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Advance Planned Recreational Releases
Four weekends are set aside each year so that paddlers can make advance plans to experience optimum whitewater conditions. These include the weekend closest to July 4, a second weekend in July, a weekend in August, and Labor Day weekend.
By April 1st of each year, Dominion Energy will post these dates in the table below. Depending on river flows, either one or two weekend days will be targeted for optimum paddler flows. Each of the weekends will be designated for either a Saturday or Sunday release in the event that river flows are high and only a single day of optimum flow can be provided. Conditions for advanced planned releases to occur are:
If the river is not in flood control, but the US Army Corps of Engineers weekly declaration is > 6,000 cfs, a single day of recreational flow shall occur.
If the weekly declaration is ≤ 6,000 cfs, two days of recreational flow will occur.
A planned “advanced wave” flow will occur one Sunday per year. This will occur starting a 1:00 p.m. on the August weekend.
Most Recent Water Flow Levels
| Start Date | End Date | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 7/5/2025 | 7/6/2025 | 2,000 cfs |
| 7/19/2025 | 7/20/2025 | 2,000 cfs |
| 8/16/2025 | 8/16/2025 | 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. with flows at 10,000 cfs |
| 8/17/2025 | 8/17/2025 | 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. with flows at 10,000 cfs |
| 8/30/2025 | 8/31/2025 | 2,000 cfs |
WARNING! Floods, unexpected generating unit starts and other events can cause water release schedules and river conditions to change with little or no notice. Paddlers should always wear a US Coast Guard approved Personal Flotation Device and a protective helmet designed for whitewater paddling while engaged in water-sport activities.
Related Topics
North Carolina Hydrostation Information
