Gauge Information

Gauge Description:

* The reference gauge is for the Sturgeon at Sidnaw. Flows on the Rock should be approximately 20-25% of that flow.

Min/Max are uncertain, and correlation is not assured.

Disclaimer: Be aware that indication of a 'runnable' level by the gauge does not necessarily mean that the river is runnable. In winter, gauge readings may be 'ice affected'. Sections of the river may be impassable due to ice. Use discretion for winter and early spring runs.
This is especially true for this run, as the end of the run involves a three mile paddle-out on a very low gradient section of the Sturgeon, which is likely to remain ice-choked well after other rivers have flushed free of ice!


A boater's gauge consisting of three (faded, black) lines painted on center bridge pier at Hwy.28/141 bridge, corresponds to minimum, moderate, and mongo! Since that gauge is fading, more recent sets of marks have been made on the East bridge support. Ignore the larger (and slightly older) set of marks here, and read the five newer alternating blue and orange lines.
"Low" will be water levels below the bottom blue mark. (The river can probably be floated down until the whole bridge support is dry, but will be boney and generally quite 'tame'.)
"Moderate" will be between the lowest blue mark and the next orange mark.
"High" is anything above that orange mark. (I can't imagine seeing it at any levels approaching the upper three marks!)

Gauge Information

Name Range Difficulty Updated Level
STURGEON RIVER NEAR SIDNAW, MI
usgs-04040500 500 - 2000 cfs I 63d14h33m ~ 85 cfs (rc= -0.8 )
Likely too low. (~0-125 cfs)
Expect flows to be 20-25% of this reference gauge on the Sturgeon. Always confirm actual Rock River flow via visual inspection of it's boater's gauge.
RangeWater LevelDifficultyComment
0 - 500 cfs extremely Low-barely Low I Likely too low. (~0-125 cfs)
500 -1000 cfs barely runnable-med runnable I-II Likely low/doable. (Perhaps 100-250 cfs)
1000 -1600 cfs med runnable-a bit pushy runnable II-III+ Likely moderate flows (Perhaps 200-400 cfs)
1600 -2000 cfs a bit pushy runnable-high runnable III-IV Likely high flows (Perhaps 320-500 cfs)
2000 -20000 cfs barely High-extremely High III-IV+ Likely unusually high flows (over 400-500 cfs)

Report - Reports of Rock Worm Lake outlet to Sturgeon River (9.1 miles) and related gauges

Reports give the public a chance to report on river conditions throughout the country as well as log the history of a river.

Reports

When River/Gauge Subject Level Reporter
> 10 years Rock [MI] Biggest Drop on the Rock middle mark + 1/2 (g Rob Smage