California 2025 Recreational Releases Reminder & Updates

American Whitewater and California boaters are victims of our own success. As a result of over two decades of work from stewardship staff and dedicated community volunteers, negotiated recreational flows from hydropower projects abound in water years like 2025. It definitely can fill up your paddling calendar!  Here are date reminders and updates for the California Wild & Scenic Mokelumne River, South Fork Silver Creek, North Fork Feather, and the Pit River.

Mokelumne River

The final May B120 Water Supply Forecast confirms a Dry Water Year for the Mokelumne River. Therefore, PG&E has updated the scheduled flows on the Electra Run per license requirements but flows on Tiger Creek will remain the same.

Revised Electra Releases (700 cfs, 10 AM – 4 PM):

• June 7
• June 14
• June 21
• June 28

Keep in mind opportunistic flows for this reach may still occur on other dates so keep an eye on your gauges. Also, please see our article looking for VOLUNTEERS to keep the Big Bar Launch open to vehicle access.

Scheduled Tiger Creek Releases (10 AM – 4 PM):

• May 17, May 24, May 25, May 31 
• June 1, June 7, June 8, June 14
  

South Fork Silver Creek 

A reminder that SMUD will monitor whitewater use on South Fork Silver Creek below Ice House Dam during scheduled releases below; increased use may lead to additional scheduled releases in the future. In addition to the scheduled releases, SMUD is releasing license required pulse flows on this reach starting Saturday 5/17 through Thursday 5/22. Flows will start at 450 cfs for the first 48 hour period, then 550 cfs for the next 24 hours, and finally back to 450 cfs. Be sure to check the flow gauge before you venture out for these flows. And if you miss this opportunity the schedule releases are as follows:

Scheduled South Fork Silver Creek below Ice House Releases (10 AM – 3 PM):

• June 7 – 400 cfs
• June 14 – 500 cfs
• June 21 – 500 cfs
• June 28 – 400 cfs
  

On these days don’t forget to greet the monitors and make sure you get counted at the take-out. FYI: the trigger for additional days is a five-year average of 65 boater launches/day.

North Fork Feather River 

As per usual, the Rock Creek reach on the North Fork Feather River will be running every 4th Saturday and Sunday of the month from June through September. And don’t forget FEATHER FEST, American Whitewater’s annual celebration of returning flows to the NF Feather River Watershed is the weekend of September 26, 27 & 28.

Scheduled Rock Creek  Releases (1,100/900 cfs):

• June 28–29 – 1,100 cfs (Sat), 900 cfs (Sun)
• July 26–27 – 1,100 cfs (Sat), 900 cfs (Sun)
• August 23–24 – 1,100 cfs (Sat), 900 cfs (Sun)
• September 27–28 – 900 cfs both days
  

Pit River 

American Whitewater worked to negotiate and continues to monitor and protect releases on the Pit River. Recreation release flow days are scheduled annually and our late summe/fall boating schedule is already set for paddling fun.

Pit 3, 4, 5 Scheduled Releases (10 AM – 4 PM):

• August 2–3 – 1,500 cfs
• September 6–7 – 1,200 cfs
  

Pit 1 Scheduled Releases (800–1,200 cfs, depending on natural flows):

• October 3, 4, 5
• October 17, 18, 19