Smith Reservoir to Trail Bridge Reservoir

The Smith River below Smith Reservoir is approximately 2.1 miles long and drops about 135 ft/mile. The road along its length provides good access for boaters. The river probably had not been boated before the Whitewater Boating Feasibility Study in 2004 that was conducted as part of hydropower licensing. This study found that the reach can provide kayaking opportunities with adequate flow. A narrow channel and overhanging vegetation probably preclude rafting use. The Whitewater Boating Feasibility Study identified two rapids that required scouting and one portage. Boaters reported few boatability problems, and assessed the study flow as a technical opportunity or a transition between technical and standard trips. Advantages were continuous rapids, easy scouting, some playboating rapids, and at least one complex Class IV rapid. Disadvantages included infrequent eddies, encroaching brushy vegetation, and lack of complexity in some rapids. The reach was Class III–IV. Boaters participating in the Whitewater Boating Feasibility Study rated hypothetical flows between 50 and 1,200 cfs; flows below 200 cfs are predicted to be unboatable, but from 250 to 400 cfs, small flow increases are predicted to substantially improve quality. Specified flow results suggest: (1) 250 cfs is needed to provide an acceptable technical trip; (2) the transition between technical and standard trips is 300 to 350 cfs; (3) standard opportunities are optimal from 350 to 600 cfs; (4) the transition between standard and big water trips is about 550 to 600 cfs; and (5) big water opportunities are optimal above 650 cfs (but study flows were not high enough for precise estimates for this opportunity). When asked to specify a single preferred flow, most gave flows between 350 and 425 cfs. The Whitewater Boating Feasibility Study found that the Smith Bypass Reach was unique in the area for providing continuous Class III–IV rapids (although several other rivers have similar characteristics). Compared with the lower Carmen Reach on the McKenzie River, boaters thought the Smith River had better whitewater but a less scenic canyon. Boaters also noted that the Smith River has exceptional access and good camping nearby. On the negative side, the run is short and vegetation encroachment makes on-river scouting from eddies more difficult. Existing base flows from 5 to 40 cfs are not boatable. Flows over 200 cfs may be boatable if spills from the reservoir occur, but these are rare, short, and often too high because they occur during power outages when Smith Reservoir is full. They are difficult for boaters to predict and use. If “designed spills” for boating were feasible, even a few days of flows per year (for a few hours per day) are likely to address local boater demand. American Whitewater ultimately determined that scheduled recreational flows were not justified but did request flow information and notification of spills. This was was included as a condition of the Recreation and Aesthetics Management Plan for the hydropower license.