In this El Nino year, river levels are peaking much later than normal, due in part to an unusually cool spring and 2x normal snowpack in the Sierra Nevada (about normal in the Rockies). As a result, "average" river runners are experiencing in mid-summer the same conditions usually faced by expert, die-hard boaters in early spring. Special precautions need to be taken, such as wearing adequate life jackets, wet or dry suits, and avoidance of alcohol on challenging whitewater.

Your paddling or rowing team needs to be well-practiced, and used to functioning as a unit. Everyone should know what to do in the event of an emergency, including rescuing the boat itself (your way down the rest of the river). You should plan trips so that your group consists of multiple boats, and a variety of different kinds of boats can help maximize your maneuverability and options in the event of an emergency.

Rivers that normally are Class 3 may become Class 4 or higher, and Class 4 rapids may grow river-wide unrunnable holes. Select your river accordingly.

New hazards may be present, such as trees, strainers, rocks from landslides, etc. Be sure to check the River Safety Bulletin Board on this web site for information that others wish to share about newly discovered hazards. And if you find a new hazard, please post a message about it on our Bulletin Board.

Runoff this year is highly dependent upon the elevation of the river's drainage. The highest elevation river drainages still have a lot of snow left to feed above-normal runoff, and summer's heat is melting the snow faster than the usual springtime melt. Such rivers as the Tuolumne, Kings, and Kern can be expected to be high until late July. Other rivers, fed by lower-elevation terrain, have dropped to runnable or below-runnable levels. Please be sure to check our links to flow gauges, and remember that reported levels can change quickly, and sometimes gauge readings are not completely accurate.

More than anything, a safe attitude will help you enjoy what promises to be an incredible year for rafters, kayakers, and boogie boarders. Have fun!