Do you know any information about dam release rivers? Let us know by emailing info@wheresthewater.com
River Awe
A classic beginner's trip (Grade 2/3), the River Awe usually has at least some water in it in the summer due to compensation flow from a dam. In the winter, the river will come up like any other, with sufficient rainfall.
The SCA also usually arrange specific Sunday releases through the summer. As soon as we know any dates for 2009 we'll put them up
Oban Canoe Club were doing a regular Tues night trip on the river over the summer. They cleared a tree hazard upstream of the campsite but noted (28th June) that "the metal spikes that are all that remains of the old weir about 150m upstream of the power station are still there and paddlers should be wary when in that area. They are marked by gabion buckets of rocks on both banks and at that point the river should be taken dead centre."
River Moriston
The regular Tues releases on the Moriston have stopped for the summer. Weekly releases will not start again now until May time 2009.
It is one of the harder dam-release rivers - usually clocked in at Grade 4 (read the guidebook). For the last few years releases have been on Tuesdays between May and September and the pattern has continued in 2008. The river usually starts around mid-day Tuesday and keeps going through early Wednesday mornings. Most people paddle the river late Tues afternoon and evening.
We'll let you know about the scheduled releases as soon as we can. In the meantime, over the next few months releases can also occur after very heavy rainfall so it can be worth a look.
River Garry
The Garry is a good intermediate paddle or playrun (Grade 3+). The dates change from day to day throughout the summer in an effort to keep numbers at manageable levels. The dates are set in advance, but aren't common knowledge at the moment. We do often hear through the grapevine though and will publish dates a couple of weeks in advance if we know them - so check back regularly.
When releasing, the water usually starts coming on around 7 or 8am (though it increases gradually and the river will take a while to rise) and starts dropping again in the evening. Paddling between 10am and 8pm should be pretty safe levels-wise, though you may well get a decent paddle either sides of these times. The Garry tends to run March to October.
The Garry has also finished its summer 2008 releases. Releases in 2009 will start around March but similar to the Moriston, the Garry may run over the winter after heavy rain. We'll put the 2009 dates up as soon as we know anything.
Releases are also arranged on both the Moriston and Garry for the annual Wet West Paddlefest (the AJ Memorial Weekend). This is usually scheduled for September, again we will put up any information as soon as we have it or go to wetwestpaddlefest.
River Tummel
The Tummel has two sections made paddleable by dam releases during the summer months. The top section is around Grade 3 and the bottom 3(4) due to the Linn of Tummel.
The Lower Tummel release (the well known section) is from Clunie Dam to the fall at the Linn of Tummel. This section of the Tummel is reported to be back on its usual summer release. This means water is released on Friday evening to Sunday. There is more water in the river on Saturday and Sunday. As with the Moriston, this may release over the winter if there is consistent, heavy rainfall.
The Upper Tummel, from Dunalistair Dam to Tummel Bridge or Loch Tummel, is just about paddleable all the time and is a fairly fun section for a few kms. It is reported that there is a slightly higher release sometimes. The timing is a bit variable but appears to follow a three week pattern: starting 23 June 2008, week 1 - Mon to Wed , week 2 - Wed to Fri and week 3 - no release.
River Lyon
The Lyon has two sections but the upper is rain dependent. There were some releases on the main section of the Lyon during August.
River Meig
Read the guidebook for this one - it says it all. As far as we know, there's a compensation flow going all through the summer months which is enough to make an enjoyable first trip down a very pretty gorge (rated around Grade 4). Don’t be put off when you get to the dam, it really doesn’t need much and as long as there is some compensation flow it should be worth a trip. Too much water and the gorge would be pretty full on!
Upper Spean (Laggan Dam)
The Upper Spean can run at anything from Grade 3 to 4+ depending on the number of pipes releasing, overspill and the volume of it's 2 tributaries (the Trieg and the Laire). The Laggan Dam doesn't have scheduled releases - it actually releases 2 pipes at a time automatically when the water level in Loch Laggan rises to a certain level. It also automatically shuts down 1 pipe at a time. Consequently you can get it releasing at 1 or 6 and everything in between depending on whether the water level is rising or falling. It very rarely releases during the summer and currently (Oct 2008) the loch is still pretty low.
We'll try and keep the site up to date with the loch levels and last known number of pipes releasing. The loch can actually rise and fall pretty dramatically with both very wet and very dry weather. We have ambitions to set up a web cam of Laggan Dam, but this may be some time off!
Doon (Ness Glen)
Hidden away in Ayrshire, the Ness Glen section of the Doon is on a constant release all summer from a dam at Loch Doon and is paddleable all the time. This is another good beginners trip clocked at Grade 2/3.
Maintenance Releases
Dams need maintenance, and when they do the hydro scheme is forced to release water into the river. The River Conon is the classic case of paddlers taking advantage of a maintenance shutdown - quite a few folk had magic trips and minor epics as a result!
For summer 2008 - both the Awe and the Oich dam (feeds into the Garry) are undergoing maintenance work. The lochs above them have to be kept at a set level so the work can continue. This means that when it rains heavily both the Awe and the Garry have been releasing. We're not sure how long this will continue but the Garry for example, has been releasing and running at high for the last few days (Oct 12th). Check the levels page for info.
We'd love to get more regular info on maintenance schedules, but so far this info hasn't been forthcoming - we live in hope!