ILLINOIS RIVER BASIN -HIGH WATER ADVISORY – FRIDAY EVENING UPDATE
EFFECTIVE: JUNE 6th& 7th WEEKEND
TIME ISSUED: 6:30PM
DATE: JUNE 5, 2020
Hello Scenic RiversNeighbors, Friends and Team,
ILLINOIS RIVER WATER LEVELS AND FLOWS WILL STAY ABOVE NORMAL CONDITIONS THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND. WATER LEVELS AND FLOWS WILL BE ON A SLOW FALL OVER THE WEEKEND. IT’S RECOMMENDED THATCHILDREN AND NON-SWIMMERS DO NOT FLOAT THIS WEEKEND. ADULTS LACKING STRONG PADDLING SKILLS SHOULD BE PAIRED WITH EXPERIENCED PADDLERS/FLOATERS UTILIZING CRAFTS OR WAIT TO FLOAT WHEN WATER LEVELS AND FLOWS HAVE RETURNED TO NORMAL CONDITIONS. ALL FLOATERS AND SWIMMERS SHOULD WEAR A LIFEJACKET WHILE ON THE WATER. PLEASE CONSULT WITH THE COMMERCIAL FLOTATION DEVICE OPERATION USED FOR THE MOST UP-TO-DATE RIVER AND WEATHER CONDITIONS BEFORE LAUNCHING ON A FLOAT TRIP.
AT 5:30PM THIS EVENING,FLINT CREEK STREAM GAGE REPORTED A FLOW APPROXIMATELY 3.2X’S FASTER THAN NORMAL.SWIMMERS AND WADERS SHOULD AVOID THE LOW-WATER DAM LOCATED BELOW THE US412 HWY BRIDGE IN SOUTHERN DELAWARE COUNTY. THESE HIGHER FLOWS CREATE AN UNDERTOW BELOW THE DAM THAT MAY TRAP SWIMMERS AND WADERS IN A BOIL/RE-CIRCULATING WATER.
CURRENT CONDITIONS (asof 6:05pm):
CFS = Cubic Feet PerSecond (Each CFS = 450 Gallons)
GPMPG = Gallons PerMinute Passing Gage
WATTS Gage-US59 Highway Bridge, 5.08 FEET at 1,530CFS Flow/688,500GPMPG (Normal 437CFS/196,650GPMPG, based 64 years of record);
CHEWY Gage-Hampton Bridge, 5.92 FEET at 1,890CFS Flow/850,500GPMPG;
TAHLEQUAH Gage-US62 Highway Bridge, 7.63 FEET at 3,390CFS Flow/1,525,500GPMPG (Normal 702CFS/315,900GPMPG, based on 84 years of record);
ELDON Gage-Barren Fork Creek/SH51 Highway Bridge, 7.50 FEET at 455CFS Flow/204,750GB MPG (Normal 207CFS/93,150G MPG, based on 71 years of record); and,
KANSAS Gage-Flint Creek/US412 Highway Bridge, 6.69 FEET at 241 CFS Flow/108,450GB MPG (Normal 74CFS/33,300GP MPG, based on 60 years of record).
PROJECTED WEEKEND WATER LEVELS:
WATTS Gage-US59 Highway Bridge
Saturday: 7:00am/4.70ft; 1:00pm/4.60ft; and, 7:00pm/4.40ft
Sunday: 7:00 am/4.10ft; 1:00 pm/4:00 ft; and, 7:00 pm/4.00ft
CHEWY Gage-Hampton Bridge
Saturday: 7:00am/5.50ft; 1:00pm/5.50ft; and, 7:00pm/5.40ft
Sunday: 7:00am/5.20ft; 1:00pm/5.10ft; and, 7:00pm/5.10ft
TAHLEQUAH Gage-US62 Highway Bridge
Saturday: 7:00 am/7.10ft; 1:00pm/6.90ft; and, 7:00pm/6.80ft
Sunday: 7:00am/6.60ft; 1:00pm/6.50ft; and, 7:00pm/6.40ft
ELDON Gage-Barren Fork Creek/SH51 Highway Bridge
Saturday: 7:00am/7.50ft; 1:00pm/7.50ft; and, 7:00pm/7.50ft
Sunday: 7:00am/7.50ft; 1:00pm/7.50ft; and, 7:00pm/7.50ft
KANSAS Gage-Flint Creek/US412 Highway Bridge
Saturday: 7:00am/6.60ft; 1:00pm/6.60ft; and, 7:00pm/6.60ft
Sunday: 7:00am/6.60ft; 1:00pm/6.60ft; and, 7:00pm/6.60ft
IMPORTANT HIGH WATER CONSIDERATIONS:
Floaters, fishermen and swimmers exercise caution this weekend.
Wear life preservers, protective footwear and other suitable clothing.
Never swim or boat alone. Stay within sight of companions.
Boaters inform family members or others what stream reach you’re floating and when you plan to return from your trip.
Floaters beware, a number of flood events have occurred since the last float season. Fallen trees and debris may have accumulated in turns and runs that may pose navigational hazards.
If in doubt about the stream reach to be traveled, stop and get out on land to scout a safe pathway to use to float through, around meanders and other areas where debris and fallen trees present strainers that let water pass through yet will trap and hold about/swimmer. In areas with swift water, portage your boat around navigational hazards. Please adhere to COVID-19 Guidance from Oklahoma State Department of Health and CDC when enjoying Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Areas.
Attached above is a listing of water levels and flow/discharge for Illinois River Basin StreamGaging Stations (as of 6:05pm). Additional updates will be published as river conditions warrant.
Thank you,
Ed Fite
Vice-President for RiversOperations and Water Quality
Email: efite@grda.com
Office Phone: 918-456-3251
Work Cell: 918-323-6825
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 292
Tahlequah, OK 74465-0292
Physical Address:
15971 N. Highway 10
Tahlequah, OK 74464
Please Take pause daily to pick up two pieces of trash and properly dispose or recycle the materials… The synergy of our efforts will help preserve and protect our state's aquatic and terrestrial environments. Thank you!