PG&E Plans Weekend Whitewater Release Below Rock Creek

QUINCY — The North Fork Feather River will run at more than twice its seasonal-normal rate below Rock Creek Dam from Saturday, July 25, into Sunday, July 26, as Pacific Gas and Electric Company carries out the second of four planned whitewater recreation releases. The higher water will create boating opportunities for experienced paddlers, but PG&E warns that the affected stretch contains Class III, IV, and V rapids and is not appropriate for tubing.

The increase will affect the 8.3-mile Rock Creek Reach in the Plumas National Forest, between Rock Creek Dam and the Rock Creek Powerhouse near Storrie. PG&E plans to raise the flow to at least 1,100 cubic feet per second by 9 AM Saturday and hold it there until 3 PM.

The flow will then drop to at least 900 cfs and remain at that level overnight and through 2 PM Sunday, when PG&E will begin gradually returning it to the seasonal norm of approximately 400 cfs. The Saturday target is at least 2.75 times the normal rate, while the Sunday target is more than twice normal, meaning the heightened conditions will continue after Saturday’s peak boating window ends.

The planned increase is one of the recreation releases provided under the federal operating license for PG&E’s Rock Creek–Cresta Hydroelectric Project. NOAA Fisheries describes a system in which water at Rock Creek Reservoir can be routed through a tunnel and penstock to the powerhouse, bypassing the river reach between the dam and powerhouse. During a recreation release, PG&E instead sends more water through the channel below the dam for a limited period.

American Whitewater divides the reach into three sections with sharply different levels of difficulty: the Class III Rodgers Flat run, the Class V Tobin section, and the Class IV Lobin section. The organization’s river guide says Highway 70 parallels much of the reach, allowing paddlers to choose sections instead of running all 8.3 miles, but parking is limited and cell service is unavailable in parts of the canyon.

Higher flows make the river unsuitable for inexperienced, casual use. PG&E says cold water can trigger an involuntary gasp reflex and can lead to cardiac arrest, temporary paralysis, hypothermia, or drowning, while swift current can overwhelm even strong swimmers. Rocks, wood, and other obstacles may be hidden beneath the surface, and the utility strongly recommends guided trips for inexperienced paddlers.

PG&E also prohibits recreation in its canals and flumes, where slippery walls, fast water, submerged obstacles, tunnels, and pipes create additional hazards. More guidance is available on PG&E’s hydro safety page.

The current 2026 release schedule lists another Rock Creek weekend Aug. 22–23, with targets of 1,100 cfs Saturday and 900 cfs Sunday. The final scheduled release Sept. 26–27, during the Feather River Festival, is listed at 900 cfs both days. American Whitewater advises boaters to verify conditions before traveling because operating or system conditions can occasionally change the release schedule.