Repairs to Wolf Creek Dam

This page addresses the question:

"What affect does the lowered lake level have on my paddling trip?"

For those not up to date with what this question is all about, here is a little background information. Wolf Creek Dam is the dam on the Cumberland River that forms Lake Cumberland. Starting in January, 2007, the Corp of Engineers began repairing faults in this dam and lowered the level of Lake Cumberland to relieve pressure on the dam. Two of the three rivers we service are on the upstream side of Lake Cumberland and feed into the lake.

There are two versions of the answers below: the SHORT ANSWER and the LONG ANSWER.

If the Corps of Engineers keeps the lake down in 2010, as we are expecting, this will be our 4th year running with the lowered lake levels. The summer rafting trip has seen the most impact from this change due to the fact that the Cumberland Star is not able to run. After being thrashed around a bit in 2007 with the surprise drop in the lake, along with the drought, we found a system that more or less works for 2008. The trips in 2009 went pretty smoothly. Other than the Cumberland Star, which can not run at all, the other trips that were affected are more positively impacted. If you have any specific questions that are not addressed here, please feel free to contact us at 1-800-541-7238 or email us.

SHORT ANSWER

All our trips are still running -- most with either a change for the better or no change at all. Below you will find a summary of the changes to trips. If your trip is not listed, it is not affected by the changes in lake level.

Rafting Trips

• Cumberland Below the Falls -- More Class III rapids, but the Cumberland Star cannot run.
• Big South Fork - Gorge -- No effect
• Big South Fork - Canyon -- No effect
• Russell Fork - Fun Run -- No effect
• Russell Fork - Family Run -- No effect

Canoe Trips

• Upper Cumberland - 28-mile -- No effect
• Upper Cumberland - 17-mile -- No effect
• Upper Cumberland - 5-mile -- No effect
• Big South Fork - Middle Section -- No effect
• Big South Fork - Lower Section -- Replaces lake level with flowing river. Yamacraw to Alum Ford has many more rapids.

Cumberland Star River Boat

• Lunch Cruise -- Not able to run
• Charter Cruise -- Not able to run

LONG ANSWER

Ok folks, you asked for it.... Since most trips are not affected, this section will go into just shy of gory detail on the 4 sections of river that are affected by the changing lake levels. There is one rafting trip, 3 sections of the Big South Fork canoeing, and the Cumberland Star River Boat Cruises that are affected.

Rafting - Cumberland Below the Falls

The Cumberland River runs into Lake Cumberland, so the change in lake levels does not affect the river levels or Cumberland Falls itself at all. Because the lake level is down, we have several more Class III rapids showing during the summer than we normally have and that is a good thing! We would not usually see these last rapids until very late in the summer. There are 2 rapids that can become Class IV or even Class V during higher water levels. If either Screaming Right Hand turn or Last Drop are a Class IV on any given day, then anyone ages 12 and under *must* walk that rapid. Anyone 13 and older may decide to run the rapid or to walk it (youth group leaders may decide ahead of time to have their kids walk, in which case the choice would not be offered to their group.) If Last Drop is a Class V, then everyone walks that rapid.

In addition, the Cumberland Star riverboat is not able to make it up the river. In 2007, the drop in Lake Cumberland was exacerbated by a severe drought. While the 5-mile rafting section of the trip itself was great to good, even with the drought, the logistics of dealing with the last 5 miles had a significant impact on the total trip. In 2008, we put in a new trail to just below the last Class III rapid (Last Drop) and hiked in small motors. From there, we did a motorized raft train (a motorized raft towing the other rafts) to the nearest boat ramp. Lunch is provided during this tow-out. We continued with this method in 2009, although because it was such a wet year, there were a number of days when we did not need the motors. We will continue to provide updates on this space, including any other methods that we come up with (and we welcome suggestions). It is possible that a decision as to which method we use may change on a daily or weekly basis, depending on what we think will make for a better trip given the current conditions.

Canoeing - Big South Fork - Lower Section - Blue Heron to Yamacraw Bridge

Normally, Lake Cumberland covers this section of river starting in May. This means that in May, there is only a little flowing water before the river flows into the lake. By Late-June, this section had flow most of the way to Yamacraw. With the lake lower, this section has moving water all season.

Canoeing - Big South Fork - Lower Section - Yamacraw Bridge to Alum Ford

Normally, Lake Cumberland covered this section thru Late August. With the lake lower, this section has moving water all season. There are quite a few rapids on this section, several of which are borderline Class II at lower water levels and Class II at higher water levels.

Canoeing - Big South Fork - Lower Section - Alum Ford to Hwy 927

Normally, Lake Cumberland covered this section thru October. With the lake lower, this section has moving water all season for about the first 2 miles or so, and then lake level after that.

Cumberland Star River Boat - Lunch Cruise

The Cumberland Star River Boat Lunch and Charter cruises are not able to run. We are trying to take advantage of the lowered lake level to put in a new docking system at the Mouth of the Laurel, so that when the lake comes back up, we will have new and improved access there.

Sheltowee Trace Outfitters P.O. Box 1060 Whitley City, KY 42653 1-800-541-RAFT (7238) fax: 1-866-FAX-RAFT (866-329-7238) e-mail: funky-rafting.com www.ky-rafting.com