[Awclist] [Fwd: RRFW Riverwire - WATERFALL STILL BLOCKS SAN JUAN RIVER]

[Thomas Robey]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	RRFW Riverwire - WATERFALL STILL BLOCKS SAN JUAN RIVER
Date: 	Wed, 22 Jun 2005 16:49:41 -0600
From: 	Riverwire-RRFW <riverwire at rrfw.org>
Reply-To: 	<riverwire at rrfw.org>
Organization: 	River Runners for Wilderness
To: 	Riverwire-RRFW <riverwire at rrfw.org>



RRFW Riverwire - WATERFALL STILL BLOCKS SAN JUAN RIVER

June 22, 2005

A 12-foot high waterfall continues to span the entire width of the San 
Juan River. The waterfall is located approximately three miles 
downstream of the popular Clay Hills take-out for the San Juan River 
segment below Mexican Hat, Utah. This waterfall, called Fatt Falls by 
local residents, is in a different location from the waterfall that 
formed in this general area in 1990-1991.

The new waterfall is a result of low water in Lake Powell, formed by 
Glen Canyon Dam. The San Juan is down-cutting into its sediment delta as 
the water level in Lake Powell continues to remain low. The river is 
traveling over a ridge of low sandstone hills well away from the pre-dam 
river channel, resulting in the 12 foot drop.

Dr. Tom Myers and Tom Martin recently paddled the San Juan from Clay 
Hills to Fatt Falls in inflatable kayaks. The river was flowing at 6,750 
cubic feet per second. The following is from their description of the float:

The river passes the Clay Hills take-out heading west northwest, 
directly toward the Red House cliffs. In about 1/2 mile, the river turns 
left, to the southwest, and flows for another 1/2 mile along the base of 
the Cliffs. The river then turns south at a Class III riffle created by 
a rocky ridge entering the river on river right. Immediately after this, 
the river turns southwest again at another Class III riffle. The river 
proceeds another 1/2 mile and turns to the south again.

In approximately 1/4 mile, the river splits into three channels and 
pours over a two foot drop. The middle channel was the easiest for the 
inflatables. This drop is where the earlier Piute Farms waterfall was 
located in 1990-1991. The river turns to the southwest here and proceeds 
for 1/2 mile, then turns southeast for 1/4 mile. The river then makes a 
hard turn back to the southwest. At this point the river runs for 1/2 
mile directly to the Fatt Falls pour-over.

The river banks are silt cliffs up to 10 feet high in spots, actively 
collapsing into the river. In the area just above Fatt Falls, the 
river’s left bank is only a few feet high, with slow current at the 
shore’s edge.

The falls are hard to see from upriver, and all river runners who find 
themselves in this area should exercise utmost caution. The potential 
exists for serious damage to watercraft and life threatening injury to 
occupants who may go over the falls.

Fatt Falls is roughly 1/2 mile west northwest of the old Piute Farms 
marina. A rough dirt road leads from the old marina site to within 150 
yards of the clearly audible waterfall. A small path leads from the end 
of the road over very soft sand to the waterfall. Taking out at Fatt 
Falls is NOT recommended. Clay Hills is still the only viable take out 
for the San Juan below Mexican Hat.

Given the dynamic nature of the river actively cutting into the 
silt-banks, the present Fatt Falls may be bypassed by the San Juan at 
some future date. If this were to happen, the old upstream fall, now 
only two feet high, could quickly turn into a major un-navigable fall 
once again.

Recent photos of the waterfall can be seen at

http://www.vishnutemplepress.com/SanJuanwaterfall.html

Special thanks to Donnie Dove of Canyon REO and Denny Preisser of 
Kayenta, AZ, for their logistical assistance.

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