Paddler’s Alert- High Water on The Peshtigo & Menominee Rivers

Greetings and welcome!

We had a little rain this week. The USGS gauge by the Peshtigo River at Kosir’s shows about 2″ for the week. Not too far west and north of us the rain totals went waaaay up. The mid-week storm dropped as much as 5.5″ in Argonne, which is on the far reaches of the Peshtigo River watershed. As a result the Peshtigo is just rippin’ at what I would guess to be a +16 or +18″. That is great water anytime of the year. The Menominee River is big too, running 5,000cfs. That river is a heck of a ride at that level.

Here is a screen cap of the rain totals, followed by one that I cropped down and did a very rough outline of the Peshtigo River watershed.

So.. if you are inclined to go and paddle this is a great weekend for it. In April people will be paddling in 35 and 40 degree weather hoping for water levels like this.

With the big rain came a welcome weather change. Earlier in the week it was hot and humid. Now we are looking at low humidity and upper 60s for highs this weekend. Last night we got down to 45 degrees for a low and I actually had to start the wood burner this morning. It always amazes me how I am running the air conditioner one day and the wood burner the next, but that is Wisconsin weather for ya. I have had days where I ran both on the same day. That is messed up.

Anyway.. we are in for clear and pleasant weather this weekend.

It looks like we are in for an early start on fall colors this year. I was seeing some trees start to change a month ago and some ground vegetation dying back. I wrote it off as drought stress, but it is becoming obvious that it was not the case. Driving back from Crivitz a couple of days ago I saw a lot of trees getting lighter as they head for the big color change. There were even a couple of trees showing some color. It isn’t much of a show now, but the early maples will be starting any day.

I did not see any events for this weekend other than the big snowmobiling show Hay Days over in Minnesota. I did do a Big Snow Page update today and I will give you a thimble sized version.. we are probably in for an ElNino winter. It is a little early to get excited about that 4 months out but that is what the models are showing right now.

For me the Labor Day weekend kicks off firewood season. I did my first couple of carts yesterday now that the weather is finally a little cooler. I would love to have a big head start right now but I just don’t do it when it is 85 and humid. With the days getting a lot shorter and the weather getting a little more active the race is on. The mission is 5-7 cords, and that is a lot of wood, over 15,000lbs. That is why I call firewood the Gold’s Gym of the north. I will be in a lot better shape when I am done. Where did I put my ibuprofen?

Time for me to get back to work. Have a good weekend and thank you for visiting!

RJB