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theresaAW1
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Posted: Apr 18, 2017 Post Subject: Slab Creek - 2017 Scheduled Recreational Flows
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| South Fork American River below Slab Creek Reservoir
April 29 & 30 – Targeting 1100 – 1500 CFS
May 6, 7, 13 & 14 – Targeting 1100 -1500 CFS
Duration: 10 am - 4 pm
Coloma Shuttle Service Available
Caveats for Slab Creek this year.
• Slab Creek Road was closed due to storm damage. SMUD has indicated with the presence of USFS & SMUD staff they will have these roads open for the six scheduled recreational flow days. STAY TUNED as AW clarifies what this means in terms of access on other days and exactly where the closure is (i.e. top of the road or lower)
• It is highly likely this year that recreational streamflows may be modified or suspended in the event the licensee determines expected inflows from SFAR into Slab Creek Reservoir are not controllable to 1500 CFS. STAY TUNED.
• On the Placerville side the road immediately preceding Mosquito Road Bridge is down to one lane until repairs can be completed due to runoff washing out the road, the culvert and underneath the retaining wall. THE USUAL PARKING SPOTS BY THE CULVERT ARE NOT THERE FOR USE. PLEASE DO NOT BE THE BOATER THAT BLOCKS TRAFFIC AT THIS BRIDGE.
• The gauge below Slab Creek has been washed out twice and is currently not expected to be replaced until later in the year when flow finally recedes to a level where SMUD is comfortable sending folks back out. Dreamflows is using a calculated stream flow.
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theresaAW1
Member
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| Posted: Apr 25, 2017Post Subject: SLAB CREEK RECREATIONAL FLOWS CANCELLED APR 29 & 30
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| SMUD can not control the flow to 1500 CFS and has therefore cancelled the recreational flows for this weekend April 29 & 30. SMUD will have until May 31 to make up these flows if possible. Stay tuned.
Slab Creek Road is still in flux (K rails, visqueen covering slides etc.) and since there will be no SMUD or USFS personal on site - Slab Creek Road will be closed to vehicle traffic and gated at the top. Pedestrian access is open. SMUD will continue to work on the road and I will keep folks posted.
Below is the notice from the SMUD website:
> The weekend recreational flow event is canceled for Saturday, April 29 and Sunday, April 30. In accordance with the FERC license, recreational streamflows may be modified when the expected inflows from the South Fork of the American River into Slab Creek Reservoir are not controllable to 1,500 cfs or when recreational flows at Slab Creek Reservoir Dam may cause spill from storage reservoirs within seven days of the recreational spill event. Both of these conditions exist.
> Slab Creek Reservoir spill is currently about 4,000 cfs, and model forecasts indicate reservoir spill to continue above 1,500 cfs through the coming weekend. Additionally, Union Valley Reservoir’s spill gates will open this week to assure its elevation doesn’t exceed the State of California’s Division of Safety of Dam’s maximum elevation. This action will exacerbate the current spill situation at Slab Creek Reservoir. Given the current and forecast situations, this announcement reflects the final determination for this weekend’s event, and this event will be rescheduled to 5/20 and 5/21.
> Forecasted inflows are expected to remain high with snowpack at 187% of average. Additionally, reservoir storage is 95% full. These conditions will continue to provide challenges in meeting future recreational flows. SMUD staff assesses the forward situation on a daily basis and is committed to provide recreational flows in accordance with the license. The next update to this post will be Monday, May 1.
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theresaAW1
Member
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| Posted: May 2, 2017Post Subject: SLAB CREEK RECREATIONAL RELEASE FOR MAY 6 & & CANCELLED
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| From the SMUD Website:
| Quote: | The weekend recreational flow event is canceled for Saturday, May 6th and Sunday, May 7th. These flows are rescheduled for Saturday, May 27th and Sunday, May 28th.
In accordance with the FERC license, recreational streamflows may be modified when the expected inflows from the South Fork of the American River into Slab Creek Reservoir are not controllable to 1,500 cfs or when control of recreational flows at Slab Creek Reservoir Dam may cause spill from upstream storage reservoirs within seven days of the recreational spill event. Both of these conditions exist.
Slab Creek Reservoir spill is currently about 4,500 cfs, and model forecasts indicate reservoir spill to continue above 1,500 cfs. While decreasing releases from upstream reservoirs could reduce the spill at Slab Creek, this action would ultimately result in spill from storage within seven days of providing the recreational flows.
Forecasted inflows are expected to increase through the week, reservoir storage is 92% full and snowpack is 193% of average. These conditions will continue to provide challenges in meeting future recreational flows. SMUD staff assesses the forward situation on a daily basis and is committed to provide recreational flows in accordance with the license. The next update to this post will be Monday, May 8./quote] |
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theresaAW1
Member
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| Posted: May 16, 2017Post Subject: Update on Slab Creek for May
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| Latest on Slab Creek can be found here
The record setting water year for California's Upper American River Project has forced the cancellation of recreational flows for Slab Creek. At 200% of normal SMUD is unable to control flows over Slab Creek Reservoir.
But every cloud has it's silver lining - given the snow pack we could see boatable flows on South Fork Silver Below Ice House through the rest of May.
Wood beta on Ice House from Trevor Croft with raftingmagazine.com is that except for one log in a flat section (i.e. can't be missed) all wood has been cleared by this season's high flows. This includes all the wood in the final canyon.
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