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Gauge Information

Gauge Description:

There is now a USGS gauge on this stream, not far upstream of the listed put-in.

The majority of the upstream flow in this river is diverted to the Michigamme River via a canal at Little Bull Dam. The capacity of the diversion canal is fairly high so major snowmelt or extended rain is needed to affect levels in this reach beyond the release levels as given below.

The licensing agreement for the hydropower project provides for flows as follows (as long as inflow from upstream allows):
April 1 - May 15: 350 cfs
May 16 - June 15: 300 cfs
June 16 - June 30: 275 cfs
July 1 - November: 250 cfs
December - March: 175 cfs

Flows of 250 will provide a reasonable minimum, while higher flows will be more desirable.

Gauge Information

Name

Range

Difficulty

Updated

Level

PAINT RIVER NEAR ALPHA, MI

usgs-04062000

200 - 2000 cfs

II(III)

01h40m

292 cfs (rc= 0.3 )

Good flow.

Gauge (631 sq.mi. drainage) is just upstream of put-in, thus very accurately reflects flow in this reach. Flow regulated by dam with scheduled releases.

Range	Water Level	Difficulty	Comment
0 - 200 cfs	extremely Low-barely Low	I-II	Too low.
200 - 350 cfs	barely runnable-med runnable	II(III)	Good flow.
350 - 600 cfs	med runnable-a bit pushy runnable	II-III+	High flow.
600 -2000 cfs	a bit pushy runnable-high runnable	II-III+(IV)	Very high flow.
2000 -9999 cfs	barely High-extremely High	III-IV	Extremely high flow.

Report - Reports of Paint MI DNR campground to Horserace Rapids (1.5 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
	Paint River [MI]	Horserace at high water	n/a	Nate Alwine
	Paint [MI]	Pin on the Paint (MI)	650	Mark Mastalski
3y236d11h09m	Paint [MI]	Dragon's Teeth	300 cfs	Brendan Hammond
7y149d19h09m	Paint [MI]	Bottom of Horserace	380 cfs	Mark Mastalski
8y192d19h09m	Paint [MI]	Flushed :(	275cfs	Nate Alwine
9y302d19h09m	Paint [MI]	Horserace at High Water	very high	Nate Alwine