Big Piney 3.5

[debmoore]

Long Pool gauge is reading 3.5. Took it a while, but it's primed now.

[Crane]

Debbie,
The USGS guage never got above 2.5'... Do we have a discrepancy between the guage reading and our interpretation of reality for paddling purposes? I'd hate to miss good paddling on the Piney simply because we didn't know that the "new" 2.5' should be interpreted as a very nice 3.5' at Long Pool!! Cowper, what do you think?

[turboturtle]

Its been nine tenths off for the last some odd years.

Where have you been hiding?

[Crane]

I've been paddling other rivers... what's your point?

[tomcat]

I thought it was (has been) off by maybe .5....not .9'....between the Twin bridges gage and the Longpool gage. Prolly doesn't matter since I'm afraid to go paddle there anymore due to harrassment of paddlers by "the man".

[Crane]

Fish's list indicates that when the USGS reads 2.0', Long Pool is at 2.8'... so, Tomcat and my recollections are dated... for sure!

[tomcat]

I seem to remember posts over the past couple of years that has the "off" number moving around and inconsistent. We've become more-and-more dependent on Debbie to keep us posted on the real Longpool reading......which we APPRECIATE VERY MUCH.

[RandyJ]

...since I'm afraid to go paddle there anymore due to harrassment of paddlers by "the man".

what would tomcat be afraid of? He's squeaky-clean, right???? ;-)

[tomcat]

careful randy.....those same lawdogs could come to the ACC Canoe School and set up sobriety check points. Can't have no beer drinking mixed with sports around these parts....no, wait....drinking and going to Razorback games is a tradition. Which brings up a good question....why DON'T they set up sobriety check points after/near Razorback games? Or, sobriety check points set up during deer season in many parts of the state. I guess the man sees us paddlers as easy prey who don't fight back.

[Cowper]

The question has mostly been answered, but yes, we need Deb to keep an eye out for us. Peak was 2.5 on USGS so I'm surprised LP went above ~ 3.3. So the 3.5 could be "rounding" error from the visual reading or could be a sign the gage has drifted. There are multiple other causes, such as the possibility gravel has moved in over the gage again. Somebody cleaned it out for USGS a couple of years ago, but I've been fully expecting that the gravel would move again in the future. Deb's "real time" reports are what will allow us to know when it is time for a "shovel party" again. Such an endeavor would require summertime low water level, plus a willingness to get wet. (I'm just guessing,of course.)

[Roger]

careful randy.....those same lawdogs could come to the ACC Canoe School and set up sobriety check points. Can't have no beer drinking mixed with sports around these parts....no, wait....drinking and going to Razorback games is a tradition. Which brings up a good question....why DON'T they set up sobriety check points after/near Razorback games? Or, sobriety check points set up during deer season in many parts of the state. I guess the man sees us paddlers as easy prey who don't fight back.

It's been done before, TC. In fact, I recall one instructor relating the fact that some guy packing stopped the group on the river and his ID was less than prominent. Don't remember what agency he was with but he was in a kayak as I recall. And w/o a helmet.

As for your other point, we all know why.

[RandyJ]

careful randy.....those same lawdogs could come to the ACC Canoe School and set up sobriety check points. Can't have no beer drinking mixed with sports around these parts....no, wait....drinking and going to Razorback games is a tradition. Which brings up a good question....why DON'T they set up sobriety check points after/near Razorback games? Or, sobriety check points set up during deer season in many parts of the state. I guess the man sees us paddlers as easy prey who don't fight back.

Very good points raised, 'Cat. But this is a thread about synching up gauges, so I'm movin' on.

[debmoore]

Hey guys! Best I can tell, at this time, the Long Pool gauge is .7 off. When I read the gauge Sunday a.m. I was using binocs...those #'s must of been put on by a young man! The water was local and dropped off pretty fast down to 3.25 in a couple of hours. I do know that the USGS works on this gauge consistently to try to keep it calibrated. Sure wish we could get a gauge upstream, like Ft. Douglas, but probably won't happen. Sure do miss those Buffalo River rain gauges. We'll keep an eye on the Long Pool gauge in the meantime. Reminds me of the old days when we used to have to drive (from Russellville) to check the water level on the old gauge and then try to get the word out by phone, pre-computer days.

[Crane]

Deb, Maybe we can schedule a work-crew to paint bigger lines and numbers on the sight guage... or plant one on river left where even older geezers like me can see it!! Thanks for all y'all do for the paddling community!

[tomcat]

As for your other point, we all know why.

well Roger, you should know and be counted....along with about half the ACC membership.