Water Levels

Merrimack River Level at Concord

The linked page shows the USGS graph of the current and recent water level for the Merrimack River at Concord. The point of measurement is above the ARC stretch of river.

The relationship between the graph and flows/levels in the ARC river stretch is not precise. The Garvin’s Falls hydroelectric plant at the north end of the ARC river stretch might cause some of the lower flows/levels in the ARC river stretch to vary independently from the levels shown on the graph. However this station is now operating in run-of-river mode (what comes in must go out) so these variations should not be extreme.

The graph is primarily useful for determining how much and how fast the water level in the ARC river stretch is changing as a result of heavy rain and/or snow melt. The graph also provides an important measure of potential and actual flooding. The National Weather Service flood warning and flood stages are shown as lines on the graph when the river level approaches these elevations.

Flood Forecasts and Information

The Northeast River Forecast Center publishes flood warnings that are relevant to the ARC stretch of river at the following links

The Merrimack River at Concord “Action” stage is 12.0 ft and Flood stage is 14.0 ft on this gauge.

Area-wide with flooding map key

The Boathouse Ramp at 10 feet on the Concord USGS Gauge

The ramp at the boathouse has been marked with two white lines on either side to show the approximate water level at the ramp that corresponds to 10 feet on the Concord USGS gauge (linked from this site). 10 feet on this gauge is the Army Corps of Engineers Flood Warning Level. The ARC safety policy currently designates “at or above” 10 feet on the Concord Gauge as the elevation at which restrictions on river use go into effect. The pictures below were taken at the same time as the ramp was marked All ARC users should observe these markings and the safety rules that go into effect when the water is at or above either these markings or 10 feet as reported by the Concord gauge. The markings are only approximate. Water levels at the ramp can and will vary from the numbers reported by the gauge. Use judgment and interpret the markings conservatively.

Ramp water level at 10	Water level at 10 relative to the oar rack	Water level at 10 relative to the tree next to the ramp
Click image to enlarge