American Whitewater is excited to announce the 2025 forecast for recreational flows on the San Joaquin Horseshoe Bend reach. Southern California Edison (SCE) is providing boatable flows for a spill year and these flows are forecasted to begin on Friday, 5/16/2025 and last through Sunday, 5/18/2025. These flows are provided under the Big Creek 4 Hydropower Project Long-Term Operating Rules (LTOR).

These rules were informed by nearly a decade of post-license studies and consultation with stakeholders, including American Whitewater and the Technical Review Group (TRG). They  account for infrastructure limitations, water rights, biological monitoring, and public safety - ensuring sustainable recreation while protecting fish habitat and river ecosystems. LTOR includes guidelines for spill management, boating flow scheduling, and down ramping procedures in wet, dry, and non-spill years. For every identified spill year SCE manages the down ramp to provide prescribed days of boatable flows.

Keep in mind these flow dates are subject to change but as of 5/7/2025 the boatable flow range forecast remains as follows:

5/16/2025  2500-2000 cfs Boatable flow range

5/17/2025  2500-2000 cfs Boatable flow range

5/18/2025  2000-1600 cfs Boatable flow range

5/19/2025  1600-1200 cfs At 6pm

The SCE Weekly Forecast for recreational flows can be found here

https://www2.kisters.net/SCEPublic/SCE_Dam7_LTOR_Weekly%20Forecast.pdf

Before departing boaters are strongly encouraged to monitor the flow forecasts and be prepared for changing conditions.

Photo by Paul Martzen