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Gauge Information

Gauge Description:

The best indicator is to watch weather patterns, 'live' weather radar, and rainfall totals for the LaFayette, IN area. A boater's gauge is painted on the downstream end of the middle bridge pier in Rainsville. When there is rain there, the Hoosier Canoe Club Message Board has a board where actual readings of the painted gauge are posted. Some boaters report reasonable runs (and fun) at readings of 6" (usually skipping the first half-mile or so, which will be very boney). A reading of 1' gives a more enjoyable float trip with decent (tame) play possible. Two feet makes pretty good play, 3' is sweet. Above that is great, but gets pushy, and some of the features on the lower part of the run wash out (though some build to be very nice).

*The cited gauge is for the N.Fk.Vermilion in Illinois, which is the immediately adjacent watershed to the west of the Mud Pine / Big Pine. It is a relatively similar sized stream, and usually provides a pretty good indication of runnability here. Obviously, much will depend upon the track (and the overall width and size) of storms, so correlation is not assured. (I.E., cited gauge may imply river is too low when it may be runnable or vice versa.)

Boaters who frequent this reach have been reporting a pretty fair 'rule of thumb' is that each 1000cfs on the cited gauge equates to (roughly) a foot on the boaters gauge. Again, this correlation will not always be 100% 'on', but shouldn't be too far off most of the time.

Using this rule-of-thumb, the listed 'minimum' reflects this 6" level on the boater's gauge. While it is no doubt possible to float the stream less than this, it would be more of a bump-and-scrape swiftwater/flatwater trip than real whitewater.

The listed 'maximum' is only an indication of higher, pushier levels. Many boaters love these levels, and will look for this run to 'go purple'. In truth, with the requisite skill and knowledge of the river and the concerns any river in flood can pose, this reach should be boatable at virtually any high level.

Gauge Information

Name

Range

Difficulty

Updated

Level

LITTLE PINE CREEK NEAR MONTMORENCI, IN

usgs-033356786

200 - 2000 cfs

II-III(IV)

01h19m

9.4 cfs (rc= -1.1 )

New gauge (2009.03.20) not calibrated above 165 cfs as of 2009.06.01; may be good reference once fully rated (though not looking good based on April/May data).

Range	Water Level	Difficulty	Comment
0 - 100 cfs	extremely Low-somewhat Low	I	Likely too low. (UNCONFIRMED)
100 - 200 cfs	somewhat Low-barely Low	I(II)	Likely low, but possibly boatable. (UNCONFIRMED)
200 - 600 cfs	barely runnable-perfect runnable	II(III)	Likely boatable. (UNCONFIRMED)
600 -2000 cfs	perfect runnable-high runnable	II(III)	Likely high. (UNCONFIRMED)
2000 -9999 cfs	barely High-extremely High	II-III(IV)	Unusually high flow. (UNCONFIRMED)

NORTH FORK VERMILION RIVER NEAR BISMARCK, IL

usgs-03338780

1000 - 5000 cfs

II-III(IV)

00h34m

271 cfs (rc= -0.2 )

'Rule of thumb' is each 1000 cfs = ~1' on bridge gauge. (Not always accurate, but works fairly well.)

Range	Water Level	Difficulty	Comment
0 - 200 cfs	extremely Low-somewhat Low	I	Forget it. (Highly unlikely its running.)
200 -1000 cfs	somewhat Low-barely Low	I-II	Likely low but playable (skip the first half-mile)
1000 -2000 cfs	barely runnable-med runnable	II(III)	Likely good level (Check Hoosier message board for confirmation.)
2000 -3000 cfs	med runnable-a bit pushy runnable	II(III)	Sweet level (Check Hoosier message board for confirmation.)
3000 -5000 cfs	a bit pushy runnable-high runnable	II(III)	Could be awesome (Check Hoosier message board for confirmation.)
5000 -9999 cfs	barely High-extremely High	II-III(IV)	Big water (Check Hoosier message board for confirmation.)

Report - Reports of Big Pine Creek Rainsville to Twin Bridges (0.5-6.7 miles) and related gauges

Reports give the public a chance to report on river conditions throughout the country as well as log the history of a river.

Reports

When	River/Gauge	Subject	Level	Reporter
	Big Pine Creek [IN]	IN, Big Pine, Rocky ford flat spin	n/a	Craig Nyquist
	Big Pine Creek [IN]	IN, Big Pine, Side Surfin	3 ft	Will Crimmins
4y327d01h18m	Big Pine [IN]	IN, Big Pine, S-Curve	1ft Rainsville bridg	Craig Nyquist