Gauge Description:

* Online gauge referenced is on the Black. Watersheds are close, parallel and relatively similar in nature. Max/min are estimates.
The Presque Isle tends to hold it's water a bit better than the Black, so may be boatable when Black is below it's minimum. Additionally, since the river is significantly constricted in 'the canyon', these drops may be boated by those willing to pick and scrape their way down the rest of the run to get to them.

Anyone who boats this reach is encouraged to add a 'comment' below with additional gauge information and/or correlations.

Disclaimer: Be aware that indication of a 'runnable' level 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 winter and early spring runs.

Paddlers gauge is painted on middle bridge pier at South Boundary Road. Gauge is at a wide spot in the river. Small changes in level here become big changes in the gorge, (inches become feet!) so there is a relatively narrow range of runnability.
Rough interpretations for the paddler's gauge are:

6.5' - low
6.75' to 7.25' - medium
above 7.5' - high

Note that runs at higher levels than these are made, likely with a portage from above Triple Drop to below Nokomis (about a half mile).

Boater Reports and Updates:
One report of run at 2.8 (470cfs) on the Black River Gauge, at which time Presque Boaters Gauge (bridge pier gauge) read 7.0 (which reportedly correlates to 7.5 or 7.6 on former boaters gauge), which would be a moderate level for this run.

4-27-02: Online gauge was at 2.96 at 8:00 in the morning on before we left. We didn't put on till 2:00 so I don't know how much it had changed. The water level was good in the gorge, probably a medium level. Outside the gorge any lower volume of water would result in it being rather boney. Lepisto was rather easy at this water level.

Spring, 2003: A recent report indicates that the gauge may have changed somewhat due to scouring of the riverbed in a large flood event. A reading of 7.0' on the bridge pier gauge was reportedly a high level. The paddlers portaged the entire canyon section.

Aug '04: Low water run, paddler's gauge at 6' when shuttling, ~3" lower when finishing the run. Canyon was fun at this flow but much of the rest of the run was pretty grungy. Perhaps 6'3" (on paddlers bridge gauge) as a functional minimum?

Spring, 2005: Paddlers gauge at 6.5, USGS gauge at 1.85. Confirm as 'minimal' level.

BLACK R NR BESSEMER, MICH. [ MI ]

Current Conditions Stage Flow Updated 1.64 171 12/2 11:00 Station Graphs

Linked Reaches

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Level Legend:

Running

Below Minimum Recommended Flow

Above Maximum Recommended Flow

Unknown

Descriptions of reaches with River Name in bold have been verified by a regional StreamTeam member.

State	River Name/Section	Class	Level	Rel. Level	Updated
MI	Black— A) Cty 513 to Ramsay (Mill St) (6.7 miles)	I-II	171 cfs	low	12/2 11:00
MI	Black— B) 'Upper Black': Ramsey (Mill St) to above Gabbro Falls (Baker Falls) (2.2 miles)	II-III	171 cfs	low	12/2 11:00
MI	Black— C) 'Middle Black': Narrows Park to Conglomerate Falls (7.9 miles)	II-III+	171 cfs	low	12/2 11:00
MI	Black— D) 'Lower Black': Conglomerate Falls to Lake Superior (2.0-2.6 miles)	IV-V(V+)	171 cfs	low	12/2 11:00
MI	Presque Isle— A) Yondota Falls to Copps Mine Rd (1.5 miles)	IV(V)	1.64 ft *	med	12/2 11:00
MI	Presque Isle— B) Underwood Tower Rd to Steigers Bridge (7.3 miles)	II-IV	1.64 ft *	low	12/2 11:00
MI	Presque Isle— C) Steigers Bridge to South Boundary Road (8.4 miles)	III-V	1.64 ft *	low	12/2 11:00
MI	Presque Isle— D) 'Bottom Presque': South Boundary Rd to Lake Superior (1.1 miles)	IV-V	1.64 ft *	low	12/2 11:00

Station Description

AW Gauge ID:	5907
USGS Station:	04031000
HUC:
Latitude:
Longitude:
Class:

World Whitewater: A Global Guide for River Runners
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