Levels from around 200 to 500 cfs should provide good flows for most groups though it has been run much higher.
Boaters historically (while the USGS gauge was inactive) have measured down from the bridge deck on a road off of Hwy 513. Readings on the order of 13'(156") down are taken as runnable.
-153" is about 350cfs.
Note: Be aware that indication of a 'runnable' level does not mean that the river is necessarily runnable. In winter, readings may be 'ice affected', and/or sections of the river may be impassable due to ice.
Offseason ('Ice') stage-gauge conversions
2.75 = 451 cfs
2.50 = 371 cfs
2.25 = 300 cfs
2.00 = 236 cfs
1.75 = 180 cfs
| Gauge/flow analysis (based on gauge data 1954.10 to 1982.09, and 2000.10 to 2008.09 ) | |
| Drainage area at gauge | 200 sq.mi. |
| Minimum mean daily flow during gauge period | 6.6 cfs ( 2007.09.06) |
| 90% of time flow exceeds | 29 cfs |
| 10% of time flow exceeds | 553 cfs |
| Maximum mean daily flow during gauge period | 12,700 cfs ( 1960.04.28) |
| 10/90 ratio ('flashy-ness') (under 3 is fairly steady, over 10 is quite 'flashy') | 19.1 |
| Name | Range | Difficulty | Updated | Level | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLACK RIVER NEAR BESSEMER, MI | ||||||||||||
| usgs-04031000 | 200 - 500 cfs | IV-V(V+) | 02h38m | 1360 cfs (rc= 3.9 ) | ||||||||
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| When | River/Gauge | Subject | Level | Reporter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black River [MI] |
Gorge Falls |
270cfs | Brock Royer | |
| Black [MI] |
Hoisting the boats over the put in gate |
n/a | Steve Corsi | |
| Black [MI] |
Sandstone Falls |
180 cfs | Mark Mastalski | |
| Black River [MI] |
Rainbow Falls |
very low | Rob Smage | |
| 3y347d14h38m | Presque Isle [MN] |
C.J. Arnold Gorge Falls |
300cfs | Chris Arnold |
| 4y336d14h38m | Black [MI] |
Staging for the Black |
200 cfs | Steve Corsi |
| 6y299d14h38m | Black [MI] |
Rainbow Falls |
300cfs | Nate Alwine |
| 7y321d06h38m | Black [MI] |
Black |
315 cfs | Rob Smage |
| 8y156d14h38m | Black River [MI] |
Paddling at the base of Gorge Falls. |
n/a | Mark Mastalski |