Rivers are up! Huge release of water!

[vbb]

Mexico just released a bunch of water from the damns on the Conchos, so there is a lot of water in the Rio Grande right now.  Couple with the awesome fall weather, it is a great time to hit the river. 

But, one word of caution, try and get your river run in before Chili cookoff starts, as lodging will probably be booked up by then.

http://www.visitbigbend.com/site09/en/news/big-bend-blog/417-rivers-up-102009.html

[randell]

Is there an official schedule of water releases from Mexico?  It would be very surprising to hop in the river and have a sudden wall of water come at you because of a release of water from Mexico.

[Roy]

I suspect it's got something to do with this:
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/index.shtml?epac

[vbb]

There is no official schedule of water releases, they release when they need to, mainly to avoid problems on their end, but also to spread the water out for farms irrigating along the Conchos.  The water rise is usually pretty slow by the time it makes it down to Big Bend.

But, it makes for awesome rafting conditions!  So, anyone that has been waiting to hit the river, should get down there right now.  Great weather, great water, and probably the last chance for the year.

[blueskybigbend]

There will never be a literal wall of water associated with a dam release as they gradually raise the levels. In addition it takes several days for the water to arrive in Big Bend, and the National Park Service and other local agencies are given notice. However, it is a good point that upstream rains can bring the river up in a hurry, and if you are camping by the river and not appropriately prepared, you won't be the first to lose some or all equipment.

This dam release was because of very full reservoir levels on the Conchos and the fact that the El Nino is continuing to produce rain on the drainage. The early speculation is that the release will last through the month of October, but if Hurricane Rick pushes a lot of moisture into the basin, the release will likely be extended to accommodate increased run-off, and local rains below the reservoir can also raise the levels.

I did Colorado canyon yesterday in 3 hours (12 miles) with a headwind and didn't paddle much. It doesn't get any better.

[homerboy2u]

if you are camping by the river and not appropriately prepared, you won't be the first to lose some or all equipment.

 Yes, i had this experience the very first time i went there (year 2000). I slept on the riverbed just a couple of kilometers before the river goes in to Boquillas Canyon, the flood water awoke us at about 5:am in the morning,We had to rush anything that could be saved,we picked up almost everything but some lanterns and sleeping bags that were just swept away,maybe a cooler along the way. But i know now i have to be more cautious where we choose to set up camp in the future...... . Newbie!!!.