Gauge Description:

This reach can have two different levels, in a manner of speaking. Halfway down the reach (not far above Ager's Falls) is a mandatory portage at a power plant which diverts approximately 1300 cfs. Therefore, when there's no scheduled release, a minimum of about 4.9' is required. Under those conditions, the first half has big water, and the second half has the equivalent of 2.5' or so.

The official release schedule for 2009 is as follows:
Sunday, April 19
Sunday, April 26
Saturday/Sunday, May 2-3
Saturday/Sunday, May 9-10
Saturday/Sunday, May 16-17
Saturday/Sunday, May 23-24
Saturday/Sunday, May 30-31

Saturday/Sunday, June 6-7

Sunday, October 4

Sunday, October 11
Saturday/Sunday, October 17-18 (MooseFest Weekend!)
Saturday/Sunday, October 24-25

You can see all the New York State releases and Festivals at NYRiverFestivals.com.

General Chris Koll shared:
"Be aware that the release only allows the flow already coming down the river to spill over the dam. Minimum levels (around 2.5' in my opinion) are typically present but not guaranteed on release weekends. Check the McKeever gauge to see if the river is too high or too low on a release day.

"Please be aware that the drawdown from the upstream Fulton Chain of Lakes will not commence until the Friday before Moose Fest. Consequently, favorable water levels are not guaranteed for the opening two fall weekends.
"For example, as of Wednesday, October 2, 2002, at 9 AM, the McKeever gauge is at 2.94'. This flow originates primarily from the North and West branches of the river and would be considered adequate for the Bottom Moose but a little low for the Middle and Lower sections of the river.
"However, the drawdown will kick in an additional 400-500 cfs down the Middle Branch (which right now is a little more than a trickle). If the river already has a flow around 3, the additional water would kick levels up a half a foot or more--which would make favorable levels for runs on the Lower and Middle sections.
"In 2000 and 2001, we entered the Fest weekend with levels around 2.3'-2.4'. After the drawdown water hit--voila--the level jumped to 3.2'.
"Anyway, just a little bit of rain will keep the river low but navigable for the first weekends before the drawdown kicks flow up to optimal levels."
Levels, according to Chris Koll:
2.6-2.7 is around 500 cfs.
3.5' is around 750 cfs.
4' is an even 1000 cfs.
5' is 1850 cfs.