Upper Brazos Open Invite

[beekeeper]

We are doing a 3 day/2 night kayak trip on the upper Brazos on July 10. We are putting in at the Hwy 4 bridge about 10-11AM. We will get out on Sunday afternoon, at Rochelles. The exception will be if the river flow is fast, then it could turn into a 1 night trip. Myself and BOP Gunner are definites and we welcome anyone else. Rochelles Canoe Rental, tel 940-659-3341, will provide transfers, but you need to schedule it.

[larry long shadows]

I wish but that a bid far for me Thanks for invite

[Hirsch]

Wish I could make this one. I look forward to the report!!!

[Hirsch]

On second thought watch the river. It is flowing at 8,620 cfs at the moment. Ideal conditions are considered 500-3,000 cfs.

[beekeeper]

Man! 8600 ft/csec. That may be a too much fun. I suppose we will wait and then re-schedule.

[Hirsch]

It was 9,530 when I checked just now!!!

[beekeeper]

We're having a dickens of a time doing the Brazos. Now, what is a good backup plan for this weekend? North TX is too full. I just talked to Rochelles and they are locked down for days.

[Harold Ray]

It is flowing at 8,620 cfs at the moment. Ideal conditions are considered 500-3,000 cfs.

I am on the Brazos here in Waco; its been running 9,000 plus cfs for a while, and last I checked they were releasing water above us from most dams. I watch it go by, and its moving. All I can handle is to about 2,500 cfs, but I prefer up to 2,000 at most. 'Course, I'm older now, and there are many younger than I who are braver than I.

A couple of weeks ago, two kayakers got on the Trinity in Dallas when it was running ~9,000 to 10,000. One made it back to shore; they couldn't find the other one.

The Brazos right now is running 7,000 cfs in Waco according to the USGS current water sites; Trinity in Dallas around, 9,000.

[Harold Ray]

Brazos today: ~11,500 cfs according to http://waterwatch.usgs.gov/new/?m=real&r=tx&w=map, Trinity in Dallas: 9,000 cfs. Lots of water!!

[beekeeper]

Oops! The PK discharge is back to 9,000 cf/s.

[Harold Ray]

Waco today:


USGS 08096500 Brazos Rv at Waco, TX
Drainage area: 29559 mi2

Discharge: 13100 cfs

Stage: 13.71 ft
Date: 2015-07-13 18:00:00
Flood stage: 27 ft
Percentile: 98.85 %
Length of Record: 74 years
Class symbol:
% normal (median): 1578.31 %
% normal (mean): 681.27 %

[Hirsch]

I think it may take them a little bit to get a steady flow regulated.

[fishcliff]

Haven't gone from Hwy 16 to Rochelle's, but may be going soon. I've gone from there downstream I think it's 9-10 miles and the other times I've paddled back up to 16.

Right now, it's showing 300 cfs coming out of PK. Is that 20 mile trip a good overnighter or do you feel rushed?

I'd like to spend some time fishing and not feel rushed to make it there by Sunday night, but at the same time I can't do a third day.

[Harold Ray]

Brazos flow in Waco is down a lot: Discharge: 3300 cfs

Highbank: 4,900 cfs

That is a lot different that ~9,000 cfs

[LearnedHat]

Haven't gone from Hwy 16 to Rochelle's, but may be going soon. I've gone from there downstream I think it's 9-10 miles and the other times I've paddled back up to 16.

Right now, it's showing 300 cfs coming out of PK. Is that 20 mile trip a good overnighter or do you feel rushed?

I'd like to spend some time fishing and not feel rushed to make it there by Sunday night, but at the same time I can't do a third day.

240cfs from PK is fine especially when there is still some drainage downstream from the dam. They've been dropping the lake and then gating it to 200-300 and then (because so much water is still coming in via the Brazos) opening it back up. Seems they're terrified of storing one more foot in the lake than the stated conservation pool. Anyway - when they open up a gate to pull the level down, it goes to 9,000 - that 's no good imo although the backside of that when it is falling could be fun.

I was there at 100 once -- got out about 40 times in two days.

[Hirsch]

Haven't gone from Hwy 16 to Rochelle's, but may be going soon. I've gone from there downstream I think it's 9-10 miles and the other times I've paddled back up to 16.

Right now, it's showing 300 cfs coming out of PK. Is that 20 mile trip a good overnighter or do you feel rushed?

I'd like to spend some time fishing and not feel rushed to make it there by Sunday night, but at the same time I can't do a third day.

I have done it in one night but felt rushed. I much prefer 2 nights.