So much melting snow is draining into Prineville Reservoir that the Crooked River is running higher than it has in about 10 years, sections of a popular hiking trail at Smith Rock are impassable and four holes at a Prineville golf course are underwater.

The Bowman Dam, which creates the reservoir, is releasing roughly 3,000 cubic feet of water per second into the river, more than three times its typical discharge for this time of year, said Kyle Gorman, regional manager with the Oregon Department of Water Resources. However, the reservoir is still filling up, he said, with an estimated 5,000 cubic feet per second flowing in to reservoir.

Gorman said the amount of water being released by the dam is near the maximum release rate it was built to accommodate.

While the region has seen snowier years at high elevation sites that typically provide the bulk of irrigation water, Gorman said this last winter was much snowier than usual in areas between 3,500 and 5,000 feet in elevation.

“This is the stuff we’re seeing melt off right now, and the high elevation stuff is still there,” Gorman said.

According to the Bureau of Reclamation, Prineville Reservoir is at 89 percent of capacity.

Scott Brown, park manager at Smith Rock State Park, said due to high water, the park’s most popular loop trail is no longer functioning as a loop, with two sections underwater.

“You really just can’t get around the trail right now, it’s a dead end hike either way, whether you go Misery (Ridge) and Mesa Verde or the River Trail, it’s a dead end trail,” Brown said.

Brown said the high water has brought more kayakers to Smith Rock State Park than he’s seen before, with sections of the river above and below the park more navigable than in past springs.

Smith Rock’s busy season typically coincides with spring break and large numbers of people are expected this Friday, Brown said.

“It’s a lot of fun, actually, just be careful and be safe out there,” Brown said.

In Prineville, the river has flooded out portions of the city-run Meadow Lakes Golf Course. Holes 9, 10, 16 and 17 are closed due to flooding, and the course has reduced greens fees until all 18 holes are available for play.

Course pro Zach Lampert said the weather has mostly kept golfers home, but those who do want to play have been understanding. Players who want to complete a full 18 holes have been encouraged to play whichever holes they like twice, he said.

Lampert said a split rail fence alongside the river will likely need to be repaired once the waters recede, but he doesn’t anticipate significant damage to the greens and fairways unless they remain underwater for several weeks.

The melting has not yet created a similar surge in river levels along the Deschutes River, though both Wickiup and Crane Prairie reservoirs are above 80 percent capacity.

Gorman said the still-unmelted snow at higher elevations suggests instigators who get their water from the Crooked River should be in good shape through the growing season. Current projections indicate Prineville Reservoir should continue taking in water at a rate 60 percent above average from April through September.

Two years ago, on the heels of a dismal winter snowfall, summer irrigation drew down water at Prineville reservoir far enough that all ramps suitable for launching trailered boats were closed by late August.

— Reporter: 541-383-0387, shammers@bendbulletin.com