2018 Flow Datedown

Rollin', rollin', rollin'--that water keeps a-rollin' downhill--3,440 cfs today along Rock Creek. Can you believe the amount of water that has already traversed downstream(s)?? And there is still a ton of that white stuff in the upper climes!

I talked with our Montana Matters Troubadour Shane Clouse this morning who, from his downtown Missoula nursery, reports that, in all of his years, he has never seen the Clark Fork which flows through Missoula as high as it has been for the last several weeks.

Tonight, I am set to talk with our Double Up Outfitter (who has been out of touch fishing the Mighty Mo for the past several days) to get his assessment of our high water situation and, tomorrow, I begin my two day drive to Montana [with E-18's Official Mascot "Ma'am" and (y)our Hostess Miss... Michelle--so named for her propensity to forever be "missing"!] for the month of June--yep, we are getting that close, gang!!

My next report to you will be from the scene of it all and, next Monday, we will make the final Group One decision as to "whether to bus or not to bus" over to the Mighty Mo, but it sure looks like a cushy 25 passenger motor coach will be in Group One's future!

Best to all in the final preparation stages of it all,

RCR---<'///:><

FW: CBEC Summer Class presentation

 

 

 

From: Brianna Clifford <brianna@pinnacleequitysolutions.com>
Sent: Friday, March 16, 2018 9:11 AM
To: Ron Clausen <RClausen@clausenlawgroup.com>
Subject: CBEC Summer Class presentation

 

Hi Ron,

 

We are beginning to plan our speakers for the Summer CBEC Class that will start in May. We would like you to present on Tuesday, June 26th at 4pm-5:30pm ET.  Please let me know if this day/time works for you and if you have any questions.

 

Thank you,

Brianna

 

 

Brianna Clifford

Pinnacle Equity Solutions

781-821-2608

Today's Log-O-Meter

Flow Update

Here you go, gang, your post-Memorial Day flow date down: Simply stated, things are still ripping water-wise in the greater Missoula area with the Clark Fork of the Columbia currently flowing at 40,000 cfs! Rock Creek contributes to that flow with its current 3,870 cubic feet per second...epic!!

I leave for Headquarters early this Thursday morning (as in less that 48 hours from now--yikes!) and will keep you fully posted on water conditions as I become aware.

Best to all in the nearness of it all!

RCR---<'///:><

Wednesday's Continued Flow!

3,870 cfs...2.5 BILLION gallons today!!

RCR---<'///:><

Post Cards from our Double Up Outfitter!

Mega 30”+ bull trout and 24” brown!

 

RCR---<’///:><---<’///:><

 

 

 

FW: E-18 Quiz: How many gallons a day is 3,660 cubic feet per second?

Holy calculations, sensei!!!

 

Craig Benjamin, CFP
Marquis Financial
 

E-18 Quiz: How many gallons a day is 3,660 cubic feet per second?

As shown in our Log-O-Meter photo earlier today, Rock Creek is currently flowing @ 3,660 cubic feet per second.  In all of the years of my doing Extravaganzas, I simply have taken this flow rate and similar numbers at face value—a barometer reading, if you would, to be compared to other similar readings…until this morning, that is, when I did the math and, frankly, the results are mind boggling.

 

Here is the calculation: 

1. I cubic foot of water equals 7.48 gallons of water. 
2. 3,360 cubic feet of water equals 27,376 gallons—the amount of water per second currently flowing in Rock Creek.
3. 3,360 gallons per second x 60 seconds = 1,643,608 gallons per minute.
4. 1,643,608 gallons per minute x 60 minutes = 98,556,480 gallons per hour
5. 98,556,480 gallons per hour x 24 hours = 2.365 BILLION gallons per day, today!!

 

WOW!!!

 

RCR---<’///:><

 

 

 

E-18's Log-O-Meter

This great shot taken this morning, courtesy of our caretaker Peanut, really portrays how massive this year's runoff currently is, with Rock Creek yet swiftly moving itself downstream @ 3,660 cfs!

RCR---<'///:><

our Monday Flow Report

This Monday, three weeks pre-Group One, Rock Creek is flowing at a yet brisk 3,590 cfs (two times 45 mean average for this day) and, with respect to the melt-off of snow at the upper climes, we are beginning to make real progress.

Snow water equivalent atop Lolo Pass (where Lewis & Clark nearly met their maker 200+ years ago by leaving Travelers Rest too early and getting snowbound atop Lolo Peak) on Feb 21st of this year was 25.9", which increased to 29.9" on April 17th and, late last week, logged in at 11.4". Well, today, with the continued massive weekend runoff, the snow water equivalent atop Lolo is just 7.4".

By way of comparison, in the Bitterroot range, Skalkaho Summit had a swe equivalent of 16.2" on Feb 21st, which shot up to 33.7" on April 17th. Last week its snow water equivalent was 23.3" and, with the intervening runoff, its swe is currently 20.3% (a manageable 117% of average).

Sooo, I am pleased to report that we are making progress, gang...tremendous progress, in fact, in seeing snow (a) melting at the higher levels and (b) traversing its way downstream(s) and out of our area of concern. And the forecast is for that to continue all during this week and next with Missoula temperatures to have average highs in the mid 70's (with a forecast 86 degrees this coming Saturday!).

It's pretty simple from here on out: The higher the ambient temperature the more water runs off the mountains and the sooner our local rivers become fishable.

I have a call into Mother Nature for a further update and will let you know if, when and what I hear back!!

Best to all amidst the flow of it all,

RCR---<'///:><

FW: E-18 Flow-date: Mr. Toad's Wild Ride!!

As overtly observed by veteran Group Threer, Mark "Z-Man" Zion:

We will just fish faster!! More river to cover at high rates of speed! NASCAR meets fly fishing - racing down the river! We boys from the South are down with that concept. Going to be interesting but I have confidence that Group 3 is in for a treat - no sloppy seconds this year - just prime time fishing!!

Z-man

FW: E-18 Flow-date: Mr. Toad's Wild Ride!!

How well put, Veteran Oner Craig "El Senor Feo" Benjamin:

Craig will be right at home in Craig, MT!!

Craig Benjamin, CFP
Marquis Financial

E-18 Flow-date: Mr. Toad's Wild Ride!!

As dated down by today's flow chart, the story of the 2018 flow is one right out of The Wind In The Willows (with, per Group Oner Trina "Boots" Clausen's observation on the scene of it all this morning, no willows to be seen riverside--the high water has submerged the river bank and has set TWO 100 year high water records in just this past week!), as it, indeed, is Mr. Toad's Wild Ride with today's epic flow logging in at a whopping 4,260 cfs (exactly three times the median flow over the last 45 years!). And, still, there is 150% of historical snow water content resident in the upper climes yet to come downhill...

What does all this mean, you again ask??

Well, as I confessed to daughter Boots just a few minutes ago, simply stated, we are in uncharted territory and, just three weeks out from the arrival of the Magnificent Ones, I am still not sure exactly whether which if any of our three groups will be fishing local waters or those of the Mighty Mo. Group Two veteran Brad "Maven" Miller asked earlier in the week what it our target flowage to be able to fish local waters (or, to put it as he did, "What should I be rooting for?") and the answer to that question is that in order for our targeted local Missoula rivers (the Clark Fork of the Columbia River, the Big ["A River Runs Through It"] Blackfoot River and the Bitterroot River) to have the clarity of water and safeness for drift boat fishing, Rock Creek should be flowing in the 1,500 cfs range (as has been the case in the vast majority of the 15 years we have hosted our Extravaganzas as evidenced in our historical flow chart).

Will things calm down to make that eventuality a reality?? I simply do not know (a tough admission for any lawyer at any time!) nor do I know anyone who can shed intelligent light on that question.

What I do know is that there is still plenty of snow in "them thar hills" to come downstream, gang, and believe you me we will be keeping all of our eyes on its progress and I will keep you fully in the loop as we head towards the home stretch and E-18's Opening Day three weeks hence.

Best to all in awe of it all,

Rock Creek Ron
---<'///:><

E-18 Log-O-Meter @ 3,800 cfs!

Your Monday Flow Report, Joe!

Da E-18 runoff keeps on a-flowin', gang, at record setting pace as set forth in a weekend article provided to us by Missoula resident and veteran Group Oner/daughter, Trina "Boots" Clausen. Billed now as a "hundred year flood", this year's initial runoff peaked over this past weekend, causing extensive flooding in Missoula's lower-lying areas.

Today's flow is at a still-impressive (yet reduced) rate of 3,420 cfs with water temperatures dipping to a chilly 44 degrees, best evidence that the upper level snow melt is fully underway. There is still an overabundance of snowpack in the upper western Montana mountains, however, and, a-la Credence Clearwater Revival, this flow needs to keep on a "rollin' down the river(s)!!

RCR---<'///:><

E-18: All-Time Record Runoff Continues!

Get a load of this, gang: Day after continued day now record runoff is occurring and recurring in and along all of the rivers of western Montana. Using Rock Creek as our traditional baseline, only three times in the past decade has its flow exceeded 5,000 cubic feet per second, and the third of those days is today with its massive flowage topping the 5,500 cfs mark. The result of this huge push is that, finally, the retained levels of the upper climes snow water content are abating, today down from 150%+ of 20 year averages to a relatively more modest 140%+ baseline...and look for that number to precipitously drop in the weeks ahead as the truly impressive runoff continues to rumble downhill.

Holy Runoff, Batman!!

RCR---<'///:><

Mid-Week Flow Update

WOW, this year's runoff is proceeding at a continued record-setting pace! As reflected on our updated annual flow chart, today's flow in and along our barometer Rock Creek is currently roiling at 4,319 cubic feet per second, the highest flow measured for this date during the past forty five years...

Here are some comparison numbers: (1) the current flow is 40% higher than the previous max of 3,100 cfs (last year's 2017 blue line on our chart); (2) today's mean average flow over the last four and a half decades has been 1,150 cfs -- today's flow is currently 275% of that mean average; and (3) the lowest flow on this date was measured in 1991 at 297 cfs -- we are fourteen times that rate!!

I regard all of the above as good news (in fact, very good news) as the snow pack in the upper climes is now beginning to melt off and, hopefully, our local rivers will fully settle down to be in fishable condition come four plus weeks from now when the Magnificent Ones arrive on the scene of it all!! If the high flowage then yet continues, however, our traditional back up plan is already fully in place whereunder, if necessary, we will safely fish the 5,000 fish/mile section of the Missouri River just outside Craig, Montana (right, veteran Oner Craig "El Senor Feo" Benjamin--we've been there and successfully done that together before?!?). In either event, as has been the case for each of our prior fifteen Extravaganza years, we WILL fish every single day of E-18!!

Stay tuned as there is (much) more to follow...

RCR---<'///:><

FW: 4290 cfs Flow Right Now...

...after almost reaching 5,000 cfs late yesterday afternoon...an all time early season record breaking flow!!

RCR---<'///:><

E-18 Flow News Flash/Update...

...I just checked the USGS website which has instantaneous data availability for water flows and, right this moment, Rock Creek is flowing at 3,800 cubic feet per second which is the HIGHESST recorded flowage for this day EVER, folks--EVER!! The second highest reading was that taken in 2017 (the blue line on our attached graph) when Rock Creek was then cookin' along downhill at 2,680 cfs.

Today's flow is (get this) a 42% increase over that of 2017!!

RCR--<'///:><

Epic E-18 Flow

Monday, tidings, fellow Extravaganzers!!

Well, things are a bit active on the Montana Extravaganza home front, as shown by current Rock Creek flows which are cooking along at a whopping 3,750 cfs, significantly higher at this point in time than any other of our eleven other charted years. Below is a link to an article in today's Missoulian (Missoula's local dispatch) talking about the Clark Fork of the Columbia River (which flows right through downtown Missoula and into which both the Big ["A River Runs Through It"] Blackfoot and Bitterroot Rivers deposit their runoff) reaching record-setting flood stages.

Current SNOTEL records of the Natural Resources Conservation Service show yet 150%+ of snow water equivalents in all western Montanan mountains and what with Missoula's ambient temperatures forecast to rise into the mid to high 70's in upcoming days and with May typically being the wettest month of the year, hang on to those knickers, as there is gonna be a wet time in the ol' town by week's end!!

This is all good for those who have an aversion to bussing over to the Missouri River, but that jury is still in deliberations and will not render its verdict until June 1st.

Best to all in the runoff of it all,

RCR---<'///:><