What do these values represent?

[jonest]

When veiwing the Ozark Creek Summary Page there are three values listed under the reference Gauge column. Actually, there are four. The first value is the current reading, I think. The other three, I'm guessing, are the levels that are; GOOD, "GOODER", and BEST, correct?

Example:
USGS: Cadron Cr. nr Guy
2.08 [1.5, 2.0, 6]

Also, how is it that the Caddo seems to always be on the rise when there hasn't been any rainfall? Is the snow melt in that area significate enough to cause this?

As of this moment, it looks as though the Caddo and the Candron are the only possibilities for tomorrow. Am I right? Rockport is now displaying the big "O", but that isn't reliable, is it? At this time of year, isn't it up to the "man" whether it runs or not?

Just pondering the possibilities!
Tim

[SteveGabbard]

There is a list of notes at the bottom of the page that explains how to use it.

As for the readings it states the following:

Ref. Gauge: The on-line gauge that the level is based on, linked to the page for the actual gauge. The line below starts with the current level/flow reading for the gauge and then the Too Low, Optimal, and High/Flood divisions for the described creek. (E.g.: "3.63 [2.3, 3.5, 6.3]" would mean that the gauge is currently at 3.63 feet and that the creek is too low below 2.3, low between 2.3 and 3.5, optimal between 3.5 and 6.3, and high/flood over 6.3, so the creek is currently at the low end of optimal level.) The value for the current level is also linked to a history of recent levels and notes about the interpretation of the levels.

[Roger]

Recommended levels for Cadron according to OWP are off a bit. See Cowper's post:

http://forums.arkansascanoeclub.com/vie ... =1&t=22744" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Lupe]

I'll just add that over time because of sediment or rock shifts or any number of things, the levels for the three ranges may have shifted. Those who go to the rivers quite often learn over time that what is "low but acceptable" on one river might be "too low" for another because of those changes. Like for the Illinois Bayou, everyone tends to like green or even into the blue (flood) range because it seems like the ranges are off. Because the gauge on the Cadron seems to have shifted more recently, no one is super sure what a new "low" end of the range should be now.

By the way, if we were to get consensus on how to re-calibrate the ranges for any particular creek, I suspect Fish would be willing to make adjustments to the page, particularly if we ask nice and offer a Spaten Optimator on a future trip to Arkieland...

FYI - I plan to go SOMEPLACE tomorrow...I think most likely to the Caddo, but I'll also wait to hear if Gulpha might still be running (doubtful) or might even go to explore the Cadron from Pinnacle Springs bridge to Hwy 65 even though I think it's too low.

[Lupe]

Also, how is it that the Caddo seems to always be on the rise when there hasn't been any rainfall? Is the snow melt in that area significate enough to cause this?
Tim

By the way, the Caddo isn't really on the rise. If you click to go to the actual gauge, you'll see that the trend line is actually a bunch of squiggle up and down lines. Some gauges read like this, perhaps because where they are located there are waves or surges. The Ozark Creek page is set up to indicate if the gauge reading is heading up or down, but when a gauge has those squiggle lines, it can misinterpret an up squiggle as an actual rise. But if you look at the actual trend, you can see it's actually on a slow decline.

It's helpful to click the actual gauge for trip planning because you can often use the curvature of the trend line to project out where the level will be - if it's still falling quickly after a spike, or is in a more gradual decline.

Cheers!

[Jim E]

Tim,

After the flood, the Caddo gage was messed up and the USGS fixed/re-built it. Ever since then though, the sensitivity seems to be set waaay to high, hence the constant rise/fall. Also, the OWP correlation to what was once floatable is no longer so since the riverbed was changed and new gage etc. River needs a bit more water than what OWP shows.

[Clif]

Lots of them are old. Also perspective plays a part. One fishing and not minding some scrapes and drags could call lowest much lower than one wanting to playboat and surf. Still a great resource and start point

[jonest]

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the input. There is a lot of wisdom within this group.
Tim