Souris River
Souris River
Canoeing Recommendations Based on Streamflow and Stage
According to the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department,
a flow of at least 60 cubic feet per second (cfs) near Bantry is recommended for canoeing.
Boating Safety Resource Center - from the U.S. Coast Guard
Data Interpretation and Recommendations
Each river, and each gaging station on a river, has a unique streamflow-stage
relation. This relation can be expressed in a rating table and may change
with time. Given the stage at a particular
gaging station, streamflow can be estimated using the rating table.
Likewise, given the streamflow, stage can be estimated using the rating table.
Using the
streamflow-stage relation, canoeing recommendations for the Souris River can be expressed as:
Gaging Station
|
Streamflow/Discharge
in cubic feet persecond (cfs)
|
Stage/Gage Height
in feet (ft)
|
|
Foxholm
(on left bank, 30 feet upstream from county highway bridge, 3 miles east of Foxholm, 19 miles upstream from Des Lacs River, and at river mile 414.5) |
Has not been determined
|
Has not been determined
National Weather Service
Flood Stage - 10 ft
|
|
Current Streamflow: unavailable
Current Stage: 5.68 ft recorded 02/10/2012 at 00:00
|
Bantry
(on left bank, 200 feet upstream from Nelson bridge, 8 miles east of Bantry, 18 miles upstream from Willow Creek, and at river mile 228) |
60 cubic feet per second |
2.5 feet
National Weather Service
Flood Stage - 11 ft |
|
Current Streamflow: unavailable
Current Stage: 5.29 ft recorded 02/10/2012 at 00:00
|
As river conditions
change due to natural events or human activities, the streamflow-stage relation
may change. As streamflow and stage decrease, the river becomes slower
and shallower; thus, canoeing will become more difficult and portaging around shallow areas may be frequent. As streamflow and
stage increase, the river becomes faster and deeper. Canoeing should not be attempted when the river is flooding. Observation of the river and
its streamflow or stage over time will help you
determine the optimal river level for your enjoyment.
How to Obtain Current Streamflow and Stage Data
Pick the gage/city closest to your desired canoeing route on the Souris River. Click on the link
for that gage in the chart above; click on the button with the city name on the left side of this
screen; or click on the gage,
indicated by a red triangle, on
the map below. You will be presented with a chart showing the current streamflow (discharge). Scroll down for another chart
showing the current stage (gage height).
To view streamflow for the last 18 months click on the links below. Data for the past 18 months are helpful
in determining the best time of the year to canoe a river.
Canoeing Home | Souris River Home | Recommendations | Maps | More
|
U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey
