Paddling Gauge Revival

Paddling Gauge Revival

a Carolina Paddler Article

Text and Photography by Alton Chewning

-The paddling gauges on the Hwy. 64 Bridge and the Bynum Pedestrian Bridge have been around a long time, letting boaters know if the Haw River was runnable on not.  For a paddler wanting to do the Lower Haw, for instance, one needed to look at the pilings underneath the Hwy. 64 Bridge and see if the water reached the “0” mark.  If it did, then the Lower was good to go.  Now we have numerous means to learn if the river is at a good level.  The USGS gages at Haw River and Bynum give us a clear idea of where the river’s stage height and discharge stand.  The same paint mark, “Zero” on the paddling gauge means roughly 4.8 ft or 1250 cfs, a good minimum level for the Lower Haw.

So, what happens when the paddling gauge marks begin to fade?  As well as an understanding of how to interpret them? If you’re Bob Brueckner, you have the marks redone and what they mean refreshed.  For a long time, paddlers have talked about repainting the marks, but never got around to it.  Bob made it happen.

You wouldn’t think repainting would be that hard a task.  Two or three people, some paint, maybe a canoe and low water.  In this case, it took all of that plus the workings of three past CCC Conservation Chairs with a combined 15 years of experience in the position.

Bob served as Conservation Chair from 2014 through 2020 and continues to be involved in conservation issues like dam removal, paddling access, new legislation and more.  During this span, he’s maintained a good relationship with many people in the community and in government.  When he asked the local Department of Transportation supervisor if the paddling gauges could be freshly painted, he received permission.  Bob then contacted Shane Brown, the Conservation Chair for 2021 through 2023, to round up a group to paint new marks.  Shane did, getting several volunteers, including Paul Joffrion, Conservation Chair from 1995-1999, to make it happen.  Of course, these three distinguished Chair holders needed some sherpas to do the actual work.  Enter long-time CCC member Gary Mason and CCC newcomer, Jason Jones.

So, on a sunny December day in the mid-fifties, with a water level about three-quarters of a foot below the zero mark (3.65 ft. and 420 cfs on USGS gage), the crew started work.  The first three on the scene determined painting over the old marks wasn’t feasible or even desirable.  A log blocked the base of the piling and while chainsaws were on hand, everyone reasoned it was better to use the closer pilings near the western bank, the put-in side, and more visible to paddlers.

Shane supplied all the materials and a canoe.  Gary had a ladder and another canoe, just in case. Shane checked the water level against the old measurements. Gary tromped into the river, looking like your normal guy walking down a river with a ladder in hand.

Jason arrived with the biggest canoe and a great attitude. He’s a newcomer to the Club but so far, he’s getting high marks.  He and his young son attended the December CCC meeting and met lots of members there. Jason is an avid canoeist and after paddling with Shane Brown and Brooks Burleson, he received their vote of confidence.

Gary and Jason took turns brushing caked mud from the concrete and Shane confirmed the measurements. Paul was on shore patrol and delivered new stencils, paint and other supplies.  And gave moral support.

Jason and Gary taped off the stencils and began painting.  Gary opted to not wear gloves (or maybe Shane didn’t offer them to him) and went home with sticky yellow hands.

Shane offered plenty of advice, like a good leader should do.  Everyone concurred the six-foot mark should be the last, partly because that was as far as anyone could reach and also because it corresponds to the river at flood stage. Sane people shouldn’t be paddling if you can’t see the six foot mark.

After spraying enough paint to make Gary and Jason woozy, the job was done.  Shane admired the work.  Paul gave a thumbs up from shore.  A new paddlng gauge was ready to guide paddlers down the Haw.

Most normal paint crews would have called it a day.  After all, the job took about twice as long as any of the crew expected.  Doing the same make-over at the Bynum Pedestrian Bridge could wait until another day.  However several of the group wanted to see what painting the Bynum gauge would entail.  Paul and Gary had other appointments but the others drove to Bynum to take a look.  Jason made the argument to go ahead and do it now, it would be quicker than the Hwy 64 paintjob.  Maybe Jason was inspired by all the graffiti art already covering the Pedestrian Bridge, top and bottom.

Shane and Jason got to work and the job went quickly.  There were fewer marks to make.  Didn’t hurt to be working on a flat surface with a straight edge to go by.  And they learned from experience – they wore gloves.

Now the Bynum Bridge has new graffiti and boaters have another guide to show them water level.  Bob Brueckner is happy.

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Relationships of Gauges

We are indebted to Paul Ferguson for the following comparisons of the Paddling Gauge scale to the USGS gage readings.  Keep in mind USGS measurements are given in height (from a arbitrary reference point) and flow or discharge.

Randy Carter’s Paddling Gauges

Randy Carter was a pioneer boater, guidebook writer and the Johnny Appleseed of painting paddling gauges, at least in the Southeast.  He popularized a system of marking bridge columns or abutments to denote the level of water available for paddling.  If there was barely enough water to allow him through without having to step out of his Grumman canoe, he considered the level to be “zero.”   Thus, a zero mark doesn’t mean there isn’t water in the river.  Depending on where the bridge and hence the paddling scale is, the river may have a depth of a foot or less.  Carter’s marks tend to be made on the one foot scale, with smaller notches indicating six inches.  This system was adopted by many Southeastern paddle clubs, including the Carolina Canoe Club.

Addendum:  After reading this article, Kent Ford sent a note about Carter’s gauge lore:

“A side note…  in the early 70’s you would call a restaurant asking them to check one of these Randy Carter Gauges.  They would run down, look, and then you could call them back.  Implicit in this arrangement was after paddling, dinner at their restaurant.

And Randy Carter guidebooks made note that you could also mail stamps (Unused stamps) as payment.”