Thursday, March 28, 2024

Current: The free, must-have app for a busy season on the water

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WENATCHEE With temperatures hitting the 80s this weekend, Chelan PUD is preparing for what could be record-breaking day-use on local waterways this spring and summer. With so many recreationists converging on Lake Chelan and the Columbia River, preparation will be key to a safe and enjoyable trip. That’s exactly why we’re reminding customer-owners and visitors to download our free Current app. 

“The Current app delivers six different features to help you plan your day on the water,” said Ryan Baker, PUD Parks Manager. “Having more data points makes for more informed decisions, especially if you are new to the river.”

Baker believes two features are particularly helpful for new users: boat launch water depth and real-time river flow.

The boat launch feature provides live readings on the water depth at the end of each ramp. Baker noted that this will point people to the launch that’s right for their particular boat, especially if it’s large. If you’re not able to get deep enough off the ramp, the boat will not make it off the trailer.

River flows are also an important reference point for human-powered activities, such as kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding.

“You can use Current to better understand the difficultly of paddling upstream at different flow rates – or how quickly you can travel downstream,” Baker said. “That will help you decide how far you can safely travel from your launch point.”

The Current app is available for iOS and Android platforms. You can find the download link and a 30-second video at chelanpud.org/app.

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