Forty-eight hours before the Mid-American Canoe & Kayak Race launches Saturday morning, the Fox River’s flow rate measured 744 cubic feet per second.
The non-scientific explanation? Low and slow.
But that doesn’t mean paddlers will be left high and dry, says Jake Wolfe, a local river expert and owner of a boat rental, guide and adventure service. In fact, with a little know-how, the experience can be quite the opposite.
“When it’s really, really low water, sometimes that’s not necessarily a bad thing,” says Wolfe, owner of Howling Wolfe Canoe & Kayak in North Aurora, which outfits Mid-Am participants in need of racing boats. “Sometimes it’s easier to navigate than when it’s at 1,000 (cfps) when everything (rocks, logs, debris) is under water and very ‘ripply.’ When it’s lower, even below 500, the areas that normally have one or two inches of water to get stuck in are visibly dry, and the deeper channels are the only way to go.”
In the ramp-up to the annual Mid-Am, officials at the Fox Valley Park District rely on flow rate information provided by the United States Geological Survey in cooperation with Kane County’s Water Resources Division.
A good flow rate for the Mid-Am, which includes Competitive and Recreation divisions, is 1,000 to 1,500 cubic feet per second, says Wolfe.
At 7 a.m. Friday, the Fox was up a bit, measuring 833 cfps, and race officials expect similar conditions Saturday when the Mid-Am launches from St. Charles (8:30 a.m.) and Batavia (10 a.m.).
If you’re competing in either Mid-Am division, or planning future river adventures during low-water conditions, consider these three tips, courtesy of Wolfe, to make your trip more successful – and enjoyable:
Tip #1: Stay Alert, Avoid the Ripples
Not all Mid-Am racers set out to clock personal bests. Some paddle for a leisurely, social glide alongside friends or family in nearby boats, “and it’s easy to get caught up in chatting,” Wolfe says.
“Everyone needs to be actively planning their next move when they’re paddling. The main thing you’re looking for are ripples. You want to avoid the ripples and follow the dark green, calm water.
“Also, when you have shallow areas and there’s a deeper channel, there’s usually a little trail of bubbles – and the bubbles usually follow the deeper water.”
Tip #2: Bottom Out? Get Out!
Paddlers less familiar with the river’s pathways at various water levels may simply steer toward unavoidable areas and ground their boats. It happens. But then what?
“In a race situation, the easiest and best solution is always going to be to get out of your boat and walk it to deeper water,” Wolfe says. “If you’re sitting there trying to push and scoot along, you’re losing valuable time and are also at risk of breaking a paddle – and you definitely don’t want to be caught up or downstream without one.”
Tip #3: Wear Proper Footwear
Though comfortable and stylish for swimming activities and some water sports, ditch the aqua socks, “which may look nice, but will be very uncomfortable when you step on a jagged rock,” says Wolfe, who recommends wearing a more durable water shoe with thicker soles.
“If you don’t have water shoes, you can use an old pair of your own lawn-mowing shoes and drill holes in the bottom for drainage.”
