16 Rapids on Saturday's Run?

Image via Wikipedia This is just my guess on how many rapids I think we will see. I know if the CFS stream flow was in the 700 range, we probably would see that many. My estimate is based of the aeireal photos I've looked over for the upcoming run, from Old 421 to Tanglewood.

Now for the bad news. The Yadkin's stream flow is the lowest in years. The Enon stie was showing a stream flow around 257 cfs, which is a pretty dismal. This appears to be the lowest Stream Flow ever recorded since 1944. This was when records started being kept along the Yadkin. Presently what we are facing in stream flow now , could be far worse than those during the drought of 2002.

Alcoa has asked FERC for a variance in the stream flow they are required to pass through for downstream users. Typically it is in the 1260 cfs range. The down stream users depend on these flows for their own drinking water supplies. The Yadkin Pee Dee, is a major contributor to the drinking water supplies of Myrtle Beach and Georgetown, South Carolina. Since presently there is only 257 cfs stream flow coming in, even Alcoa's reduced stream flow of 900 cfs will soon start emptying out High Rock and Badin Reservoirs.

Regardless of the flow, it should be a fun paddle. We all will get to see areas of the river, that few get to see in these low water and low flow times.

Please bring your water shoes, cameras, walkie talkies, water, snacks and a whistle. We generally break several times along the way, stopping at places that make for great photo opts.