It used to be easier with the combination of the Dosewallips gauge (now gone) and North Fork Skokomish below Staircase (USGS).
Now I go off a precipitation reading and NF Skok level. I look for at least 2-3" rain within the last 24 hours with the NF Skokomish @...
- 1000-1200 expect low and bony (hard on boats)
- 1200-1400 good low level (maybe bony for some might be perfect for others) great first time level
- 1400-1600 medium (potential to be high, especially if 3+ inches rain in last 12-24) great first time follow someone level
- 1600-2000 medium-high or just high (probably not a good 1st time level) higher potential to be high
- 2000+ straight up high (even with previous runs, it becomes difficult to get a feel for the wood w/out lots of scouting)
Obviously if the level is going up, expect it to be higher, and if its dropping to be lower. Its a small drainage and reacts fast. The lake helps regulate this a bit, but not as much as I initially thought it would. Keep in mind snow level can take this run out fast even with the NF Skok showing levels are good.
As far as the SF Skokomish gauge is concerned, I think you might as well use the Skykomish. Although sometimes you get correlating gauge readings and levels on Jefferson, you're much more likely to have SF at 3000 and it be either way to high or way to low.

Here is the NF Skok USGS gauge I use:
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/wa/nwis/uv/?site_no=12056500&PARAmeter_cd=00060,00065

Here is NF Skok prediction (helpful but iffy):
http://www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/station/flowplot/hydroPlot.php?id=SKOW1&pe=HG&v=1413941472

Precip Readings:
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/wa/nwis/uv/?site_no=12056500&PARAmeter_cd=00060,00065
- select 'precipitation' under 'available paramaters' then click 'go'

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/mesowest/gmap.php?map=sew
-select precip on right side then find SKOW1 and/orJEFW1 on the map. JEFW1 is the most reliable.

Good luck and let me know if you're going. I'm always looking to get on this run.



Edited by WA-Boater - 22 Oct 2014 at 10:20am

Good words guys! I'm itching to get on this one this year!