Dead River release ends raft season

The final Dead River high-water dam release of 5,500 cubic feet per second is scheduled for today. This release traditionally closes Maine’s whitewater rafting season, which began in May. Wave heights will reach six feet on the river. The Dead River offers the longest continuous stretch of Class III-V whitewater in the East.

More than 90,000 people rafted Maine’s Kennebec, Penobscot, and Dead rivers this season.

To protect the environmental quality of Maine’s wilderness rivers, the State of Maine limits the number of rafters, and advance reservations are recommended. Reservations may be made by calling Maine Raft, an association of Maine’s 14 professional whitewater outfitters, at 1-800-723-8633. More information is available at www.raftmaine.com.