Gauge Description:

Stephen Strange contributed:
"I've run this stretch of the Rockaway dozens of times from around 2.3'/120 cfs (very bony), up to 5'/(3000 cfs?). 3' to 4' is best (though there is a good play spot under the stone bridge at lower levels)."

From 2.3'/120cfs(BARE minimum) up to about 3.5'/800 on the gauge the run has a creekier nature

Above 4.5'/1500cfs the water begins to approach a more Gauley like style.

Above ~5.5'/2600cfs the entire run becomes one long, class 5 rapid with a big-water feel to it. (5 feet is the USGS flood stage. With the current local attitude toward paddling in general, it's probably better that people go somewhere else at these levels)

The correlation between the level and cfs has changed a little. In Dec. 2004 the USGS changed the location of the sensor slightly leading to slightly higher "stage" readings related to the volume.

Currently it's about like this:

2.5'-150 cfs

3.0'-400 cfs

3.5'-750 cfs

4.0'-1000 cfs

4.5'-1500 cfs

5.0'-2200 cfs

5.5'-3000cfs