5. Electra to Middle Bar

The Electra Run is a wonderful class 2 section suitable for beginning white water boaters.   It has dependable summer flows and nice scenery.  The Electra Powerhouse usually runs for some portion of each day.  Maximum flow from the powerhouse is about 800 cfs.  Spring flows when upstream dams spill can be much higher.  The river is fairly narrow with lots of swiftwater, riffles and eddies.  There are only a few rapids harder than class 1, so it is popular with beginner boaters as well as floaters and swimmers.  There are many turnouts and swimming areas along the run. The recreational release flows on the Moke are a minimum; water year type and accretion from Cole Creek, the Bear River, and Tiger Creek proper can cause the flow observed on the North Fork Mokelumne to be greater than that number. Flows will be closer to the 700cfs or 900cfs release volume in dry years or particularly cold Springs. Please make sure you check recent flows before committing to a run! Getting there:  This section of the Mokelumne crosses Highway 49 between the towns of Jackson and Mokelume Hill. Driving time is about an hour and ten minutes to an hour and a half from Stockton, Sacramento or Modesto.  There are a number of alternate routes from each direction so click on the directions tab and calculate the route from your zip code. Put in:  From Highway 49 drive 3 miles up Electra Powerhouse Rd.  This road is paved, but narrow, old and heavily repaired.  The put in area is well marked and there is a large beach for launching boats and swimming.  The road continues anouther half mile to the powerhouse, but there is an old dam on the river in between. Take out:  There are two common options.  At highway 49 there is a large parking area on river left, called Big Bar.  This take out makes for a short shuttle. and still gets most of the whitewater rapids.  The new option is to take out at Middle Bar which is two miles downstream.  From Electra Powerhouse Rd & Highway 49 drive north towards Jackson 2.2 miles.  Turn left onto Middle Bar Rd and drive 3 miles to the take out parking area.  Middle Bar Rd is paved but narrow, old and heavily repaired. Alot 10 or 12 minutes to go the 3 miles. The opening of the Middle Bar Bridge take-out now makes the run from Electra Afterbay Dam to the bridge about 5 miles. This is a great Class-II reach with nearly dependable water in the summer due to peaking power generation. Getting this formerly restricted area open to boaters was a key focus for American Whitewater in the relicensing of the upstream PG&E Mokelumne hydropower project. Annual Mokelumne River Races: Each September since 1978, the Sierra Club Loma Prieta Paddlers has hosted slalom and downriver races on the Mokelumne.    The official race website is at:  mokeraces.com To view a video of Sage Donnelly SUPing the Downriver Race see the link below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYuOLPXEHO8&app=desktop Other Information Sources: cacreeks.com Foothill Conservancy: Wild and Scenic possibilities for Mokelumne\ \ Foothill Conservancy: Photos BLM River Database CA Hydro Power Reform Coalition: Mokelumne page Schematic Map of Diversions and gauges