A. Wandin 5.4 miles
to Clymer (State Route 403 Bridge)
A. Wandin to Clymer
Class Grad Size (Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level
I 15/20 Small (70/117) A-B/B-C
estimate Streamside
Topographic Maps: Commodore, Clymer
County Maps: Indiana
Description: The South Branch is a stocked trout stream, but acid mine drainage from Wandin to Clymer changes it from trout to an acid stream. The scenery is lovely, with hemlock and rhododendron. There are enough chutes, riffles, and rocks to make the trip interesting. A highway bridge at Diamondville and two railroad bridges within the next 0.5 mile may have log jams. The next bridge is State Route 286 after a long rapid. The State Route 403 take-out bridge is about a 0.5 miles downstream. [Reported 1988]
Difficulties: Fallen trees are the worst problem. State Route 403 bridge has low clearance for boaters, perhaps none in high water.
Shuttle: To reach the put-in from Clymer, take State Route 403 east for about 3 miles from the light in Clymer. Turn left/north onto State Route 1012 following the signs to Diamondville. Follow this road through Diamondville. After you cross a deep railroad cut, turn right, remaining on State Route 1012. Wandin is another mile. Put in at a small bridge near a railroad underpass on a polluted feeder stream. It will be a short run to the main stem. The take-out is at the State Route 403 bridge in Clymer.
Gauges: Visually check upstream at the State Route 286 bridge. This is a rocky section, so if it looks good the rest of the stream will be runnable.
Normal Wet Period: No available statistics on seasons. Since this section is small, it should normally be runnable approximately January through April.
B. Clymer (State
Route 403 Bridge) 4.5 miles
to Two Lick Reservoir (2.5 miles
stream, 2.0 miles lake)
B. Clymer to Two Lick Reservoir
Class Grad Size (Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level
C 12/14 Small (80/133) B-C/B-C
estimate
Topographic Maps: Clymer, Brush Valley
County Maps: Indiana
Description: This stream quickly merges with Dixon Run, which is usually black from the upstream mines. After a mile the stream breaks away from State Route 286 and flows through a deeper valley toward the reservoir. You will encounter a small bridge before getting into the backwater of the dam. Then there are about 2 miles of flatwater before you reach the Allen Bridge take-out. There is another 3 miles from the Allen Bridge to the dam. [Checked 1999]
Difficulties: State Route 403 bridge has low clearance for boaters. In high water you may not be able to make it under the bridge.
Shuttle: Put in on the downstream side of the State Route 403 bridge at the ballfield in Clymer. To find the take-out from Clymer take State Route 286 west toward Indiana, turn left at Exxon station at the bottom of the hill onto State Route 1005, go straight at the next two crossroads, and head down to the lake and bridge. Paddle under the bridge and to the left shore near a picnic area for take-out. Alternate take-out is on the right side, 2.5 miles down the lake at the Old US Route 422 bridge (East Pike or Philadelphia Street East Extension from Indiana).
Gauges: None
Normal Wet Period: No available statistics on seasons. Since this section is small, it should normally be runnable approximately January through April.
C. Indiana Waterworks
to Homer 7.0 miles
City (State Route 56 Bridge)
Class Grad Size (Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level
I-II 13/17 Small (100/167) A/B-C 3-12 inches
estimate Flood gate opening
Topographic Maps: Brush Valley, Indiana
County Maps: Indiana
Description: This section has a remoteness about it due to the forest and abundance of rhododendron. It is 100 percent dam controlled from the Two Lick Reservoir, owned by the downstream power plant. Normally, under minimum flow conditions, the stream is runnable with a lot of route picking through shallows. Solo runs are better for boats and paddlers. To convert this stream into a Class I-II, the dam must open a flood gate 3 to 6 inches. If the dam gates are open, the current will be swift and have several long rapids prior to the first bridge. There are usually some nice waves just below this bridge. The stream alternates between slow moving and Class I rapids from the State Route 954 bridge to where you see US Route 119. [Reported 1999]
Difficulties: The locals have made 2 or 3 rock dams across the stream. If the flow is minimal you may have to get out and carry over. Just below where the stream parallels US Route 119, there is a Class II S‑turn. At high flows the current pushes you into the trees on the outside of the bends and has Class II waves at the bottom. Next there are four bridges. Just above the fourth one is an island with a hydraulic on river right. Easiest run is left of center and down the left side of the island.
Shuttle: To reach the put-in, take State Route 954 south from Indiana for about 2 miles to the first big dip. Turn left just short of the Two Lick bridge. Go about 0.4 miles and bear right at the "Y", following the valley. Continue until the road looks like it stops at the Indiana Water Works. It is about a 100-yard carry to the stream. To reach the take-out, retrace your steps to State Route 954. Turn right/north back towards Indiana. Go a short distance and turn left/south on US Route 119. Continue into Homer City and there turn right/west onto State Route 56. Take out on river left just past the new State Route 56 bridge. Parking has been permitted in the FMC parking area.
Gauges: Since the flow is 100 percent controlled it is best to call the Two Lick Reservoir, (412) 357-1234 and inquire about the amount of water being released. For good runs the gate must be open at least 3 inches. An ideal level is 6 inches. An opening of 18 inches puts Homer City's low areas on flood alert. The normal operation is: when the lake rises to a maximum height, the operators release water until it reaches a minimum level and then close the gates. The dam operators might be able to guess when they will be releasing after a rainfall. In this section most of the river water volume is controlled by the powerplant dam. They tend to regulate flow based on electricity demand; therefore, the actual flow could vary greatly from the 7AM reported level. The Graceton gauge further downstream will probably read above 2.5.
Normal Wet Period: Dam controlled.
D. Homer City
(State Route 56 Bridge) 7.0 miles
to Blacklick Bridge
Class Grad Size (Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level
C-II 7/8 Small
(171/284) B-C/B-C 2.6-??
Graceton Graceton
Topographic Maps: Indiana, Bolivar
County Maps: Indiana
Description: The stream is noticeably larger after picking up a major feeder stream, Yellow Creek. In low water there is usually a sewage smell at the start of the trip. The paddle route is easy with several small islands. In general the stream seems quite remote and the scenery varies from pasture fields to woods, to swamp, to small cliffs, to rhododendron thickets at water's edge. There is a DANGER sign on a railroad bridge warning about the power plant catch dam ahead. Portage is on the left. This 4‑foot dam does create the classic deathtrap especially in high water. There is always debris caught in the hydraulic. The stream has several large gooseneck turns, and both head toward the power plant, giving you a brief deja vu view. Look for ducks along the slow sections. Two Lick flows into the Blacklick Creek about a mile above the take-out. At the junction, the Two Lick appears to flow under the two bridges, but this is actually upstream on the Blacklick. Just to the right and several hundred yards downstream is the Class II rapid. The stream breaks wide and is fast. The best plan is to run it on the left. In higher water you can run the center, then cut left. [Checked 1999]
Difficulties: The power plant dam with its hydraulic. A good portage trail is on the left side near the dam. Follow the signs. When putting in downstream of the dam, be sure to avoid the dam's hydraulic.
Shuttle: Put in where State Route 56 crosses the river about 0.7 miles west of US Route 119. To get to the take-out follow US Route 119 south from Homer City to the traffic signal light in Blacklick, turn right toward the stream. The bridge is only 0.25 miles away. Several good parking areas are on the far side of the bridge.
Gauges: Graceton. This gauge should read above 2.6 feet (2003 rating table). This corresponds to a flow of 144 cfs. In this section most of the river water volume is controlled by the powerplant dam. The flow is regulated based on electrical demand. This can cause the daytime flow to vary greatly from the 7AM reported level.
Normal Wet Period: The Graceton gauge is above 2.6 feet 54% of the time.