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Low - Scraping LikelyA clear, popular southeast-Missouri Ozark float below the St. Francois Mountains. The Lesterville reach above Clearwater Lake is a summer-float hotspot of gravel bars and bluffs, fed by the East, Middle, and West Fork headwaters that converge nearby.
This river reads differently along its length, so each reach is gauged on its own. Check the one you are actually floating.
The popular summer-float reach above Clearwater Lake: Lesterville down toward Highway K west of Annapolis. Clear, spring-influenced Ozark float with gravel bars and bluffs; Class I with some faster water. Family float + smallmouth fishery.
“The upper Black near Annapolis is running Low, floatable, but expect some dragging on the shallower riffles.”
Eddy on this reach · updated 2 hrs ago
Controlled by Clearwater Dam
“Clearwater Dam is releasing very little right now, leaving the lower Black too shallow to float.”
Eddy on this reach · updated 2 hrs ago
The Corps’ release schedule
Dropping to about 268 cfs by Sat.
This reach runs at whatever Clearwater Dam releases, so it follows the dam rather than the rain. Schedules can change without notice — never wade or anchor below a dam without checking the horn and posted warnings. Source: USACE CWMS.
Pick a put-in and take-out and we'll estimate float time, mileage, and shuttle — then give you a link to share with your crew.
Ordered upstream → downstream. Open a place for access details or choose an eligible put-in in the planner.
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Choose your Black River: a Lesterville float above Clearwater Lake or a separate, quieter outing below the dam.
Read the full Black River guide