2023 Quemahoning Releases

The Stonycreek is open 7 days per week.  On certain days of the year, we get a boost of water from the Quemahoning Reservoir upstream.  These water levels are fun for most everyone and we highly recommend a 1-1 child to adult ratio: especially at these boosted levels.  Safety First!

The river is open to paddling and this May looks to be a good month for paddling natural flows.  Enjoy the river, but please be safe.  Hug your boat, not your buddies.

Scheduled Whitewater Releases From Quemahoning Lake have been scheduled and are listed below.  Releases during May and June are highly likely to occur as scheduled (unless maintenance or repairs are needed); releases after the beginning of July are dependent on reservoir levels.  Also note: the maximum flow that a release can provide is 1,350 cfs,  (which is around 3’ at Foustwell, 4.5’ at Ferndale).  If the natural flow is 1,000 cfs, we will ONLY RELEASE additional 350 cfs.   If natural flow is over 1,350 cfs,  there is NO RELEASE.  Any changes in the schedule will be posted here and on our Facebook page ASAP!

Note: If water level at the Quemahoning Reservoir is between 1626.0 and 1626.5 on the Sunday before a planned release, then a release will be made on the following Saturday only; if the water level is greater than 1626.5, then the release will be held on both the following Saturday and Sunday.  And if the level at the Quemahoning Reservoir is below 1626 ft above sea level on the Sunday before the scheduled release: the release is cancelled. This may effect late summer releases.  Watch here for updates. 

This is likely accurate.  Again, watch here for any possible changes.

2023 Release Schedule

April 22-23 First Release for this season coinciding with our annual Stonycreek Cleanup on Saturday.

May 6-7  Recent rains have brought up both the Stony and Quemahoning Reservoir. We will have releases (on a “as needed” basis) both days. Enjoy.

May 19-20-21 Stonycreek Rendezvous

May 27  Special Release (one day only) Memorial Day weekend. This release is on.

June 3-4  

June 17-18

July 1-2      

July 15-16

July 29-30

August 12-13

August 26-27

September 9-10  

September 23-24   

October 7-8

October 21-22

Releases:  Scheduled releases will be on Saturdays and Sundays.  Releases start around 7 AM and the river should rise at Foustwell Bridge put-in by 10 AM.  Water should start dropping at Foustwell by 2 PM (each day).  Water should start to rise around 1 PM at Carpenter’s Park.  Note: each release is a 1 hr ramp up, 4 hr full release, and a 1 hr ramp down.

Also: late summer and fall releases are highly dependent on water levels in the reservoir.

Note: Camping is available at Coal Tubin’s new “Sites of Astonia” located on the river and right beside the shop.

Please Help: Our local paddling club, the Ben’s Creek Canoe Club, has an ongoing obligation to pay the salary of the personnel that operate the whitewater valve at Quemahoning Reservoir.  Please help us pay for this by making a donation to our Whitewater Valve program through the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies.   When you make a donation through their site, please designate SQI Whitewater for the donation.  This is a tax deductible donation.  Thank you.