FALL RELEASE AT DIERKS OR GILLHAM NOVEMBER 7,8,9 2008

[CAPTAIN ALEVE]

Just talked to the Corps; they are leaning toward having the fall release from Gillham Lake rather than Dierks. I didn't ask who applied for the release, but it was probably the Tarrant County Junior College which has requested the releases in the past. The water is supposed to come on each of the three days at 7:00 a.m. and run until 9:00 p.m. If our weather pattern returns to normal (dry), you can go down there and paddle the 4 miles of Class II and have some fun at several low key surf waves.

There are some waves and holes at the upper end of the Cossatot Reefs campground and another nice wave before you get to the low water bridge; you can surf on the downstream side of that bridge. There’s a road access that goes to the bank about a mile below the low water bridge crossing. It looks like you are driving through someone’s yard, but it is a public road. It actually passes between their house and barn. I have waved at the folks there before and gotten a wave back, so I think all is cool with them. There are a couple more waves to play on in that last mile, so that is why I take out on the private-looking road. If you go down to the next bridge, you will have a lot of flat water.

Captain Aleve

[CAPTAIN ALEVE]

Does anyone know if the releases are still going to happen and where?

Captain Aleve

[jmdauf]

Grapevine says it shall be released. Wish i knew.

[BEubanks]

Would this stretch work well for a teaching a class of new kayakers? Never been over there and hesitant to make the trip, but given our lack of water elsewhere, looks like it might be my best bet to get some new paddlers on a river. How's the current there compare with Remmel to Rockport or below the dam at Murphreesboro? Are there enough features to work with for practicing ferries, eddy turns, etc? Are there sufficient eddys to recover swimmers? Many strainers?

Info and advice appreciated from other instructors who have been on this stretch (and from others, too).

Trying to get the 2nd half of my fall OBU class on a river before it gets too cold.

[ScottH]

In an email response last week from one of the rangers down at Dierks Lake, the release request for this fall was cancelled. So there will not be any releases at Dierks or at Gillham this fall unless we get some rain.

Scott

[jmdauf]

Rats! afraid of that. Thanx for the info Scott.
peace, mitch