River rafting (floating)

[Caoboy]

Hey guys, my brother and I want to make a day trip down a local river.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sou....612295,-120.93782&spn=0.112866,0.222988&z=13

Would there be anything wrong with this? Where we would launch there is a ramp at the park. Where we would end up, there is a bridge, with a rode that goes down below the bridge, we'd walk up, and have someone pick us up. There is another spot before that area where we go fishing all the time that we could get out as well.

As far as legal issues? This is completely legal, right? We'd be in a small 4 person raft, with PFD's and communication in case of an emergency. We're experienced with rafting around on lakes, calm rivers, some rapids. This river is calm as far as we know.

 

[Fireman78]

Go for it man! That's what rivers are for!

 

[kerry]

'as far as you know'?? Keep an eye out for low head dams. It wouldn't be unusual for a river in that kind of urban location to have low head dams to protect pipelines that cross the river. Portage any low head dams, they are deceptively dangerous.

 

[refried]

What's the name of the river? American Whitewater lists most navigable rivers and lists most hazards here
http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/state-summary/state/CA/
I wouldn't be surprised to find a low head dam on that river like Kerry said, If you see one stay away from it, they're very dangerous.

 

[Caoboy]

What's the name of the river? American Whitewater lists most navigable rivers and lists most hazards here
http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/state-summary/state/CA/
I wouldn't be surprised to find a low head dam on that river like Kerry said, If you see one stay away from it, they're very dangerous.

It is the Tuolumne River : http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Gauge2/detail/id/4660/

This is higher than we would run, as we are below 132. This is the closest I see in that website you gave me.

I googled a low head dam, I think we'll take a trip and scout the river in the area we want to run to see if we see anything like that before we were to go. Mind you this trip plan a ways away, so we've got plenty of time to check it. Right now, the river is higher than normal, so would we be able to see the dam still?

 

[kerry]

It is the Tuolumne River : http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Gauge2/detail/id/4660/

This is higher than we would run, as we are below 132. This is the closest I see in that website you gave me.

I googled a low head dam, I think we'll take a trip and scout the river in the area we want to run to see if we see anything like that before we were to go. Mind you this trip plan a ways away, so we've got plenty of time to check it. Right now, the river is higher than normal, so would we be able to see the dam still?

At high water, low head dams typically appear as a uniform reversal in the current across the whole river. Sometimes the drop from the upstream water into the reversal can be quite low, just a foot or so. As a result of this, the situation does not look dangerous to an untrained eye and lots of people think, the water is pretty smooth, the drop isn't steep so let's run it. Once in the reversal escape can become impossible.
On the river a low head dam appears as a solid horizon line across the river. These lines are not always readily apparent to an untrained eye and since the water below is uniformly smooth in the reversal there is no indication of a 'rapid' ahead with dancing white waves.

These dams are so dangerous that lots of jurisdictions are cutting them and putting a 'V' in the dam to cause downstream current and remove the uniform reversal. Almost all the low head dams on the South Platte river in Denver have been removed or modified with V chutes to protect the unwary.

 

[kellymoe]

I didn't see any towheads on that stretch of river just some easy looking rapids, the biggest hazard will be trees and bushes especially if the water is high. Stay away from trees and bushes and you will be fine. As far as legality? Go for it, it's a navigable waterway. There should be more people like you who are out running hometown waterways and looking for fun close to home.

 

[Caoboy]

I didn't see any towheads on that stretch of river just some easy looking rapids, the biggest hazard will be trees and bushes especially if the water is high. Stay away from trees and bushes and you will be fine. As far as legality? Go for it, it's a navigable waterway. There should be more people like you who are out running hometown waterways and looking for fun close to home.

Thanks for the support! :victory:

There are not many things to do around this neck of the woods, er, lack of woods. We figured instead of having to drive at least an hour to get somewhere 'explorable' we could make a 'mini expedition' right here at home. I guess it goes to show there are plenty of hidden places to explore right in your own back yard if you look around.

The river is still pretty high right now, and we haven't scouted it in person yet, so we've still got a plan of a couple months out. We are definitely doing it by the end of summer though!

 

[kerry]

Local rivers are fun. I can't count the number of times I've paddled the South Platte thru Denver and I never tire of it.