Raritan River below Calco Dam at Bound Brook NJ: river conditions

USGS gauge 01403060 · near Franklin Center, NJ

NWS forecast for this spot

Numbers are provisional real-time data. We don't rate rivers as safe or unsafe. Check local conditions, posted signs and official advisories (NWS warnings, park and dam-release notices) before you launch.

Kayak types for this river

We don't have verified river-class or character data for this stretch, so this is based only on USGS flow. Typical flow is about 635 cfs (median of daily medians, USGS daily statistics 1904–2025). Flow doesn't swing widely by season, so recreational sit-inside, sit-on-top, fishing and tandem kayaks can suit it at normal levels (REI kayak guide). Whitewater sections need whitewater boats and skills.

• Recreational sit-inside: Pelican Argo 100X EXO (max 275 lb)
• Sit-on-top: Pelican Bandit 100NXT (max 300 lb)
• Fishing: Eddyline Sandpiper 130 (max 390 lb)
• Tandem: Pelican Alliance 136T (max 500 lb)

Check today's conditions for your kayak
Flow, wind, water temperature, flood stage and NWS alerts

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Documented hazards near this gauge

Dams on this river within 5 miles of the gauge, from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Inventory of Dams (updated 2026-10-23):

• Island Farm Weir Dam (NID NJ00930, 8 ft high, 1.1 mi from the gauge) · Map
• Powder Mill Pond Dam (NID NJ00936, 9 ft high, 2.9 mi from the gauge) · Map
• Spooky Brook Dam (NID NJ00374, 21 ft high, 3.0 mi from the gauge) · Map

Tip: Portage around dams. Low-head dams can form a recirculating current at the base that is hard to see from upstream and hard to escape; rescuers should throw a line from shore rather than approach by boat (Ohio DNR; Indiana DNR).

When flow is high: above the 90th percentile for the date or near NWS flood stage, expect more floating debris and strainers (downed trees that let water through but trap people and boats). Steer well clear of them (PA Fish and Boat Commission). Today's check flags this.

Wildlife

Verified presence within 25 km since 2000, from openly licensed (CC0 or CC BY) GBIF occurrence records (2026-10-26):

• Black bear (6 records). Keep food and trash packed away at launches and campsites, and give bears plenty of room. Source: National Park Service, Bear safety.

Occurrence data: GBIF.org, records licensed CC0 or CC BY 4.0; attribution to the original datasets is listed on each GBIF record.

Water quality

We don't yet have harmful algal bloom (HAB) advisories for this spot. Check the New Jersey HAB or beach advisory program before contact with the water, and keep pets out of discolored or scummy water (EPA harmful algal blooms).

Cold water

New Jersey paddling rules
Registration, permits, life jackets and AIS stickers

Float time estimator
How long a stretch of river might take

Cold water and life jacket guide
From NWS and Coast Guard guidance

Data: USGS (provisional, real-time; percentiles from USGS daily statistics 1904–2025) · Forecast: NOAA/NWS.