Gauge Description:

Optimal Levels: 2500 cfs and up.

The cement and wood stairs in the main channel at the put-in are a good gauge. If all the stairs are out of the water the river can be considered low. This usually corresponds to about 900 cfs.

If you see exposed dirt below the stairs, then the river is too low.

At 2000 cfs the bottom cement step is underwater. This would be a low, but not scrapy level. Rafts would not be getting hung up on rocks at this level.

3 stairs underwater is about optimal. This is about 3500 cfs. At this level there is some good surfing to be found.

At 5000 cfs all the rocks in the river are underwater. Lots of good sidesurfing holes. Short boats can get vertical. The only eddies are in the backwash of holes.

If the takeout parking lot is underwater, then consider the river high. This occurs around 12,000 cfs.
 

Morgan Falls Dam is the primary feeder for this stretch. Release info for Morgan Falls Dam: 404-329-1455.   When Morgan Falls is releasing the water can get very cold, very quickly.   Don't be suprised if the river becomes blanketed in a thick fog.

Buford Dam at Lake Lanier is 40 or so miles upstream. Normal releases from Buford do not directly affect paddling levels on this section; CONTINUAL releases do.

Buford Dam info number: 770-945-1466





 

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