O.C.T. Saturday 6/20 - Balcony Falls
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- paddlin_bill
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O.C.T. Saturday 6/20 - Balcony Falls
Hello paddlers!
I am on the schedule to lead a trip this Saturday at Balcony Falls. The water level today is 685 cfs at Buchannon, plus whatever might be trickling down the Maury, and no real rain in the forecast. I've never paddled it that low, but my record keeping is not that great. I'll check with some folks that keep better records than me.
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I've gotten some interest, even from some folks in the Raleigh area. Given their travel time we'll meet at 11am at the put-in
Let me know if you're coming so I don't leave without you!
Thanks,
-B
I am on the schedule to lead a trip this Saturday at Balcony Falls. The water level today is 685 cfs at Buchannon, plus whatever might be trickling down the Maury, and no real rain in the forecast. I've never paddled it that low, but my record keeping is not that great. I'll check with some folks that keep better records than me.
————
I've gotten some interest, even from some folks in the Raleigh area. Given their travel time we'll meet at 11am at the put-in
Let me know if you're coming so I don't leave without you!
Thanks,
-B
Last edited by paddlin_bill on Tue Jun 16, 2026 10:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.
-Bill Swarm
To borrow from naturalist John Muir, The river is calling and I must go.
To borrow from naturalist John Muir, The river is calling and I must go.
Re: O.C.T. Saturday 6/20 - Balcony Falls
I'll be out of town for your trip, regrets.
From my notes:
11/23/08: Probably lowest ever for me. 1.95 at Buchanan, 378 cfs there plus 109 Maury at BV gives 487. We managed to find routes through everything but choices were limited.
Cheers,
Ken Dubel
From my notes:
11/23/08: Probably lowest ever for me. 1.95 at Buchanan, 378 cfs there plus 109 Maury at BV gives 487. We managed to find routes through everything but choices were limited.
Cheers,
Ken Dubel
Re: O.C.T. Saturday 6/20 - Balcony Falls
8/17/24 693+140 = 833 cfs low, but nice level
9/4/19 586+80 = 666 darn close to the lowest I'd ever want to go. Lovely day.
10/15/17 650+92 = 742
8/20/17 724+115 = 839 Bill, you were on this trip
7/19/17 663+97 = 760 lots of algae. I think this is my preferred minimum level
9/11/10 489+46 = 535
It's currently 650 + 90 = 740 I am on the fence as to whether I want to go. It's do-able. The ledges above Balcony will be challenging to your river reading skills. That will be a learning experience. Balcony itself will be boney with more of a noticeable drop.
I can't imagine Ken's 487 cfs trip. note that the there must have been some major recent rain for the Maury to be over a quarter of that total.
9/4/19 586+80 = 666 darn close to the lowest I'd ever want to go. Lovely day.
10/15/17 650+92 = 742
8/20/17 724+115 = 839 Bill, you were on this trip
7/19/17 663+97 = 760 lots of algae. I think this is my preferred minimum level
9/11/10 489+46 = 535
It's currently 650 + 90 = 740 I am on the fence as to whether I want to go. It's do-able. The ledges above Balcony will be challenging to your river reading skills. That will be a learning experience. Balcony itself will be boney with more of a noticeable drop.
I can't imagine Ken's 487 cfs trip. note that the there must have been some major recent rain for the Maury to be over a quarter of that total.
Re: O.C.T. Saturday 6/20 - Balcony Falls
Please count me in. Thanks for coordinating Bill!
Terri
Terri
-
John and Linda VanLuik
- Coastals Member

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Re: O.C.T. Saturday 6/20 - Balcony Falls
I am in
John
John
- edwin_talley
- Coastals Member

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Re: O.C.T. Saturday 6/20 - Balcony Falls
I’ll be there. Time and place?
- paddlin_bill
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Re: O.C.T. Saturday 6/20 - Balcony Falls
Glad to have you Edwin. Combined flow is at about 650 now. We'll meet at 11 at Locher Landing. It'd be great to be running shuttle at 11 by I already posted meet time so we'll see.
We'll have to decide afterwards if this level is in ELF territory (extremely low flow)!
We'll have to decide afterwards if this level is in ELF territory (extremely low flow)!
-Bill Swarm
To borrow from naturalist John Muir, The river is calling and I must go.
To borrow from naturalist John Muir, The river is calling and I must go.