Tuolumne & Oar Towers | Gear Garage Live Show

Tuolumne & Oar Towers | Gear Garage Live Show

From Gear Garage Live Show by Whitewater Guidebook

July 15, 2026 · 30 min

About this episode

Zach discusses low water levels on popular rivers and shares tips on gear management and oar rigging.

The Low-Water Soapbox: Myth vs. Reality Zach kicks off the show addressing the flood of anxious questions about low water levels on the Middle Fork of the Salmon and the Rogue River. His take? It's not actually that low: Middle Fork of the Salmon: Currently running at 3.2 feet, which is very close to average. A truly "low" water level would be down around 1.8 feet. Zach notes that anything between 80% and 120% of average is a good, normal flow. The Rogue River: The dam is releasing 1,400 CFS (with some diverted for irrigation), leaving about 1,200 CFS in the river—though it may drop to 1,100 CFS soon. It doesn't get truly "low" until it dips below 900 CFS. Zach's Low-Water Strategy: If you do end up running low water, adjust by bringing less gear so your boats aren't heavy, and potentially bringing more boats on the trip. Introducing Submarine Hole Zach introduces his new website, submarinehole.com. It is designed as a professional discussion board for river rescue instructors, rowing/raft instructors, and professional guides to share ideas and keep a lasting log of information. While there is a small section for private boaters, the primary focus is to serve as a resource for…

People in this episode

Host: Zach

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Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: submarinehole.com

Places: Middle Fork of the Salmon, Rogue River

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