Know Before You Go: How Fast Is the River Moving?

River conditions change all the time—especially with rain, drought, or dam activity. Before heading out for a paddle, it’s a good idea to check the river flow so you and your crew are prepared for the conditions.

At IRWA, we use real-time data from the USGS (United States Geological Survey) streamflow gage right here in Ipswich to keep track of flow levels. You can check it out online—just scroll down to the chart labeled “Discharge, cubic feet per second” (or CFS) and look for “Most Recent Instantaneous Value”.

Wait—what’s CFS?

Technically, CFS stands for Cubic Feet per Second—the rate at which water is flowing past a specific point in the river. One CFS equals about 7.5 gallons per second. But unless you’re a hydrologist, that probably doesn’t help much.

So let’s break it down.

Instead of “cubic feet per second,” think of it as “chickens floating by per second.”
Yes, chickens. 🐔 One cubic foot is roughly the size of a chicken. 

Visualize This:

Picture your favorite spot on the river. Now imagine 150 chickens floating by every second. That might seem like a lot of chickens to the lay🥚observer, but trust us: 150 chickens is a nice, steady pace—great for beginners.

Now imagine 500 chickens per second. That’s a feathery stampede. The river is moving fast—maybe too fast.

This fun mental image can help you quickly get a sense of what conditions will feel like on the water.

Check the Flow Before You Go:

Once you check the CFS on the USGS site, use this simple guide to gauge if it’s a good day to paddle:

Before every trip, check how many “chickens” are cruising by—and plan accordingly. Your safety (and fun!) depends on it.