Drought Info For Black River (K Bridge)

[Jerry Rapp]

the stage at K Bridge today is 2.84

Below is how it stacks up with historical lows

Low Water Records for Black River near Annapolis

(1) 3.20 ft on 10/10/2002

(2) 3.11 ft on 08/27/2003

(3) 2.91 ft on 09/30/2004

(4) 2.70 ft on 09/14/2005

(5) 2.63 ft on 09/30/2001

(6) 2.63 ft on 08/30/2001

(7) 2.63 ft on 10/07/2000

(8) 2.50 ft on 09/06/2000

(9) 0.80 ft on 09/17/1979

(10) 0.80 ft on 09/27/1978

(11) 0.66 ft on 07/26/1980

(12) 0.64 ft on 08/22/1983

(13) 0.60 ft on 08/05/1982

(14) 0.00 ft on 08/16/1965

[Al Agnew]

Thing about gauge heights is that "low" can change over time. As the river changes and the bottom beneath the gauge drops or rises or if a gravel bar builds up at the riffle below the gauge and "dams" up the river to where the water level in the pool at the gauge rises, even though the volume of water doesn't change, the gauge readings can change. If you look at the stream flow table, you'll note that the minimum flow ever recorded for July 3 is 100 cubic feet per second. And the flow right now is 100 cfs! Which means that today's flow ties the record for the minimum for this date. I believe the lowest flow ever recorded for this gauge, regardless of the date, is 66 cfs. So although the river has been lower than it is right now, it's never been lower on July 3 than it is right now!

[rainbow]

how's the fishing on the black below clearwater?

[Al Agnew]

Don't know how it is right now...probably not all that good, considering the water comes off the top of Clearwater so it's probably very warm. Lower Black River is usually pretty good fishing, though. Lots and lots of spotted bass, some smallmouth, some largemouth, plenty of catfish, carp, buffalo, drum, etc., and the chance at a walleye or two. It's mostly moving water once you get past the settling basin right below the dam, no rough riffles, few long, dead pools.

[Jerry Rapp]

Al, or anyone, how was the big settling basin formed below the dam? Was it a gravel operation at one time? Was that where they got fill for the dam?

[Al Agnew]

Don't know...sure looks like it was once a gravel dredging operation. One thing I find interesting is that it has changed very little over the many years I've fished it. No gravel coming into it because of the dam. Big gravel pits farther downstream, where there is more flowing stream above them, have filled in completely in a couple of decades even though lower Black doesn't get the big floods that undammed streams get.