East Fork Lewis: Fall
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Category: General
Forum Name: Whitewater Forum
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URL: http://www.professorpaddle.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10096
Printed Date: 28 Sep 2025 at 7:16am
Topic: East Fork Lewis: Fall
Posted By: GHannam
Subject: East Fork Lewis: Fall
Date Posted: 29 Sep 2010 at 3:35pm
| Does the East Fork Lewis river levels come up much with rain? I'm wondering if has a tendency to become runnable in the Fall again, or if I have to wait 'til Spring? |
Replies:
Posted By: water wacko
Date Posted: 29 Sep 2010 at 3:57pm
| It runs all winter. It's low elevation which means cold doesn't affect level much. The big wood portage will become a bit dicey, if it's wet in there. |
Posted By: Larry
Date Posted: 29 Sep 2010 at 4:01pm
| Hey Bret, is there a big portage on the E. fork I'm not familiar with or are you talking Canyon Creek? |
Posted By: Tobin
Date Posted: 29 Sep 2010 at 4:58pm
|
Brett is thinking CC Lewis - EF Lewis is mostly clear. Check the warnings.
Lewis drainage is primarily rain fed so it only gets better with fall / winter rains and runs as long as the rain falls. As always on the EF Lewis, be respectful of private property and leave no trace. The property owners can be a little ....... twitchy? Cheers ------------- Sure? |
Posted By: GHannam
Date Posted: 29 Sep 2010 at 9:45pm
YES!! Glad to hear that it will be picking back up. 
Tobin-- thanks for the property beta, its good to be aware of such things. |
Posted By: water wacko
Date Posted: 29 Sep 2010 at 10:28pm
| Tobin's right. My bad. |
Posted By: dragorossinw
Date Posted: 30 Sep 2010 at 8:47am
|
Originally posted by GHannam
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/wa/nwis/uv/?site_no=14222500&PARAmeter_cd=00060,00065 - http://waterdata.usgs.gov/wa/nwis/uv/?site_no=14222500&PARAmeter_cd=00060,00065
As you can see it spiked on sunday late night just over 400cfs (falls stretch runnable) but bombed back down. There were several folks that took advantage of it last Monday. I think we're in for a good season in a couple of weeks!Does the East Fork Lewis river levels come up much with rain? I'm wondering if has a tendency to become runnable in the Fall again, or if I have to wait 'til Spring? ------------- Tony Z dragorossinorthwest@yahoo.com www.nookiekayaking.us www.dragorossi.com www.donkeyfIip.com |
Posted By: JoesKayak
Date Posted: 30 Sep 2010 at 9:51am
This river... as with most rain fed runs will run in the fall or winter any time there's enough rain... however, earlier in the season (now) flows tend to be more spiky. The river will rise really fast and drop really fast, so windows of opportunity are short. As we get into winter months flows become more stable and drop more slowly as the ground gets saturated and snow in the higher elevations both work to keep the water coming out more gradually. The key is keeping a close watch on those gauges and pay special attention to the rivers you want to run.... even when you're not looking to get on them: That way you can familiarize yourself with how a particular stream reacts to rain. This will enable you to better guesstimate if the rain on Thursday is going to mean good levels on Saturday or if it will be too high or low then. Hmm. didn't mean to give a whole lecture on the subject, but anyway. Yes EFL runs in the fall. 
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Posted By: GHannam
Date Posted: 02 Oct 2010 at 7:58pm
|
Thanks for the USGS link, Tony. I've also been watching it on americanwhitewater.org
Joe- great suggestions on watching rivers and getting familiar with their flow patterns. I should start doing that along with the "river log/journal" I've been meaning to start for... well, a while *HAHA*. Thanks! |