Owens River Heads UP- Let Her Rip!

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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.