Making sense of CFS numbers for various locations?

[rcurry]

My two local rivers that I paddle are Cumberland River and Green River in Kentucky. I check web sites to see what the CFS (cubic feet second) is running before plans are made. I know from experience what a good CFS number is for these two locations for a pleasant paddle trip.

Example; TVA web site for Wolf Creek Dam (Cumberland River) says the CFS is 2020 today, and that’s a good safe comfort level for me to paddle. It has enough current but not overly swift. Perfect (for my taste) :D

But if the Green River was running 2020 CFS I wouldn’t dare get on it. I would consider it very unsafe. :(

I am able to obtain CFS numbers for other places that I am interested in paddling but I don’t know where to get the information as to what is an acceptable/safe number for those locations for my comfort/safety level. I am attempting to make sense of CFS numbers for various locations. Any tips on where to find a chart showing how the numbers relate to the different rivers?

[rcurry]

The information on this http://www.riversportstubes.com/Weather.htm web site is the very type of information I am searching for on other streams. A rating CFS system for each stream or rivers. Anyone have any tips how I could obtain the information or chart?

Come on some of you smarter guys n gals help me out!

[Ozarkwoods]

rcurry,

I would think that if you don't have an idea about a local river that one place to check would be the local outfitters. They know the rivers of their respective area and could explain the CFS flow rates and the levels of the rivers and the type of rapids with the different flow rates. Take notes from the phone call and keep a file of the information you get so you have it on hand.

[rcurry]

Thanks Ozarkwoods for trying to help me. What I am really looking for is a CHART or PUBLICATION or LITERATURE. That would obviously save many phone calls to outfitters and note taking. So far I have had no luck in locating any published source for CFS information to show how it equates to skill level and what to expect on each different stream. I am looking for a publication or web site that I could get the following information (or similar) for steams by using the CFS numbers that I can already easily look up daily.

EXAMPLE ONLY
A=noobie paddler & young kids = mild water
B=semi experienced paddlers = small ripples, small thrills
C=medium experienced paddlers = medium ripples, medium thrills & occasional yehaw ripples
D=Experienced paddlers = yehaw ripples & thrills
E=Very experienced paddlers = OMG wear a helmet! Large ripples, huge thrills for the brave
F=Very very experienced paddlers= OMG wear a helmet and I really have no business attempting


http://lakeinfo.tva.gov/htbin/lakeinfo?site=WCH&DataType=All&submit=View+info
Above is the web site I use to check the CFS on Cumberland River at the Wolf Creek Dam. Today’s CFS 2010. I personally would rate this as being A & B using the above (example only) chart.

Hopefully there is a comprehensive chart or web site available to make sense of all the CFS numbers (that anyone can already locate) and how they relate to each stream.

[Ozarkwoods]

rcurry,
There is so much more than CFS levels. Each river has its own characteristics 500 cfs on a river that has rock walls 20 ft apart and a drop of 100 ft in a mile is so much different then 500 CFS on a river that has gentle banks 100 ft apart with a drop of 20 feet/mile. So it is individual to each river. So places that you need to look is maybe local paddle clubs to an area,
USGS http://water.usgs.gov/ you can search for cfs levels. River ratings OARS http://www.oars.com/our_adventures/river_ratings.html Searching Rivers individually or by area might work also. I really don't know of any place that will give you all the information at once river by river cfs by cfs. Might be a business venture to have that at one sight for all to use with sponsors.

[rcurry]

I suppose I’m just looking for an easy way to do research, oh well. :)But thanks for the reply.

[keith]

Dreamflows (http://www.dreamflows.com/) is a great resource but it only covers the western U.S. Unfortunately, I don't know of equivalent resources for other parts of the country. BTW, here is a page that shows the definitions of the various whitewater classifications (http://www.kayakreview.org/go/WhitewaterClassifications/).

[rcurry]

Thank Keith. Dreamflows is a nice informative site. Sadly I can’t find what I’m looking for. I am frequently on the Green and Cumberland Rivers when shuttle service can be worked out with my husband. I know what the CFS equates to on those select area waterways I’ve already repeatedly played on, but I just wanted to explore other places. If a publication can’t be found then I’ll have to put forth effort and make phone calls.

The whitewater classification link is appreciated, thanks. I just hope my "example chart" was taken tongue in check;), as it was intended.
Remember y’all, I am from Kentucky! lol.