Gauge Description:

The 'minimum' (250 cfs) is for 'normal' low-flow beginners play. Bare-bones, desperation, ELF (Extreme Low Flow) play is possible down to 150 cfs (see table below). The 'maximum' (1800 cfs) is mostly set as an indicator of levels 'above the norm'. Experienced whitewater boaters will use this 'maximum' almost as their 'minimum' or 'optimum', looking for the river to 'go purple'. The river is runnable/playable at virtually ALL historic high water levels. However, above 2000 cfs or so, additional concerns arise as noted below.

NOTE: At levels above 2000 cfs boaters should be aware that two bridges downstream in the golf course will be serious hazards. They will have not enough clearance under them for you to conveniently pass under, and (with higher flows) water will flow through the railings on them. They are far enough downstream that experienced boaters in control will be nowhere near them as they run and play the features on this reach. However, if you need to chase errant gear downriver (in the event of someone having a 'yard sale' swim), strong currents may make it difficult to paddle out of danger around these two bridges.

There are two gauges (on this river and a tributary 'canal') in Franklin, upstream of the listed gauge. When the river is on the rise (after significant rains) one can usually get a fairly good prediction of levels in this reach. Add the two Franklin gauges (after verifying that they are both up-to-date), and that value will be (roughly) the downstream gauge reading somewhere between 18 to 36 hours later. This is known as the Corsentino Predictive Method, or CPM (named after Mark Corsentino, a former Marquette grad student (and kayaker) who first postulated the correlation). In spite of the fact that its gauges total 106 Sq.Mi., while the drainage at the lower gauge is 190 Sq.Mi., this correlation is generally surprisingly accurate when the river is on the rise. It is generally far less accurate at predicting next-day flows for this (Quarry) section when the river levels are falling.

NOTE: For some reason, spring of 2008, the 'CPM' has not been anywhere close to accurately predictive of levels for the Quarry section. Perhaps one or more of the gauges needs recalibration (by the USGS), or perhaps something else has changed. We will be monitoring this as the year progresses, and may need to modifiy or remove this (formerly quite useful) predictive tool.

The CPM value may be seen (when one views the entire state listing) on the A) Five Mile Road to Horlick Dam Pond section.

Also, for what it's worth, assuming that relatively the entire watershed receives rain, this reach normally has a rather interesting 'flow curve'. It will normally hit a peak about two days after the main rain event, and then either plateau or even start to fall off. However, the pull-back will be short-lived, and the next 24 hours will likely rise, usually striking a level a tad higher than the first 'peak'. This 'double-pump' (two-hump camel graph) occurs more often than not, generally failing only if rains are more localized, hitting only part of the watershed.

Again, for some reason, this 'double-pump' has not been quite as evident of late. Instead, the river is more often just tending to 'plateau' near each peak level. We will monitor for changes as the year progresses.

The cited gauge lies right at the upper put-in for this reach. As a result, the reading will be a very accurate reflection of boatability of this reach.

Approximate offseason ('Ice') gauge correlations

(subject to change as USGS recalibrates the gauge):
5.48 = 1600 cfs
5.23 = 1400 cfs
4.98 = 1200 cfs
4.70 = 1000 cfs
4.42 = 800 cfs
4.12 = 600 cfs
3.78 = 400 cfs
3.30 = 200 cfs