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Gauge Information

Gauge Description:

As of September, 2001, a USGS gauge at Skanee Road is online.

According to at least one boater's report:

8.50'475 cfs'moderate'
8.00'325 cfs'moderate low'
7.43' everything is runnable, but getting quite scrapey

Based upon six years of data from the USGS gauge,
minimum flow is zero (of course),
maximum flow was 2,660 cfs,
90% flow was 11 cfs (90% of the time flow equals or exceeds this value),
10% flow was 169 cfs (10% of the time flow equals or exceeds this value),
making for a 10/90 ratio of 15 (suggesting a rather flashy stream, no big surprise).

Best month to catch it is April (15 runnable days, on average; low of 9, high of 22),
with March and May being next best (4 runnable days average, low of 0, high of 8-10),
though it has run in June, October, and November.

Offseason ('Ice') correlations:
9.86' =1000 cfs
9.53' = 860 cfs
9.00' = 650 cfs
8.87' = 600 cfs
8.58' = 500 cfs
8.26' = 400 cfs
7.91' = 300 cfs
7.71' = 250 cfs
7.50' = 200 cfs
7.40' = 180 cfs

Disclaimer: Be aware that indication of a 'runnable' level by the gauge does not necessarily mean that the river is runnable. In winter, gauge readings may be 'ice affected'. Sections of the river may be impassable due to ice. Use discretion for late fall, winter, and early spring runs.

The 'boaters gauge' is to look at the river downstream of Arvon Road. If it looks a bit rocky ('marginal') you probably have a decent level! If there are no rocks showing, prepare for a beefy run!

Boaters also use a 'measure down' gauge at the bridge at Skanee Road. Measuring down from underside downstream left on NEW bridge there: 72" down appears to equate to -22" on old bridge (I.E. relative minimum level for runnability). Desirable (runnable) levels may be 60" to 69" down, with 70"-73" runnable but getting scrapey.

Also, I have received word that If you measure down from the bottom of the concrete on the bridge on the upstream left side and subtract that number from 14.81 feet, that will give you the gage height (this will correlate very nicely with the USGS gage height that appears on the web).

Gauge Information

Name Range Difficulty Updated Level
SILVER RIVER NEAR L'ANSE, MI
usgs-04043150 7.50 - 9.00 ft III-V 04h45m 7.7 ft (rc= 0.1 )

RangeWater LevelDifficultyComment
7.50 -9.00 ft barely runnable-high runnable III-V

Report - Reports of Silver A) 'Upper Silver': Silver Rd to Arvon Rd (2.3 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
Silver [MI] Cabin Section n/a Boris Glick
Silver River [MI] Cabin Section 7.43' (Minimum) Rob Smage
1y320d12h15m Upper Silver [MI] Steve runs Hail Mary 8' Mike Croak
3y339d12h15m Silver River [MI] Silver Bullet Bob 263 cfs Mike Croak
4y350d20h15m Silver [MI] 1st Pitch Hail Mary 8.2-8.3 Nate Alwine
4y351d20h15m Silver [MI] Silver Bullet 8.2-8.3 Nate Alwine
5y353d20h15m Upper Silver [MI] Steep drop on upper Silver 7.6' Mark Mastalski
7y315d12h15m Silver [MI] Cabin Section Silver 220 cfs / 7.6' Rob Smage
8y338d12h15m Silver [MI] Main Drops on the Upper Good Rob Smage