O.C.T. Appomattox River 1/18/2014

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Appomattox River paddle on 1/18/14

Schedule Saturday 1/18/14 (contingent on having temps above freezing and runnable levels)
11:00 Meet at parking lot on Rt 36 (South of Campbell’s bridge).
11:15 Shuttle to put-in below Brasfield (Chesdin) dam
11:30 – 3:30 Paddle down the river
4:00 Return shuttle, end of trip

Post, PM, email or call me to let me know you are coming by Thurs evening 1/16 so I know we have enough interest to run the trip. You can find my numbers in the Coastals directory.
Look forward to having some fun!
–Paul Clemmer

Useful information about this section of the Appomattox:
Length of trip: 6.5 miles (i.e., longer than the combined upper and lower James sections in Richmond)
River classification: Class II-III at about 600-6000 CFS
Runnable levels: On the upper end, 8’ is my absolute cutoff, and to run at 6.5’ or higher I would require a more experienced group. The Matoaca bridge RC gauge says NO WAY between 4’ and 4.5’ (corresponds to 6.5-7’ on the USGS gauge). I have heard that this section has been rafted as high as 14’. Takeout is before Campbell’s bridge at high levels. RC gauge shows a “canoe zero” level that corresponds to about 2.5’ on the USGS gauge at Matoaca. It can be run lower than this if you are careful about selecting the deeper channels and don’t mind occasionally dragging your boat over rocks. I have poled my 17’ canoe a quarter mile past the abutment dam and had no problem finding enough water at 190 CFS (2.05’), so that is my lower comfort level. At that level this section is more of a nature/history float than a whitewater trip, but (to me anyway) still worth doing.

Rapids of note (class II-III): Abutment Dam (1.25 miles from put-in, broken out on river right; can portage on river right or left), Jug Handle (broken out diversion dam, can be paddled around by staying river right), Pipeline (channel to river right of Battersea Dam), Target Rock (easier and harder alternate lines available).
Other features: many Class I and II rapids and play spots, braided channels through islands, wildlife, strainers in island area. Alternate access points at Abutment dam, Ferndale Park, river trail in Pipeline/Target Rock area. STRONG whirlpool under Campbell’s bridge at higher levels (if you’ve always wanted to do a mystery move in your canoe, this is the place). Harvell Dam (100 yards below the takeout) is a potentially lethal hazard, so don’t miss the takeout. A short distance below Harvell dam the river is tidal and can be paddled to the James River confluence in Hopewell, and beyond.

Driving directions: http://www.coastals.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1151

American Whitewater page for this section: http://www.americanwhitewater.org/conte ... l/id/1886/

AHPS level predictions for Matoaca gauge (located 3 miles into run at bridge): http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrogra ... gage=MTCV2
USGS Matoaca: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/va/nwis/uv?site_no=02041650
USGS Mannboro--Main stem of Appomattox above Lake Chesdin: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/va/nwis/uv?site_no=02040892
USGS Mannboro--Deep Creek above Lake Chesdin: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/va/nwis/uv?site_no=02041000

Brasfield (aka Chesdin) Dam level: http://www.arwava.org/
Note: The dam is owned and operated by ARWA to create Lake Chesdin, a major source of water for surrounding counties, and the put-in we use is right below. There is a run-of-river power plant owned and operated by Kruger Energy at the dam. Power generation can draw up to 1000 CFS, released to the base of the dam. When the river level gets too high or low for the power plant (or if there is any problem with their equipment) they will shut off this flow which will drop the flowrate by up to 1000 CFS temporarily until the flow over the dam rises to match what is flowing into the lake, or until power generation flow is reestablished. If you watch the Matoaca gauge as the river level is rising or falling you will often see sharp drops and increases in level caused by operations at the power plant. If the water level in the reservoir is below the top of the dam the amount released is usually restricted to190 CFS, as long as at least 190 CFS is flowing into the reservoir. There are proposals for decreasing this minimum flow as well as other schemes for maintaining higher Lake Chesdin levels during dry periods (building another reservoir upstream, increasing the height of the dam, routing treated wastewater to the base of the dam to make up some of the minimum flow, etc.).

Friends of the Lower Appomattox River: http://folar-va.org/

Another paddler’s take on the river: http://www.mypaddlediary.com/?p=23 http://www.mypaddlediary.com/?p=102

Video of paddlers running Pipeline and Girl Scout (aka 7 Drops—parallel to Target Rock): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBDRCVUKa6Y

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Update:
It looks like the water level will be good for Saturday.
Temperature forecast is cold, but above freezing.

So, it looks like this trip is on!

Nate's trip report http://coastals.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13560 and Raven's video is probably the best promotion for this trip I've seen.
http://vimeo.com/83521950


So far I have heard from one person who is planning to go. Others?

Paul

[Paddle Daddy]

Paul, I would like to come. Will check with the homefront and let you know for sure by Thursday.

[AirborneBuff]

Paul,

I will be there on Saturday, see you at the takeout.

-Keith

[Amphibious]

Hey Paul - I am also interested. James

[tristan549]

Me and a friend plan on being there.

Tristan

[gruss]

Hey Paul - I've really been wanting to get out on this river, and I'm gonna try to make it out Saturday. I've got some things I need to shift around in the afternoon - is 3:30 a pretty strong estimate for getting off the river?

I'll post tomorrow to let you know for sure if I can make it.

Thanks!

Greg R.

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I have 8 people on my list so far, so we are looking good. The level forecast for Saturday is for around 6 ft on the Matoaca gauge, which is a great level. I got a chance to look at the Pipeline-Target Rock section at 7.5', and it was rocking. The rock of Target Rock is underwater in a large eddy at this level, and there are some huge waves/holes in the center. It looks quite pushy so I'm glad the level will be down some by Sat.

Greg- because of the great level, I expect it will take less time to run than what I put in the schedule. 3:30 is a conservative estimate, and a 2:30 finish is possible, depending on how much time we take playing etc. on the way down.

Everyone is welcome to join us, there is room for all. Contact me if you have any questions about whether this trip is suitable for you.

Paul

[open boater]

It's been many years since I ran the App! Looking forward to it!

[luv2paddle]

Count me in. See everybody tomorrow!

Jamie

[gruss]

Alright, I'm in. See you tomorrow!

Greg R.

[drew]

I would like to join you guys tomorrow @ the takeout, sorry for the late notice. Will see you in the morning. I had a chance to scout the river on Tuesday and could not even see target rock; river looked awesome, this should be a great float tomorrow! - Drew