Tailwater Woes
HIS YEAR I HAVE been trying to crack the code of the Lower Stanislaus, which flows out of Goodwin Dam in California’s Central Valley. During my first two outings in February, the USGS reported flows of 350 and 400 CFS, which was low enough to cross in some places and, while a bit skinny, had some good holding water (none of which I was able to capitalize on). Fast forward a few months to mid-summer, when the water managers were fulfilling orders, and the daily flows were up to 1,500. It was a totally different river, with water roaring through trees and over hiking paths. Former runs and holes were replaced by
