Whitewater Run CA Class II+

2) Centerville Powerhouse to Covered Bridge

Butte Creek

Linked via: Nhdplus discovery 90% confidence Synced 3mo ago

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Gauge Conditions
BUTTE Creek Near CHICO CA Downstream Primary
Runnable: 200.0 – 1,000.0 CFS
CDEC Flow Data California
BUTTE CREEK BCK Primary
Elevation: 300 ft
BUTTE CREEK BPD Primary
Elevation: 269 ft
BUTTE CREEK BCD Primary
Elevation: 190 ft
Elevation: 2,882 ft
Run Map
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Description
This is a great beginner run that has served as the training ground for Chico area paddlers for many years. The creek has also been a restoration success story for salmon. With the removal of four irrigation dams the creek now provides 25 miles of restored salmon habitat. The run provides nearly continuous class II action but with plenty of recovery time between drops. The channel shifts from year to year which also means you should be prepared for the occassional wood hazard. For first-timers who want to avoid the toughest drop on the run you can put in at the concrete bridge that crosses the river a short distance downstream of the PG&E Powerhouse. AW has been working with PG&E to provide continued access at the powerhouse. See the great description in Bill Tuthill's California Creekin.
Difficulty
Class II+
Length
5.7 mi
Gradient
30 ft/mi
Rapids
0
Difficulty Classes
I Easy II Novice III Intermediate IV Advanced V Expert/Extreme VI Unrunnable
Current Conditions
5-Day Forecast
Whitewater data from
American Whitewater