparing a press release, so look for that. Not sure whether there will be public access or not, and not sure how long they will maintain the high flows. For context, the steady flows of the past couple of decades have been around 36 cfs.
I posted something a couple of months ago about the flows hey would be releasing to improve habitat as part of an agreement with DFW. This is different, they are trying to make room in Crowley for the runoff they are expecting this spring.
|
|
justthemaid
climber
Jim Henson's Basement
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 23, 2017 - 10:06pm PT
|
thanks Bob
|
|
Peater
Trad climber
Salt Lake City Ut.
|
|
|
Feb 23, 2017 - 10:18pm PT
|
there's a paddle wheeler out there in Owens lake some where (really). Maybe they'll re float it.
|
|
ß Î Ø T Ç H
Boulder climber
ne'er–do–well
|
|
|
Feb 23, 2017 - 10:31pm PT
|
"I floated the O"
|
|
riemannzetagambit
Trad climber
San Francisco
|
|
|
Feb 28, 2017 - 03:25pm PT
|
I just got off the phone with an engineer at the LADWP office in Bishop. Here are the numbers he gave me:
Crowley Lake release ramping up to 200 CFS through the gorge by March 4.
Ramping up to 400 CFS+ by March 6.
They will maintain a 400 CFS+ flow, barring any further snowmelt survey changes, until November of this year. According to the engineer, 400 CFS is enough to fill parts of the gorge wall to wall, except in a few spots where embankments might provide some dry ground.
|
|
guyman
Social climber
Moorpark, CA.
|
|
|
Feb 28, 2017 - 04:31pm PT
|
Are you guys sure they will release water from the dam?
What will happen to the little fish that has a special place up river? I forget the name of them.
There is a "dry part" that they keep dry to keep the trout away from them.
|
|
herm
Trad climber
Bishop
|
|
|
Feb 28, 2017 - 04:57pm PT
|
Tui Chub, I figured the trout ate em all years ago.
|
|
Bob Harrington
climber
Bishop, California
|
|
|
Feb 28, 2017 - 05:11pm PT
|
LADWP will be ramping up releases from Crowley over the next several days reaching a peak of about 450 cfs, but this will be in the river channel below the Middle Gorge Power Plant only (below Penstock Rock). Above Middle Gorge Power Plant, the elevated releases will be contained in the penstock system (the big pipes) and flows in the river channel will be roughly to what we are accustomed to as 'normal'.
Below the Middle Gorge Plant, the river will be high, fast, and dangerous. There are no public access restrictions that I know of, but obviously be careful if you are down that way and pay attention to any posted warnings.
|
|
guyman
Social climber
Moorpark, CA.
|
|
|
Feb 28, 2017 - 05:12pm PT
|
herm.... no they have a special place. Water is flowing in a section just below the dam and it sort of "peaters out" before the permanent water inflow spot. If you walk in the north gorge and hike all the way down the paved road to its end (down by some fine looking stone) you will see the pipe coming down .... below this spot the water flows all the time.
If they let the water rip from Crowley it will take out everything.
If you climb at the catacombs, you can look down and see water flowing in the chub creek portion.
let er rip
|
|
rurprider
Trad climber
Mt. Rubidoux
|
|
|
Feb 28, 2017 - 06:50pm PT
|
450 CFS isn't 750 CPM. Maybe not FAKE NEWS, but Exaggerated Facts.
|
|
Mungeclimber
Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
|
|
|
Feb 28, 2017 - 07:44pm PT
|
below the Middle Gorge Power Plant only (below Penstock Rock).
So where might be a good place to observe the high flows, safely?
South approach road seems like it might be partly under water at peak flow, yes?
|
|
riemannzetagambit
Trad climber
San Francisco
|
|
|
Feb 28, 2017 - 07:52pm PT
|
Bob Harrington I called LADWP because I wanted to climb this weekend in ORG, which would be my first time.
but this will be in the river channel below the Middle Gorge Power Plant only (below Penstock Rock). Above Middle Gorge Power Plant, the elevated releases will be contained in the penstock system (the big pipes) and flows in the river channel will be roughly to what we are accustomed to as 'normal'. Based on your description, which parts of the Gorge are safe for climbing?
|
|
Bob Harrington
climber
Bishop, California
|
|
|
Feb 28, 2017 - 08:33pm PT
|
Based on your description, which parts of the Gorge are safe for climbing?
Based on what I've been told, everything above the Middle Gorge Power Plant should have normal flows and access to climbs. That's 80-90% of the climbing. Use the approach from the Central Gorge parking, not the south parking area. Upper Gorge should be fine too. This is all contingent on DWP maintaining public access. Whether or not they restrict access, this would be a good time to stay out of the Lower Gorge just to keep out of their way. I'll try to keep y'all posted.
So where might be a good place to observe the high flows, safely?
There's a nice horseshoe bend about 3/4 of a mile below the south parking. Look for the bend on a map. There's a cool little trail out on to the peninsula that should have good views. I think fishermen use it quite a bit.
South approach road seems like it might be partly under water at peak flow, yes?
Maybe, but probably not. 600 cfs went through there in 2003 and I don't think it damaged the road, but I'm not sure.
How much, if any of this, winds up in Owens Lake?
Normally, the river puts 6-9 cfs out on to the lake, but more lately because of precip and a pipeline rupture. Too much water on the lake is a problem for the trona mining operation.
|
|
neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
|
|
|
Feb 28, 2017 - 09:53pm PT
|
hey there say. bob... thanks so much for all the info, and updates...
|
|
justthemaid
climber
Jim Henson's Basement
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 1, 2017 - 06:21am PT
|
They will maintain a 400 CFS+ flow, barring any further snowmelt survey changes, until November of this year.
According to the engineer, 400 CFS is enough to fill parts of the gorge wall to wall, except in a few spots where embankments might provide some dry ground.
WOW!- running it all summer . Thanks for the updates.
|
|
riemannzetagambit
Trad climber
San Francisco
|
|
Thanks Bob for the info, much appreciated!
|
|
justthemaid
climber
Jim Henson's Basement
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 6, 2017 - 08:28am PT
|
OMG!!! ;)
Were heading down tomorrow. We'll report back on what bridge crossings are submerged. Probably the usual suspects.
|
|
Brandon-
climber
The Granite State.
|
|
No, that looks fully legit.
If you look closely, you can see me sending a 12d in impeccable style.
Totally happened.
|
|
Brandon-
climber
The Granite State.
|
|
Yeah, this was on Sunday.
|
|
crusher
climber
Santa Monica, CA
|
|
Stimbo where is that video taken in the Gorge?
|
|
Stimbo
Trad climber
Crowley Lake
|
|
Stimbo where is that video taken in the Gorge?
I shot it just below the Middle Gorge Power Plant.
|
|
justthemaid
climber
Jim Henson's Basement
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 7, 2017 - 06:51pm PT
|
Yup- like Jody said- all the main areas north of Penstock have normal flow and no access issues.
South of the plant it's full bore.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp_RSQH80k0
All the Lower Gorge bridges are underwater . Warning Signs, Diamond Face, Diamond Back (new area), Pink Wall and Big Tower Areas are all inaccessible. The poor Pink Wall bridge got obliterated by a big tree that got washed down.
The Warning signs bridge is pretty high off the deck but 400CFS is evidently the tipping point
|
|
ß Î Ø T Ç H
Boulder climber
ne'er–do–well
|
|
As I remember it, the "water hammer" break of the DWP pipe going down Sherwin grade in the late 80s was when they were forced to reestablish flow.
|
|
guyman
Social climber
Moorpark, CA.
|
|
Thanks Skip.... good info.
|
|
neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
|
|
|
Mar 31, 2017 - 09:29pm PT
|
hey there say, skip... great share...
i missed the up-dates... been very busy, :)
saw this on chris's newsletter and had to hurry over to
see what i missed, :)
|
|
Bad Climber
Trad climber
The Lawless Border Regions
|
|
Wow. The roar must be impressive. Thanks for the pics, Maidy. Jo and I will be up there April 7--15.
BAd
|
|
justthemaid
climber
Jim Henson's Basement
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Apr 1, 2017 - 07:34am PT
|
As a further update. They've dropped. The water level down to " normal" through the Lower Gorge.
2 new bridges were installed higher off the deck for the Diamonface/Diamond back area and the Big Tower./Pink Face. The direct bridge to Pink face is gone so it's a rock hop during low flow or a short walk downstream to the plank bridge. I'll likely plank the rock hop this week .
The warning Signs bridge is crossable, but took a beating and may need a little reinforcemrnt. Someone took the time to replace the guide line but it needs to be redone IMO. It's now a thin dynamic line tied off to a dead cottonwood branch. not really dangerous but not ideal long term. The static line anchored to rock was more reassuring.
See you in April Bad😀
|
|
otisdog
Big Wall climber
Sierra Madre & McGee Creek, Ca.
|
|
DWP website shows a flow of 711 +/_ for the last five days....so no reduction?
|
|
Tom Turrentine
Trad climber
Santa Cruz
|
|
|
Apr 12, 2017 - 09:43am PT
|
Any update on water flows / release at the gorge? will we die?
|
|
phylp
Trad climber
Upland, CA
|
|
Can anyone tell me what the status is for crossing the river to get up to Warning Signs?
High water? Log still in place?
I haven't been to any part of the Gorge south of Pub Wall since this water release wraning stuff started...
Thanks, Phyl
|
|
crusher
climber
Santa Monica, CA
|
|
Bump for Phylp and for me...river conditions in general not just Warning Signs???
Thanks.
|
|
Mtbphoto
Trad climber
Mammoth Lakes, Ca
|
|
All river crossings I have been on lately have been mellow (upper and lower gorges.) You can tell there was more water in the upper, the approach to Gorgeous Towers is a bit bushy, but not bad. My little dog has had no problems crossing any of the bridges/crossings solo. Watch for rattlesnakes though.
|
|
phylp
Trad climber
Upland, CA
|
|
Thanks for the info!
|
|
Hoots
climber
Mammoth Lakes, CA
|
|
Today (10/4/17), there was a lot of water being released, and in the Upper Gorge, access to Dihedrals was thigh deep wading, and the crossing getting to Flavin' Haven was raging. We stuck to the Gotham sector. Worth checking out DWP CFS numbers before heading down that way.
|
|
Mungeclimber
Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
|
|
Thx Hoots.
Date/Time
Reading
10/04/17 3:11:24 PM
119.6
|
|
Bob Harrington
climber
Bishop, California
|
|
Good job, Munge, tracking down that flow data from DWP's web page. I asked DWP what was going on with the flows in the Gorge, and was told that there are problems with the Middle Gorge and Control Gorge Power Plants and they had to take them off line, so flows will be high - up to maybe a few hundred cfs - in the river channel for a few months because they can't put water through those two power plants.
Regarding the flow data, the meter that they put on that real-time data web page only reads up to around 120 cfs, which is why it is pegged at 119.7 cfs. To get the actual flows when it's above 120, go to LADWP > About Us > Water > Los Angeles Aqueduct > LA Aqueduct Conditions Reports > LA Aqueduct Northern District Daily Report (right next to where you found the real-time data), and open the most recent report. Look for an entry that looks like "Upper Gorge below PP Cur/Avg: 185/170", which gives you the current (when the report was generated), and most recent day's average flow released into the river channel below the Upper Gorge Power Plant (in cfs).
|
|
phylp
Trad climber
Upland, CA
|
|
So if I am understanding this correctly we probably will Not be able to cross over. If we walked in down the road from the south parking, will the road be passable to the Pub Wall? I know the central gorge trail is faster but it's murder on my low back.
|
|
F10
Trad climber
Bishop
|
|
Thanks Bob, good info
|
|
Lurking Fear
Boulder climber
Bishop, California
|
|
The road below the pub was passable on 10/3. The bridge to the China Wall was wet with splashes from the higher flow.
|
|
justthemaid
climber
Jim Henson's Basement
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Oct 7, 2017 - 06:55am PT
|
Just got down there for the first time in a few months. Major changes to the section of road downstream from Warm Up wall... they have widened it and removed all the trees and plants Water levels are very high and fast flowing both mid and lower gorge.
Report for area between the central gorge trail and lower gorge:
. Banana Belt is flooded up to the base and inaccessible right now- a via ferratta might be in order ;)
Warning Signs Wall bridge was still above water ( just barely)
Diamond Face Planks are under water but the new bridge up stream is fine and above water.
Pink Wall planks got washed away again the Big Tower bridge downstream is dry ( just barely) and allows access.
I'm imagining a lot of the east- side walls are inacessable right now.
Edit to add: Wading across any moving water down there is an incredibly bad idea. I'd hate to see anyone killed because they insisted on doing some climb. There's plenty of routes that won't risk your life. Dog was washed off a wet bridge last year and died. Could just as easily be a human.
|
|
phylp
Trad climber
Upland, CA
|
|
Thanks, Jtm, that is really helpful.
Phyl
|
|
justthemaid
climber
Jim Henson's Basement
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Oct 7, 2017 - 07:14am PT
|
@ Phyl: to answer you question.... Pub Wall is accessable from either entry . There's just a new loose scree slope to navigate since they did all the road work.
|
|
justthemaid
climber
Jim Henson's Basement
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Oct 7, 2017 - 07:51am PT
|
Marty posted on Facebook:
Staying Power, Flavin Haven and China Wall bridges are all under water
|
|
phylp
Trad climber
Upland, CA
|
|
Water level about 8" below Big Tower bridge today. Great bridge!
|
|
Mungeclimber
Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
|
|
|
Oct 13, 2017 - 10:34pm PT
|
Thx for the extra insights Bob! They really bury the good stuff on their website.
10/13/2017 "North Owens"
RC@OR Cur/Ave: 53/53 Upper Gorge below PP Cur/Avg: 185/185
(*)P V Resv Elev: 4386.3 Outflow: 439 24hr AF Total: 904
(4390.0 HW)AF: 2624 Diff AF: -173
Bishop Hi/Lo: 76/30 Precip(Day/Month): 0.00/0.00
B C @ Plant 6: 92 (avg) O R Below BP Cr: 533 Fish Sprg @ RR Brdg: 36
BP Pwr House : 72/40 Precip(Day/Month): 0.00/0.00 BP Cr Cur/Peak: 24/25
|
|
Mungeclimber
Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
|
|
|
Nov 27, 2017 - 07:01pm PT
|
Just wanted to provide a huge thanks to the crews doing the bridge work!
Made getting to Big Tower a breeze. thx!
Also, since I hadn't been there in 10 years a huge thanks to the crews that have made the central approach gully manageable and not a trundle fest. Much appreciated!
Also, to the folks we met in the gorge - I was digging the positive friendly atmo! Maybe everyone was in a good mood because the weather was so great!
|
|
| Messages 1 - 73 of total 73 in this topic |
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!