Aroostook

For US-based paddlers if you're going to paddle the whitewater section of the lower Aroostook River you will need to bring your passport because that section is entirely within New Brunswick, Canada, downstream of the hydroelectric dam at Tinker, NB. The best border crossing is at Houlton, the nearest is at Fort Fairfield.

The whitewater section is no more than two miles in extent and its intensity is entirely dependent on what the dam is releasing, so the river gauge at Washburn, Maine isn't much help except for establishing the situation well upstream. If the dam isn't releasing then the lower Aroostook is incredibly boney and not worth the trip -- see low water photo on Google Earth -- search 'Tinker, NB' and follow the river downstream to the bridge.

If you're going to try out the Aroostook you might want to bring your creek boat and try some of the drops at Four Falls on Limestone Stream (also in NB) -- river left just before the four-lane highway bridge -- see top & lower drop photos on Google Earth -- same search as above.

The Tinker dam is owned by Integrys Energy Services Inc and operated by them in conjunction with NB Power -- I'm looking into finding a contact for daily flow rates and if I ever do I will add it here.