The Olentangy River is located just south of Delaware on State Route 23 and is central Ohio's only state designated scenic river. The Olentangy has one of the best runs in Ohio (which is not saying much) but its better than nothing! This is a good beginners run to work on navigation, river reading skills and bow surfing. The normal run is 6 miles long with a very easy shuttle and good access points. Normally the Olentangy is only run in wet weather and the spring months as well as a few scheduled releases that the local COP organizes with the Huntington Corps of Engineers at Delaware Lake.
Guide books say that this can be run at 200cfs but I would not suggest it (if your paddling your own boat) The best level is between 1000 and 1500 cfs.
Concerning the Olentangy River, on the Delaware Dam's phone recording, at (614) 369-2015, sometimes they do not give the "cfs" corresponding to the "gauge height (or stage)" for the dam outflow. In such cases, the following table might be helpful and is adapted from the USGS rating table for the gauge on the "Olentangy River near Delaware OH":
Gauge CFS
1.5 20
2.0 80
2.5 260
3.0 560
3.5 890
4.0 1230
4.5 1570
5.0 1900
5.5 2250
6.0 2640
6.5 2930
7.0 3270
7.5 3620
8.0 4000
8.5 4430
9.0 4980
9.5 5740
Also, if the recording has not been updated and for upcoming gate operations, the Delaware dam office can be reached at (614) 369-4011. The lake's summer pool elevation is 915 feet; Higher lake levels indicate upcoming, continuing, or large releases; lower levels indicate low flows and cancelled releases. High Scioto River levels indicate delayed or low Olentangy releases. Adjustments need to be made for winter pool and lake drawdowns.
Although it's fun to run the Olentangy at 2000 cfs and higher, it's not a place for the inexperienced! I would not lead an open-to-all COP trip above 1500 cfs or so; however, a hand picked group of more experienced boaters would be fine.
600 to 1000 cfs is ideal for novice and intermediate paddlers to practice surfing and turns. At 1500 cfs, the easier play spots have washed out and waves become more difficult to catch and paddle back up to. At 2000 cfs, the river starts flowing into standing trees in many places and has exceeded safe levels for many paddlers. Above 2000 cfs, more advanced skills and self-rescue are mandatory; waves are larger, current is more continuous, and strainers are very dangerous especially near the route 23 bridge and several places on the lower section between the V-dam and route 161. Also note that levels can change quickly and without warning due to dam operations.
The only hazards on the run are in the form of low head dams. On the normal run there is one dam that must be carried. The center of this dam appears to be washed out but should not be run due to the undetectable rocks and rebar at the bottom of the chute. The two shelves below this dam can be run safely on the right as well as under the bridge. A good way to handle this is when you can first see the Route 23 bridge paddle to the extreme river right and take out just before the Jeep dealership. Other than this dam the run is pretty straight forward.
At 1000cfs the bottom structure produces some very nice surfing waves and a few small wave trains can sometimes be found. There are two waves that extend totally across the river which is large enough for seven or eight boats. It makes quite a sight for the passing motorists.
Over all the Olentangy or (Old and Grungy) as some call it is known as a gods sent to central Ohio boaters who can not make that weekend Yough trip. If you're lucky enough to catch it running it is well worth the time and effort.
by Al Shaffer and Doug Miller