The concussion section of the middle Santiam river is a short dam release section that runs all year. Its a popular summer run when everything else has dried up. The release is in units, 1 unit is typically 2000 cfs -2800 cfs. Two units is 3500 cfs -4500 cfs.

The put in is a small pullout across from the garden cliffs climbing area (44.440624, -122.572372)

The run consists of 3 rapids increasing in difficulty. The first is swiss cheese (III). The line is right following some boils and finishing with a small wave hole. There are some fun surf waves at the top.

Next comes Scrawleys wall (III+) The line is entering left and then crossing right to avoid the wall. Its a fun rapid with a short pool leading into concussion.

Concussion is a solid (IV). There is a large sieve in the center chute which gives this rapid its name. There are a couple different lines but I typically stay right hugging the eddy line. There is a large hole with a boof line and a sneak line. I like to point my nose towards the pillow coming off of the rock and sneak the hole. This trip I didn’t like the look of it and chose to sliding boof the rock on river right. It was successful somehow.. Once past this feature there are several fun wave holes that can provide some good surf. The takeout is a short paddle from here. (44.438038, -122.588070)

Here is a Youtube link to the run.

American whitewater link – https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-detail/1549/main