VERMILION RIVER WATER LEVELS AT LEONORE GAGE

Gage notes for the Vermilion provided by Ashley Sweda <F80ATS1@WPO.CSO.NIU.EDU>

Todd Leigh has info on the gages also, 847-798-8810.

Leonore gage is 5 miles south of Lowell Bridge. Read numbers from the bottom line.

Leonore Staff Gage

Lowell Bridge

2.7

river is almost dried up only a few inches of water

4.0

too low to boat

5

easily navigable

5.85

3.5

boats do not scrape

6.0

very runnable

6.13

3.75

narrows is excellent

6.63

3.9

7

4.0

7.25

4.1

7.75

4.3

8.75

4.7

14

6.25

Notes:

5.85 It is ok to paddle. Wildcat is easy, you can surf the wave at the top of wildcat. The waves at the narrows are good. Surfing wave at Lowell Bridge is ok . The ledge wave at the put in is ok, doesn't hold you.

6.1 Crack in rock is low, boat hits bottom. Wildcat is easier to surf and can do some excellent enders. First wave at narrows is great for surfing. A scenic ride not much to play in.

6.13 Wildcat is hard to surf. Surfing wave at the narrows is low.

6.63 Waves at put in are ok to surf, crack in rock gets bony not too much fun, wildcat is mild, and narrows are ok.

7 Surfing waves at Lowell Bridge are excellent. Wildcat cartwheels Frankenkstein.

8.1 Three surfing waves at put-in are excellent. Ledge rock past waterfall needs a little higher water. Hole between rocks is good, some squirts. Dam is almost washed out. Wave train is huge. (4-5 foot waves)

8.75 Surfing at put in is very good. Crack in rock is terrible, there is nothing to play in. (yuck). There is an ender wave just above the old railroad bridge on river right. Wildcat is high but pretty easy. The dam is still washed out. The narrows are big and burly. There weren't as many play areas on the river at this level.

14 Challenging surfing waves just below bridge. Surfing ledges at put in washed out, a few very big surfing waves. Waves around the bend from the waterfall are excellent. Ledge rocks have a superb surfing wave. Wildcat completely washed out just some big waves. The narrows have very big waves. Can boat up to Matthiessen State Park water falls.