Gauge Information

Gauge Description:

Opinions will obviously vary on what's 'good' here. 'Personal minimums' will no doubt be different from the 'minimum' specified here. While some boaters suggest a minimum of 10,000cfs, other contacts have suggested it's fine down to 8,000, and still others report the wave is still there as low as 3,500 cfs. (Do I hear a 'lower bid'?)

"Maximum" is set more as an indicator of AWESOME levels, where full-out rodeo boaters will be in their glory.

Gauge Information

Name Range Difficulty Updated Level
MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT ST. CLOUD, MN
usgs-05270700 10000 - 30000 cfs I 00h38m 2610 cfs (rc= -0.4 )
Forget it. Nothing happening.
Gauge (13,320 sq.Mi.) is just a couple miles downstream, thus should be quite accurate at portraying flows for this location.
RangeWater LevelDifficultyComment
0 -3500 cfs extremely Low-somewhat Low I Forget it. Nothing happening.
3500 -10000 cfs somewhat Low-barely Low I-II Playable, but tame. (Pretty much just flatspins and surfs.) Many may consider this 'too low'.
10000 -15000 cfs barely runnable-med runnable II Two waves are well-formed. Generally too shallow for vertical moves, but otherwise decent play.
15000 -20000 cfs med runnable-a bit pushy runnable II+ Great surfs and spins in the big wave. Retendos are possible, but generally shallow for full vertical moves. "Halfway Wave" appears, steep, narrow and green.
20000 -30000 cfs a bit pushy runnable-high runnable III Dream Hole begins to form, but may be irregular and changing moment to moment.
30000 -50000 cfs somewhat High-somewhat High III+ Dreamland! A cartwheeling hole 100' wide and friendly as could be!
50000 -99999 cfs somewhat High-extremely High III+ RECORD FLOWS.

Report - Reports of Mississippi Sauk Rapids (PnP) 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
Mississippi [MN] Tilt-a-whirl ride 16k or so Jake Vos