Dolores Releases

[twmartin]

Gang: Last year there were some last minute announced releases on hte Dolores. Does anybody know where and how to keep an eye out for this? I imagine that with 158% snowpack there is a decent chance we may get a whitewater release.

Thanks,

[Dave Frank]

Here is the '07 plan. I don't know when they give up the beta for the '08 plan.

Dolores Water Conservancy District

Last year they weren't going to do one, then they said they would, then the weather changed and they held out at the very last minute. Screwed up lots of people's plans.

They will not share any water unless they absolutely have to. Apparently they can't let it spill.

[El Flaco]

Great observation- hopefully the snowpack will hold. If that's my only multi-day this year, I really want to hit that one.

[Andy H.]

Sometimes I think the Dolores WCD would rather put it into spray evaporators than let it spill down the river....

[ecjohnson]

Here's to hopin! Too bad they can't pull their act together.

[dgosn]

If it runs:
Bradfield to Hite? Anyone?
One of the longest continous stretches of river in the US (400+ miles)
scott

[ecjohnson]

Originally Posted by dgosn

If it runs:
Bradfield to Hite? Anyone?
One of the longest continous stretches of river in the US (400+ miles)
scott

I was talking about that with some of friends the other day. I'd love to do that sometime.

[freeboatin]

Originally Posted by dgosn

If it runs:
Bradfield to Hite? Anyone?
One of the longest continous stretches of river in the US (400+ miles)
scott

you start at bradfield and i'll start at teluride. meet you at confluence in uravan. freeboatin

[steven]

you could start up the south fork san miguel at ames, and have about 70 miles [at least] of class 3 before you get to the confluence w/ the dolores at the hanging flume section. If you guys do something like this, I would be in for telluride to moab. always wanted to do that. could also start up on snow spur creek on lizard head pass, take that [manky 5 for a couple miles] to the e. fk dolores [manky 3+ for 6 miles] into rico falls [class 5 for 2 miles] all the way through stoner section, then portage mcphee and re-put in at bradfield and on down.

[brendodendo]

In previous years that it has run, the lake has been at full elevation. If we are lucky enough that they get more intake and stable call, we will see water spill. Keep an eye out HERE for more info as we get closer to memorial day.
Right now the Res is 24 feet below fill level w/ 0 calls. We will start to see the level go down before we get good runoff from the basins above. From what I remember, if we start to see .5 ft per day gain in res elevation, we have a good chance of getting good release flows (at least for a short period)