Float-O-Holics

Last week the dam at Pine Flats was opened due to an overflow of water from the great winter we had. This had an ill effect at the cost of camp sites and properties down river. With the release of all that water in a short time many properties like Kelly’s Beach flooded and had to be evacuated.

This was especially hurtful for us as we had reservations to camp this past weekend (as well as reservation for the 4^th). While we surly would have camped with out the ability to float the Kings River, it’s pretty impossible to pitch a tent on water.

Hope

As the weekend ended I got a note from Kelly’s stating that:

Next weekend was a no-go.

But we can change our reservation for another weekend in the year and they would show us a great time! While sad will miss out annually 4th trip, going up another weekend would be OK with me and our group.

But wait

While catching up on emails from the weekend I came across a post Cindy from Kelly’s Beach said:

Mike and I just received the best news from the Army Corp of Engineers that no new water releases will come and water is receding in the park! Mike just called me and said we are seeing river banks this morning. Let the clean up efforts begin today in earnest! We have friends who are bringing in the big guns now to start pumping out the water!

This is great news, while they might not be 100% dried out by the 4th, at least they’ll be dry by the following weekend. Hopefully we’ll receive news that floating will re-open and this season will last till September or October!

So as I am sure most of you are aware, this winter we’ve had an abundance of snow fall in the central valley above Fresno, that the Sheriff has closed the parts of the Kings river from Pine Flat Dam to the Tulare County line and the southern portion of the Kings River between the Tulare County line and the Kings County line.

The Pine Flat Lake Reservoir is releasing water at a rate of more than 11,000 C.F.S.. This has led to an increase of the water level in the Kings River. If you’re on twitter I suggest you follow the @KingsFlow account for up to the minute flow rates. Ideally for floating we would like to see a rate of around 8 to 10 thousand consistent with bursts up to 12K. You’ll notice at the moment the flow is around 18K.

Kings River Flow as of 06/22/2011 at 09:00 Hours : [FLOW: 17646 C.F.S.] #flows http://bit.ly/2Ok2kJ:

June 22, 2011 7:59 pm via twitterfeedReplyRetweetFavorite

@kingsflow

Kings Flow

I am sure some of you had plans to head up this weekend, because I know I did myself. Our good friend Aaron decided an evacuation of Kelly Beach was not a good enough reason to not head to the river. So we will have eyes and ears on the ground here in a few hours.

Until then, all the floatoholics whom planned to hit the river for out annual fourth of July trip, we’ll just have to see how it pans out.

News Articles

• Kingsburg Recorder
• Ksee 24
• Time
• Fresno Bee

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