USGS Gage at Varney Bridge Slated for Closure

Water users on the Madison River will be without a great source of information come this spring, due to limited funding to support the annual operation.  The gage was started with community support from the Madison River Foundation, PPL Montana, MCD, and MBMG in 2011, and the well-used site had over 24,000 web hits alone in the during the March-October operating year in 2014.  The gage operates from March through October, providing accurate information about the amount of flow in the Madison River, the water height, and the water temperature.

This information is useful for many, particularly those who want to know the conditions on the river before they decide which section to access for recreation.  A recent story in the Madisonian  newspaper features John Way, local angling outfitter and owner of the Tackle Shop on the Main Street in Ennis.  Way states that many in the angling community refers to this information on a daily basis to determine the where ideal conditions lie.

“Most of the guides I know look at the gage.  The guides in Ennis use that portion of the river more than the rest of us, and (the gage) gives us an accurate reading of what’s happening in our backyard.”

Way notes that the availability of the information throughout the season and in real time is particularly useful.  “Especially in the spring and early summer, when the flows are drastically changing, it’s really important”.

The USGS Gage near the Varney Bridge is in need of $4,110 to operate for the 2015 water year, which is approximately 33% of the total operating cost.  Anyone interested in seeing the continued operation should contact sunni@madisoncd.org.