Potomac, North Branch

There is a strainer at the remains of a railroad bridge toward the end of the runnot very far above the Maytag rapid. There is a strainer blocking the left and middle channnels completely. The right channel was also almost completely blocked. There is an undergwater log (not easily seen) and an above ground log blocking the right channel. We walked this section.

12 of us just ran Kitzmiller today and had a great run when most boaters would have stayed away. We put on at noon and at 6 PM, after we took off, the bridge gauge read 4.2 feet while the USGS Internet gauge read 4.0. We had at least 2-3 inches of boatable water when we took off. The run was not scrapey at all and there were plenty of surf waves at this level. I think the USGS Internet minimum should be 3.7 or 3.8 and the bridge minimum should be 3.9 - 4.0. I think 4.0 - 4.5 would be a good first time level for open boats with 4.0 - 5.0 being a good beginning level for decked boats.