Maine's Rapids and Reservoirs Rising

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Maine's Rapids and Reservoirs Rising

MAINE, THE FORKS, Apr. 9 -/E-Wire/-- Despite fears of wells and reservoirs going dry in the Northeast, Maine's wilderness rivers will be flowing with water from May to October. "It's like skiing,' says Raft Maine President, Joe Christopher. "If there's no snow in your backyard, you think there's no snow in the mountains. In fact, the ski resorts can make snow and our rivers are dam controlled to make hydropower. Plus, we're both in the mountains where the weather is different. We get more snow and rain.'

Maine's rafting industry has agreements with the dam owners for scheduled dam releases. All dam owners expect to fulfill their obligations for electricity production and rafting releases this summer. Since the First of January, there has been normal precipitation in Western Maine. Wes Hallowell, river engineer for Kennebec Water Power Co., reports that Flagstaff Lake, the water supply for the Dead River, is at its normal refill stage. Although the water content of the snowpack is an inch below normal, it is early in the refill process. April and May are usually the rainiest months. He expects all the Dead River early season releases to flow as scheduled beginning with up to a 7,000 cubic feet per second release on May 4 followed by similar releases May 11, 26 and June 1, 8 and 15.

This season an additional turbine test is scheduled for Harris Station on the Kennebec River. A water flow of 8,000 cfs is set for June 22 and July 8.

A daily water report listing water flow, wave height and water temperature is available on Raft Maine's website at www.raftmaine.com from May 1 through Oct. 10.

Raft Maine is a trade association of the state's professional whitewater outfitters.

Reservations and Information:

800-RAFT-MEEÃÂ ([REDACTED-PHONE]),

http://www.raftmaine.com

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