Knowledge Base
Everything you need to know about river flows, safety, kayaking, and fishing — built from official USGS data and field expertise.
A Beginner's Guide to Understanding Flood Stages
What does it mean when the National Weather Service issues a Flood Warning? Learn the difference between Action, Minor, Moderate, and Major flood stages.
How Heavy Rain Affects River Flow and Safety
Understand the lag effect, how long it takes for rivers to rise after a storm, and why checking a gauge is critical before heading out.
Understanding Whitewater Class I to VI Rapids
A complete guide to the International Scale of River Difficulty. Learn how rapids are classified from Class I (easy) to Class VI (unrunnable) and how CFS affects these ratings.
The Best Water Temperatures for Freshwater Fishing
Discover exactly how water temperature affects fish behavior, metabolism, and feeding habits to help you catch more bass, trout, and walleye.
How to Read a USGS River Gauge
A beginner's guide to understanding the numbers, charts, and metrics provided by the United States Geological Survey streamgages.
What is CFS? Understanding River Flow Rates
Everything you need to know about Cubic Feet per Second (CFS), how it's measured, and what it means for your next paddling or fishing trip.