Upper Brazos River

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Upper Brazos River

Post by beekeeper »

Possum Kingdom Lake is receiving massive inflows and the level is around minus 12 ft. Hopefully, this will lead to an increased discharge and we can schedule a 3 day/2 night trip pretty soon.
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Re: Upper Brazos River

Post by Hirsch »

I hope so also though scheduling may be tough before July.
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Re: Upper Brazos River

Post by Hirsch »

Possum Kingdom has risen 4 feet in 3 days to 8' low and 77% fill.
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Re: Upper Brazos River

Post by bassTaco »

With the low water levels in Possum Kingdom, is this stretch of the river not navigable through a boat vessel? Never paddled the Brazos but want to in the future so was just curious about current conditions.
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Re: Upper Brazos River

Post by Hirsch »

Right now the first 20 miles below the dam are not navigable. Hopefully a good wet year and a full lake will change that.
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Re: Upper Brazos River

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The level is rising still and there is more rain coming. I think it will be necessary to increase release amounts pretty soon. Last week, it was about 14 ft low, and it may only be 7 ft low by tomorrow, not counting the coming rains.
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Re: Upper Brazos River

Post by Hirsch »

Further down Granbury is at 97% fill with both Whitney and Waco at 100%. It would be nice to see the whole system full again.
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Re: Upper Brazos River

Post by on a mission »

Whitney is now 1ft.high. More rain coming. Brazos is on this summer.
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Re: Upper Brazos River

Post by Hirsch »

Just looked and Possum Kingdom had risen so it is now only 7.8' low. :D

Yesterday The flow of the Brazos at the Graeford gauge was 19 cfs and this morning is 380 cfs meaning they are starting to release.

Sadly the Colorado River is not getting the same rainfall upstream though it is doing well down below Bastrop.
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Re: Upper Brazos River

Post by beekeeper »

BOPGunner, his brother and myself are likely kayaking the upper Brazos, putting in Monday, May 25 for 2 nights and 3 days. This is what we have been waiting for. Come join us.
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Re: Upper Brazos River

Post by Hirsch »

Man you are killing me!!! I have 3 different trips planned back to back from May 26 to July 2 with maybe 6 nights under a hard roof. If you can start May 23rd I could delay the start of my first trip.
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Re: Upper Brazos River

Post by beekeeper »

We got ahead of ourselves. The flow site now shows the Brazos flow at Graford to be only 21 cfs. The PK level is now minus 6.2 ft., so maybe the gates will not be opened more . We are looking at the Kiamachi River in Oklahoma as a backup plan.
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Re: Upper Brazos River

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Possum Kingdom has risen another foot and now 6' low. Gradord is showing 21 CFS.
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Re: Upper Brazos River

Post by Hirsch »

It is now -4.75 ft and 86% full. They still are not releasing. The inflow to the lake is still more than 10X the long term average so hopefully it will be full soon.
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Re: Upper Brazos River

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We have canceled our river trip for a week or so to let the rivers calm down. The upper Brazos looks more certain to be full and releasing for the first week of June.
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Re: Upper Brazos River

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From the Brazos River Authority's Face Book page. :D

"Possum Kingdom Lake is now within about one-half foot of elevation 999 mean sea level and is expected to reach that point over the next several days or sooner with more rain. The BRA will begin releases from the Morris Sheppard Dam through the controlled outlet conduit this evening. The reservoir will continue to rise once the release is begun. The BRA will post on this Facebook page when releases begin and at what rate they are made."
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Re: Upper Brazos River

Post by beekeeper »

We are going to wait a few days and then get scheduled. This has been a long time coming.
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Re: Upper Brazos River

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556 CFS now. Southwest Paddler calls 500-3,000 ideal.
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Re: Upper Brazos River

Post by Hirsch »

Holy Cow!!! Possum Kingdom is releasing at 2,700 cfs now. Bet that's a wild ride now. :D
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Re: Upper Brazos River

Post by beekeeper »

BOPGunner and I were discussing when this becomes a one night trip instead of two due to the increased flow. Our new trip date is Friday, June 5 for a three day, 2 night.
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Re: Upper Brazos River

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Watch the forecast with the river already high. It is known for very large rapid rises just from local rains w/o help of the dam.
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Re: Upper Brazos River

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The pk discharge is about 273 3ft/sec. Maybe things have calmed down enough that we can finally schedule a 3 day/2 night trip. Friday, June 26, may be too soon. How about the first Friday in July, or the second?
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Re: Upper Brazos River

Post by Hirsch »

The first weekend is the 4th of July and likely to be crowded. I am still in Colorado and may go straight from there to the coast. For the next two weeks I will be in and out of the net.

Has anyone checked Rochelles to see if they are up and running?
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Re: Upper Brazos River

Post by BOPGUNNER »

Paul, I talk to her last week. She said the river was great a lot of trash got washed down. It's going to be the best summer in 5 years for them. I was at Lake Granbury today. Lots of trash (as in big dead trees)in the lake from upstream. We need to plan a trip soon. I'll get with the Beekeeper. Let us know when you're free. We can set up a trip.
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Re: Upper Brazos River

Post by hunterlee5587 »

Any recent updates on the Brazos flow below PKL?

I have paddled Brazos just south of Lake Whitney to Dick's canoes about 8 miles downriver. I want to see a different stretch of the Brazos, and was wondering if now is a good time with current water conditions?
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