Deep

Flow was more like the lower side of medium flow. The rapids just below the USGS gage were small, mostly class 1. Some attaining and skill practice can be done at this level, but the rapids above the dam are not that interesting. Below the dam, however, no scraping and great flow/waves. Not as exciting of a run as say Lower Haw, but is a somewhat decent short trip for maybe after work or if you were short on time. When water is up, the Deep seems to hold it's level ok.

I ran the rapids below the dam a couple of times at what I'd consider medium high water. Waves are fairly large at this level, around 3 ft in spots and holes easily avoided. I wouldn't consider it a whole class higher than what is listed, but I know I would have been intimidated as a beginner and likely flipped. I didn't see a whole lot of play waves at this level, but I stayed mostly left of the far right channel and then ran the middle channel. River right likely has some good play holes since it does starting around 2.5 ft on the gage. Because of the breach, most of the water goes river right, but the middle channel had decent water too since water was coming over the dam. There is supposed to be another access going in at Moncure Pittsboro rd soon, making a 1.5 mile run, but it was gated. I took a look at the portage area above the dam to see what current would be like had I done the full run and it looked like one could safely get out river right at the normal take out just after the dam warning sign. The breach itself was a sight to see at this level and I'm not aware of if it's possible to be run at this level, but it looked like it'd result in serious consequence from my perspective. It will be interesting to see how everything changes when the Lockville Dam is removed. My guess is it will require 2.5 ft on the gage as a minimum since that's about the level needed for the rapids upstream to start to be interesting.

Larry decides to see how his boat performs as an Ice Breaker. And yes, it was cold.
There a couple hundred yards of rapids between the dam and US 1. A good level to run these is at about 3-4' USGS.
About a foot higher and these rapids would be a great little park and play spot. These are visible from US 1 a little north of Sanford.