Cancelling the 2011 Dick Reese Kipona Canoe Races - High Water

[BrianP]

Because of higher than usual water levels, Dick Reese and I have decided to cancel the canoe races this year.  They will not be rescheduled.

This was not an easy decision, especially because the water levels are not extremely high, but they are not suitable for the range of paddlers that participate in this event.

CCGH will still have a booth at the Kipona Festival at which we will be selling raffle tickets, T-shirts, and promoting the activities of the CCGH.  Please stop by and support the CCGH.

Sincerely,

Brian

[RB]

What do you consider a high limit to hold the canoe races ??

[BrianP]

I have looked back at the level (in cfs) over the last 20 years for Labor Day.  Most of the years that we have had the race, the flow was between 5,000 and 10,000 cfs. 

Three years it was between 10,000 and 15,000 cfs. 

Twice we have had the race at about 20,000 to 21,000 cfs, and at that level it starts to get difficult for the more novice paddlers to get up stream and around the buoy, and we have more flips.

The prediction for Sunday was for at least 25,000 cfs.

We have cancelled once before (2006), but in that case the river was almost 100,000 cfs.

This was not a straightforward decision.  Most moderately experienced paddlers would have no trouble at that level.  However, this race has a large percentage of novice paddlers.  We needed to take that into account. 

Brian