Gauge Description:

The Sauk ab. Whitechuck will provide some indication of flow in the basin; the North Fork is probably about 1/2 the discharge on this gauge which is located about 10 miles downstream of this run and below the confluence with the South Fork and several small tributary streams. Discharge is dependent on freezing level and if the freezing level is low you might be getting rain flow on the main Sauk but relatively less flow on the higher elevation North Fork. A great first-time level during late spring snowmelt is around 1250 cfs on this gauge. The run starts to get a little pushy above 2000 cfs although runs at higher levels are possible if you know the river. 1000 cfs is an estimate of the lower limit; the issue at lower flows is the pin hazard in the tight and technical boulder gardens.