Your PUD News Release

Boaters beware: River levels are high

Chelan County PUD
News Release
5/22/2008

This year’s late spring runoff is causing rivers to rise rapidly, resulting in fast flows, cold water temperature and an increase in debris in the water.

With the launch of the summer recreation season over Memorial Day weekend, boaters are reminded to be on the lookout for debris and rocks at all times on the Columbia River and Lake Chelan and to stay outside security buoys above and below the dams.

River levels can vary by several feet within an hour, depending on operations at Rocky Reach, Rock Island and other dams on the river. That could leave boaters who pull onto a beach stranded and cause water levels at boat launch ramps to vary.

Rising river levels are also expected to trigger water spill at Rocky Reach Dam and increased spill at Rock Island Dam. 

Boaters can check flow and water level for the Columbia River and Lake Chelan on Chelan County PUD’s Web site http://www.chelanpud.org/ under “Fish counts and lake levels.”  

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Kimberlee Craig
Public Information Officer
661.4320, direct line
679.6858, cell
kimberlee.craig@chelanpud.org