 October has finally arrived, and for whitewater kayaking and rafting enthusiasts from across the country, that means it's time for their yearly journey to Elkhorn City, Kentucky. Each weekend in October, water is released from John W. Flanagan Dam in Hayside, Virginia, creating some of the most sought after and challenging whitewater conditions anywhere. Because of the current drought conditions and low river levels, mountaintop news reached down to officials at Flanagan Dam to make sure the water releases were still scheduled. And they are. Beginning this Saturday, October 5th, water will be released each Saturday and Sunday of the month, so for the next few weekends it will be common to see the brightly colored kayaks and rafts making their way through the gorge on the Russell Fork River between Hayside and Elkhorn City.