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Jon Osgood Owner
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Stream Flow - South Fork American River
Just What is CFS anyway?
CFS stands for Cubic Feet per Second, and it's a
measure of the volume of water passing any given point in a river in one
second. One cubic foot of water weighs 62.5 pounds.
Why does the river level fluctuate
so much?
There are a series of dams upstream of the
South Fork and
Middle Forks of the American River
which provide water for electrical power, irrigation, and drinking for
residents of California. The most water is released in the spring and summer,
supplying plenty of exciting whitewater action. This assures you of a great
raft trip all the way through the end of September, even in low snowpack years.
The North Fork American is not dam
controlled, and is therefore runable only in April, May, and early June,
depending on the snowpack and rainfall each year.
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STREAMFLOW FOR THE SOUTH FORK AMERICAN
RIVER |
South Fork of the American
The South Fork usually runs from May through October. Consistent flows for
whitewater rafting are controlled by the upstream reservoirs in the summertime
with added runoff in the spring. Snow melt, precipitation, air temperature and
reservoir releases can affect current river levels.
There's a reason why the South
Fork of the American is one of the
most popular whitewater rafting trips in the
world!
What do the numbers mean?
- 1100-1700 CFS = Normal flows, usually
associated with late summer and fall. Plenty of Class
III whitewater rafting and beautiful scenery. Great for first-timers,
groups and families, yet still fun for experienced boaters.
- 1700-4000 CFS = Medium - High flows.
Challenging Class III+ whitewater rafting,
exciting for first timers and veterans alike. Big waves and swift-moving water.
- Above 4000 CFS = High flows. Challenging
Class III+ whitewater rafting. Fast-moving water,
with powerful waves and long rapids.
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