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Recreational River Releases—How, Why
Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM EDT
Category: Events
Recreational River Releases
Why does the river turn on at 10:00 am on Saturdays in June?

Rivers don’t just "turn on" for our convenience. Undammed rivers, unless fed by springs, run when the snow melts, or when it rains. Rivers may flow when they have been previously diverted to power plants downstream to generate electricity. Flow may be shared with farmers or with municipality needs. In this River Management Roundtable, we’ll cover:

  • Why and how recreational river releases have been established
  • How flow schedules balance various constituent needs
  • What river managers, outfitters, and the public should know about release timing and variability

Speakers

  • Tom Christopher, New England Flow
  • Robert Kauffman, American Canoe Association
  • Paul Fogal, Pocono Whitewater
  • David Brown, TN Paddlesports Association
  • Tom Waters, Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
  • Jared Skaggs, Grand River Dam Authority

Registration

On the second Tuesday of the month, the River Management Society hosts River Management Roundtables, facilitated virtual discussions with professional river and water trails managers. These peer-to-peer conversations provide an open forum to ask questions, share solutions, and build camaraderie. There is no fee or membership requirement to attend, though registration is required. Discussions are recorded and shared with registrants.

Register

About Our 2026 Water Trails Series

Our 2026 River Management Roundtable series includes a set of sessions designed specifically to support water trail managers. Topics were identified through a survey of water trail managers and are being developed in response to the priorities and challenges they shared. Together, these sessions form a connected series focused on practical, timely issues in river and water trail management, and will help inform ongoing collaboration through the RMS Water Trails Working Group. Anyone interested in these topics is encouraged to attend.