River Gage Levels

My paddle friends and I often refer to the various "river levels" on the Aburn Hills U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gage.  I thought I'd put a post out about the gage and our interpretation of the various levels along with some other tips.  The gage is available in a "foot" and a CFS (Cubic Foot/Second) graph, we use the "foot" gage.

Here is the link to the gage followed by an example of what you will see on the site:
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/mi/nwis/uv/?site_no=04161000&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060

Most of our experience on the gage readings are for the Avon & Livernois to Yates run, off hand here are some guidelines, they pretty much apply to most of the upper river runs down to Van Dyke:
1.0 - 1.25 Low level runs, some scraping on rocks and sandbars, technical because you have to follow a narrow channel

1.3 - 1.5 Medium level runs, should not scrape too much if any, 'advanced beginner' level and it can be a bit towards 'intermediate'when you hit a solid 1.5 on the gage. 

1.55 - 1.75 Medium High and approaching higher swifter water, towards the 1.7 mark you do notice swift current and it starts to become "intermediate" for sure.  You should be looking ahead and anticipating the currents watching for the downstream "V's" that channel the swift water downstream. 

1.8 - 2.0 High Advanced level runs, you need to know how to read the river, turn and avoid problems like obstructions (trees across the river) and strainers (trees dipping down into the river at a critical point where you can get caught like in a "strainer") 

Over 2.0 is considered Advanced to Expert level runs. Problem is these levels are usually after a storm and you never know what blew down so you have to be on your toes and watching for problems. 

Over 3.0 and on to 4.0 & Beyond - Flood Stage!  The current is very strong and "pushy", so while most of the 'rapids' are washed out and you can pretty much float right over things, there is even more of a chance that a tree is down all the way across the river.  The rapid under Rochester Road is where the river will become narrow and at high water there will be a very BIG wave/rapid/hole!  In an open canoe or kayak without a skirt you will take on water if you punch through the center.  (that can actually happen at some of the lower level runs too, so watch it!)

Here is a picture of Jerry Reis of Outdoor Escorts/Clinton River Kayak & Canoe doing some surfing at the Rochester Rapid!

We never blindly run the low head dam / waterfall at Yates - people have died there!  As you approach the dam there will be a sign to warn you and tell you to portage on the right (River Right, if you are facing downstream "River Right" is on your Right and "River Left" is on your Left, if you turn around and face upstream, then River Right is on your Left and River Left is on your Right - Always refer to the side of the stream going downstream - got it?)
Here are pictures of the signs and also someone running the dam in a whitewater boat which is outfitted for that type of run - but when the gage goes over 2.0 and 2.5 - the hydraulic becomes very strong and can suck you back in - look for a video of that in some of my older posts!

Remember, you can always "backpaddle", paddling faster 'to get around' something usually ends up putting you right into the problem.  Be careful when you backpaddle too though, watch your "lean". (see below)

Another crucial tip, besides wearing your PFD(Personal Flotation Device) is that if you are going into a log jam or obstruction, you should "lean into it" or "lean downstream". This is counter intuitive because you want to turn/lean away (or lean "upstream") from a danger spot, but if you do then the current grabs the edge of your boat and flips you. If you lean into the obstruction you can actually brace onto it when you impact and then the water will flow under your boat.

So the rule is "lean downstream"! 

Here are pictures of someone doing the WRONG thing into an obstruction.  Notice that he leaned upstream, away from the log jam.  If he would have leaned into it, he could have "hand over handed" it until he got to the end of the jam and gotten by, but he leaned the WRONG WAY!

So keep these tips in mind, or maybe we'll be sitting on the side of the river watching you with our camera ready to catch some "action"! ;)

Upper Mighty Clinton River - Waterford MI

Upper Mighty Clinton River (Waterford MI) -  Begginer to Intermediate runThis run is from where the river crosses Elizabeth Lake Road in Waterford down to State Park - Dodge Brothers Park Number 4 on Cass Lake. 

Below is my first "Section" post for this Blog, a  report of a section I had the pleasure of running for the first time this year (June 2012) thanks to our new friends Lori and Curt.  (the Upper Clinton Paddlers!)

If the water is low the run is "Beginner" but can be a bit 'technical' to navigate around the gravel beds, if the water were high the difficulty can be "Intermediate" - Remember, you must have a PFD (Personal Flotation Device/Life Jacket) with you and it is usually a good idea to wear it!  (you'll never have time to put it on when in an actual emergency) 

There is a small park on the South side of Elizabeth Lake Road where you can put in.(5971 Elizabeth Lake Rd, Waterford 48327)   This is on the part of Elizabeth Lake Road where it goes along the North shore of Cresent Lake, so it is just West of the most Northern tip of Cresent Lake. The river flows slow but steady and once you put in you will be surrounded by high grass. (very few places to pull over, so if you get a beach/shore and it's not someone's lawn, take advantage!)

You will cross under Cooley Lake Road, then some time after that the next time you see a bridge, take the river to the Left for a more direct route to the take out or if you happen to go Right you will be paddling through the canals but will also have a longer paddle on the lake once you get there. In either case you will need to cross some open water on Cass Lake to get to the State Park for your take out. (4250 Parkway Drive, Waterford 48237)

You must have a State Park Permit to park in the park, they are no longer selling day passes but our last trip in early June they were selling the yearly pass for $10.

This run will take about 3 or 4 hours depending on your ability and the water level.

This picture shows the driving route between the put in(A) and take out(B) in blue and the river course is highlighted in yellow, but it does not show the exact river course.

Here are some shots from the river trip from June 2, 2012 organized by the our "Upper Clinton Paddler" friends Lori and Curt.  Also some pictures the scouting trip, notice the dog named Daisy, she had a problem with her eyes and had them removed!  So she's about the only one who can truely say "She can paddle that river blindfolded"! :)   (you can click on the pictures to enlarge)

Rick

Dale and Jenny

Group shot of the June 2nd Trip

Curt and Daisy Dog!

The only tree you had to cross, it may have been 'dealt' with by now.

Lori

This shows the high grass banks.

Dale and the girls!

General Information on paddling the Mighty Clinton River - SE Michigan

Welcome!  Setting up this Blog to document some river trip routes on the Clinton River in Macomb & Oakland Counties of Michigan.

The Clinton River headwaters are in Northern Oakland county, up around Waterford.  The river runs down through many communities before dumping into Lake St. Clair in Macomb county. 

We like to refer to the river as the "Mighty Clinton River" because it is a Mighty Fine River!  When you are out paddling most stretches, you will forget you are paddling an urban river and think you are on one of Michigan's Northern rivers.  Conservation efforts through the years have really helped to clean up the river and allow wildlife to flourish.  Deer, beaver, mink, great blue heron's, trout, fox, coyote and an abundence of song birds are typically seen on the river.

For now I will just highlight some of the more popular runs and add detail to the Blog at a later date as a page for each section/route. 

Upper MCR - Waterford MI:  Beginner to Intermediate run from Elizabeth Lake Road down into Cass Lake ending up at MI State Park "Dodge Brothers No. 4"  This is a 3 to 4 hour trip with limited access to the shore for breaks.  Can be run when the Auburn Hills USGS Gage is around 1.0 and higher.

Auburn MCR - Auburn Heights MI: Beginner to Intermediate run from Squirrel & Auburn Roads (Riverside Park) to Livernois & Avon Roads (with access points near Adams and Crooks Roads for shorter trips)  Entire trip can be 4 to 5 hours long.  There are a few rapids here and there, but nothing major.  You can access the river East of Adams in Riverland Park and there is a parking area on Crooks Road where the river crosses the road.  When the water is low there will be a lot of walking in the river, this is the same route as the yearly Paddlepalooza "race".  Suggested gage height is 1.2 or higher, over 2.0 and the run is definitely intermediate.  (USGS Auburn Hills Gage)

Rochester MCR - Rochester Hills MI:  Intermediate to Expert run from Avon & Livernois (A&L) Roads to Dequindre Road-Yates Cider Mill.  (with access points at Rochester Road/Diversion St, and 2nd Street/Letica Ave)  Entire trip can be 3-4 hours long.  This is the the "Main Vein" of the Mighty Clinton River and is the section that really gives it the name "Mighty"!  This section has the most gradient for the river in the entire length and has many corners with 'strainers' (tree branches and log jams along the banks and corners)  As of June 2012 the "A&L" intersection is having both bridges rebuilt and will be completed by November, Avon Road Bridge is now complete and Livernois is under construction.  There used to be a rapid under the intersection but it is unknown at this time what this will be like.  You can put in at the A&L intersection, or for a much easier put in, go behind the Medical Office Building to the East end of the parking lot.  This route can be swift in areas with tight corners and a rapid under Rochester Road and also as you approach 2nd Street and the seawall.  The water is also swirly squirrelly between these 2 rapids where Paint Creek enters the river and flow will increase.  Stony Creek also feeds into the Clinton downriver and will also add to the flow.  End of this section will be run behind Bloomer Park.

PLEASE HEED THE CAUTION/WARNING SIGNS which are strung across the river BEFORE you reach the low head dam/waterfall at Yates Cider Mill just before the end of this section.  People have died running the falls, portage on the RIGHT!  If for some (bad/stupid/irresponsible) reason you miss the portage and find yourself going over the falls, go STRAIGHT over the falls, never turn sideways or you will be caught in the strong hydraulic created by this killer low head dam.  Even running it straight is a huge risk, don't do it.

Suggested USGS Auburn Hills Gage level should be above 1.2/1.3 for low water runs.  At 1.4 to 1.8 the river is a solid intermediate run.  Above 1.75/1.8 and up to 2.3 or 2.5 the river gets very pushy and can be a lot of fun for an advanced intermediate to expert paddler - please know your ability and limits and WEAR YOUR PFD! (Personal Flotation Device/Life Jacket)  Levels above 2.5 are solid expert run levels.  Never go alone and wear your PFD. Did I mention you should wear your PFD?

Yates to Ryan MCR - Shelby MI:  Beginner/Intermediate run from Avon & Dequindre (Yates) to Ryan Road. (Upper River Bend Park Section) About a 1 hour run that can have a few tricky corners at higher levels.  There are two spots you go around small "islands", take the river to the right on the first one early in the trip after you turn downstream away from the cider mill.  Take the river to the left on the second island closer to the end.  You will travel behind the Detroit Sportsmans Congress land and hear a lot of guns! (you should be safe if you stay in your boat, do not get out on the Right side of the river - that is their land and can be dangerous) There is no access until you reach Ryan, but there are Green/Yellow/White signs with numbers on them in the trees along the way, if you have to call 911 the local fire department has the GPS coordinates of those signs.  USGS Auburn Hills Gage levels suggested over 1.2 for beginner and over 1.7 for Intermediate and above.

Ryan to Van Dyke - Utica MI:  Beginner/Intermediate run starting in a small section of River Bends Park where you can park on the South side of the river where it crosses Ryan.  This run is about 2.5 hours or so.  This section is entirely within the River Bend park with a few tight/technical spots at lower water levels.  At higher levels it is a solid intermediate run.   There is access to the river in the middle of the River Bend park by using the 22 Mile Road entrance.  There is also a foot bridge that links this to the other side of the park where the entrance is at Ryan and Hamlin Roads.  This section follows the same suggested levels as the Yates to Ryan section and also has Numbered Signs for emergencies. 

Van Dyke to Budd Park - Sterling Heights MI:  (UPDATE:  Many if not all of the jams have been removed from the Dodge Park section in Sterling Heights!  This was true as of the 2017 paddle season but has not been personally verified) 


Beginner/Intermediate run, but many log jams make it no fun!  Sterling Heights is not clearing or paying to have jams cleared behind Dodge Park, so the portages are terrible!  The jams make this an intermediate run, othewise it would be a great beginner run. (Update 4/27/2014 Clinton River Canoe & Kayak is negotiating a contract with the City of Sterling Heights to service this section, so work to clear the section should be in the near future!)



Budd Park to Shadysides Park, or Downtown Mt. Clemens - Mt. Clemens MI:  Beginner run that should be pretty much open, but the actual status is not known as of July 2012.  As time allows and a trip is run to scout this section, the blog will be updated.  This was run in years past without too many problems or portages.  You will see some nice houses along this route and can take out at Shadysides Park just after Gratiot bridge, or continue to Downtown Mt. Clemens and take out on the river Left side at the YMCA.  Outdoor Escorts/Clinton River Canoe & Kayak has recently began utilizing the 'boat house' located on river Left across fromt he Gazebo in Downtown, but it is unknown how a take out will work there, that will be updated when known.  When you reach the spillway (it will look like a straight canal) turn LEFT otherwise you will miss your take outs and end up in Lake St. Clair!
This section can be run at virtually any river level, but of course it may be pushy at high water.

Update: 07/23/2012 - No portages on this run!  This is about a 2 hour run to Shadysides Park, but going all the way into Downtown Clem Town adds about 30-45 minutes for sure.

Clem Town to the Lake!  You can paddle from Downtown (YMCA) all the way to Lake St. Clair, there is a DNR launch site at the end of North River Road.  Not too sure how long this would take, did a section of it from Bridgeview down several years ago but can't remember how long it took.  I am guessing about 2 hours?