Will the H.R. Sandbar be back this Summer?

Kitesmurf · Since 21 Jan 2008 92 Posts

Is the water level falling enough that the sandbar will be exposed again this summer? Is the sandbar washed away?

Thanks,
Kitesmurf

Nak · Sun Jun 19, 11 3:05 pm

My guess is it'll peek out in time for KB4C.

wylieflyote · Sun Jun 19, 11 3:09 pm

Youkai · Since 08 Feb 2010 553 Posts Beaverton Addicted

There was a similar post recently where someone posted a link to a debris flow study from 2006. I think the consensus was that the sandbar might erode a little bit but there was no mention of when it would appear in that thread. Here's the link if you want to check it out: http://www.nwkite.com/forums/t-22228.html

MarkWorth · Since 02 May 2011 149 Posts Hood River Stoked

The current is easing off to normal spring current dropping from 500,000 to 450,000. The water level is falling and the sandbar will start to show this week. Only the highest spots will show until July 15 if the forecast is correct.

and yes it's still there

Nak · Mon Jun 20, 11 8:47 am

I hope you're right Mark. I've not really closely followed the water level in HR before. If you look at the forecast CFS, it seems like we have a long time till the sand bar is back?

The sand bar disapeared around 330,000 cfs in May. Looking at the latest forecast, it won't get back down to that level until the third week of July. If the sand bar has built up at all, it'll peek out earlier. If it's eroded...

Of course CFS does not necessarily directly correlate to level. It also depends on the release rate at Bonneville. For a given flow rate at The Dalles, the river level at HR will go up as Bonneville releases less, and go down as Bonneville releases more. The week of July 4th, Bonneville almost always cuts back on the flow.

http://www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/stp/station/stpplot/stpplot.cgi?TDAO3

taycar · Since 11 Jan 2010 111 Posts HR Stoked

The sandbar is definitely there. I fell multiple times over the top of it this last weekend and was surprised at how often I could touch. My wife is looking forward to it showing up again as well. She was really nervous about using the Marina this last weekend.

Windance Crew · Since 18 Apr 2008 473 Posts Hood River Kite Shop Obsessed

Also note that the water level is not neccessarily related to the flow. If they open up the Bonneville dam more than the Dalles dam then shouldn't the water level drop?

Pepi · Mon Jun 20, 11 1:36 pm

hilton · Since 15 Aug 2008 801 Posts Opinionated

The river was a bit lower yesterday.
There was some exposed sand at the end of the spit, and the sandbar looked only knee deep in places.
It might not last, but it does give me some hope for the next few weeks.

PDXF · Since 10 Sep 2008 116 Posts Stoked

If the shadow in the HR sandbar cam is any indication the sandbar is still there AND it now extends well in front of of the event site... maybe I'm just seeing things

taycar · Since 11 Jan 2010 111 Posts HR Stoked

sirmichaelo · Since 26 Mar 2010 353 Posts Maui Obsessed

It's kind of exciting waiting to see what kind of brand new sandbar we're getting.

It's like a thinly wrapped christmas present or a sexy girl at a bar...

You never know what you're gonna get until a few layers come off.

luke · Since 06 Jul 2005 399 Posts Obsessed

last night the spit showed itself.

The water level dropped enough for a couple of spots to show up.

Nak · Tue Jun 21, 11 10:11 am

Interesting... The CFS is still up about 450,000, much higher than when the spit went under. Bonneville is cutting back on flow too, so I'm guessing the water level at HR is still pretty high. Anyone, what does the actual level look like? Kinda sounds like the spit picked up some altitude, at least in spots.

Inept_Fun · Since 14 Apr 2005 1417 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

I have 0 knowledge if stuff like this, just what I have seen from years of living here. My guess would be that the sandbar definitely got bigger from the high water, at least on the Hood. In years past, when the Hood has run high it has deposited a lot of shit at the sandbar, rocks logs etc, I think the sand grabs onto this stuff and makes the sandbar get bigger. It would make sense then, that the high points of the sandbar caught more debris, thus more sand causing them to grow.

Water is high now, haven't got a first hand look though.

How dope would three foot high sand berms be with butter water on the other side?

forrest · Tue Jun 21, 11 11:55 am

Would be like a magical gift from Satan! Me loves me some butter water!