The water levels in SE Indiana are in a rare mid-April near drought condition presently. Farmers planting in the fields are leaving a trail of dust, ditches are ''bone dry'' and the small feeder streams are an inch deep. The water is presently 'trickling' over the Westport Dam at an estimated 40 cfs. The Vernon Fork Muscatatuck is running at 52 cfs about a third of its normal flow of 165 for this time of the year. Most weather sites are showing a 90 to 94 % chance of rain at the Saturday morning put-in time with more to follow. It would take aprox. 1 1/2 to 2 inches on Saturday to bring the Muscatatuck up Sunday to a decent level to paddle through all of the rocks it possesses owing to its decent gradient. There is no guarantee in 'stone' that will happen in order to schedule. We have planned a trip on Sunday that should provide dependable water (not easy to do in southern Indiana) along with a temperature of about 60 degrees. Our put-n will be on the Driftwood River @ the Bill Newton DNR access site at Tannehill Bridge/CR650 North (Bartholomew county). We will paddle 9.8 miles to the takeout @ Mill Race park DNR access near downtown Columbus. The total shuttle drive is only 16 miles. Our meeting time will be @ 1030am at the Tannehill Bridge access site which has a large parking lot for 30+ cars. To locate the put-in most will take I-65 exit #76 onto US 31 south 1/2 mile towards the small town of Taylorsville. Here at the first stoplight (gas station on your right) turn right onto CR 650 North you will go in a westerly direction crossing over the top of the interstate then the road makes a sharp left turn then in about 1000 feet there will be a gravel lane (to your RIGHT) turn Right here it is a short (300 ft. lane) to the boat ramp. If you miss this turn you will soon cross the bridge over the river simply turn around and head back. On google maps it is shown as Bill Newton Public Access sites. This is aprox. a 36 mile drive from the center of Indy. Please understand these trips were planned at the Hoosier Canoe Kayak Club annual trip planning meeting in mid-January. It is impossible to prognosticate the water levels and/or the weather conditions for that exact day in advance that is part of and always will be the complications of flatwater trips in this state. Our hands were tied with the present water and weather conditions we inherited unlike the two trips last year that went off perfectly.  The Driftwood is a typical easy river to paddle for most people.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Questions, please contact by 7pm Saturday the 18th, your Driftwood trip leaders                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Sara Hare 812-599-3671 sarahare2013@gmail.com                                                                                                                                                Richard Tekulve 812-767-1317 canoeindiana@yahoo.com                                       

This section is different than the scheduled May 2 trip, with just a slight overlap, so you can enjoy both trips.

If you have not done so for this year, PLEASE FILL OUT THE NEW E-WAIVER.   HCKC is moving to a new electronic waiver system instead of our old paper waiver.  This only needs to be completed once each year.  If you have already submitted your e-waiver, you do not need to do it again until next year.  If you are bringing a non-member guest, they should use this e-waiver.

HCKC E-Waiver: https://hoosiercanoeclub.org/E-Waiver/