32:T829,vegalite({ "$schema": "https://vega.github.io/schema/vega-lite/v5.json", "description": "Plot showing gage height pseudo calculated for Brazos River at Hidalgo Falls, Texas", "layer": [ {"title": "Calculated Approximate Level of Brazos River Height at Hidalgo Falls Using the Aaron Smith Method", "data": {"values": calculated_hidalgo_gage_height_daily_array}, "mark": { "type":"line", "strokeWidth":"3", }, "encoding": { "x": {"field": "dateTime", "type": "temporal","timeUnit": "daymonthyear"}, "y": {"field": "value", "title": " Height in feet", "type": "quantitative"}, }, "color":{ "field": "value", "type": "quantitative", "scale": { // "type": "threshold", "domain": [10, 30], "scheme": "viridis" } } }, { "data": {"values": [{"value":minimal_height_for_playboating}]}, "mark": "rule", "encoding": { "y": {"aggregate": "max", "field": "value"}, "color": {"value": "orange"}, "size": {"value": 1}, "title": "Too high for normal upstream paddling trip" } }, { "data": {"values": [{"value":most_features_wash_out}]}, "mark": "rule", "encoding": { "y": {"aggregate": "max", "field": "value"}, "color": {"value": "red"}, "size": {"value": 1}, "title": "Too high for normal upstream paddling trip" } }, { "data": {"values": [{"value":17}]}, "mark": "rule", "encoding": { "y": {"aggregate": "max", "field": "value"}, "color": {"value": "green"}, "size": {"value": 1}, "title": "Historic Start of More Play Features" } }, { "data": {"values": [{"value":23}]}, "mark": "rule", "encoding": { "y": {"aggregate": "max", "field": "value"}, "color": {"value": "green"}, "size": {"value": 1}, "title": "Historic Top of Most Play Features" } } ], "width":800 })33:T51d,

What is this?

This is a quick code doodle to check out recent history of water levels at Hidalgo Falls, a place along the Brazos River where a harder than usual sandstone layer creates rapids on the usually rapid-less Texas coastal plain. At lower water levels, there are a few small riffles progressing to class I rapid. At higher levels, all whitewater features wash out. This is an experiment to see how often different levels, including the levels where playboater suitable features form, occur in recent past.

The levels at which playboat suitable features might occur is taken from this this write up on when experienced whitewater kayakers have reported good waves. For access information, check out TWPA.

As there isn't a gage right at this location, we're using a hand-wavey pseudo equation to approximate the height at Hidalgo Falls using upstream and downstream gages. In no way is this accurate! Feel free to find contact info for author if you have better methods.

Use good judgement as there is always danger at this location! These levels do not in any way represent what is safe or reasonable for you!

34:T5f6,There is always enough water in the Brazos (and even through the rapid) for float trips. Much of the flow is determined by releases from dams upstream on the Brazos (e.g., Lake Waco) and tributaries such as the San Gabriel and Little Rivers. There is usually about a 3.5' difference between the Brazos gauge in Bryan on Hwy 21 and the Hempstead gauge: if the Bryan gauge says 12', the Hempstead gauge reads about 15.5'. If the Hempstead gauge is more than 3.5' higher, that means that Lake Somerville is releasing into Yegua Creek upstream of Hidalgo, and that too needs to be added to the Bryan gauge. [Aaron Smith has come up with a relatively accurate calculator for the river level at Hidalgo: subtract the Bryan level (e.g., 22.24) from the Hempstead level (e.g., 27.07), then multiply that figure (4.83) by 0.55 (=2.66) and add it to the Bryan level to get the current Hidalgo level (24.9).] To see how much water is being released at Lake Somerville, go to the Corps of Engineers website. This is also helpful for those who might want to try a 14-mile float from where FM 50 crosses Yegua Creek to its confluence with the Brazos (4 miles), and then 10 miles on the Brazos to Hidalgo. (The problem with this trip is the 50 mile shuttle.) Playboaters prefer the level to be at least 12', with 17'-22' being super play levels. At 22' there is a great surfing hole at "Spin City" near the bamboo trail. At 23' a fantastic surfing wave forms at the bottom of the rapid. Above 24' most of the rapid washes out. 35:[] 30:{"title":"Brazos River at Hidalgo Falls - Pseudo Water Level Approximation","cells":[{"id":0,"value":"# Brazos River at Hidalgo Falls - Pseudo Water Level Approximation","pinned":false,"hidden":false,"mode":"md"},{"id":319,"value":"$32","pinned":false,"hidden":false,"mode":"ojs"},{"id":393,"value":"

\n Legend:\n | User selectable minimum level for whitewater playable features to form \n | features suitable for experienced playboaters \n | User selectable level at which whitewater features wash out\n

","pinned":false,"hidden":false,"mode":"html"},{"id":465,"value":"NOTE: this is not including any information from the Lake Somerville dam.","pinned":false,"hidden":false,"mode":"md"},{"id":371,"value":"$33","pinned":false,"hidden":false,"mode":"html"},{"id":365,"value":"##### Learn More\n- https://www.texasriverfestival.net/\n- https://www.txrivers.org\n- https://thcc.clubexpress.com/\n- https://americancanoe.org/","pinned":false,"hidden":false,"mode":"md"},{"id":412,"value":"### Is your experience different? Change the orange and red rules on the chart above.","pinned":false,"hidden":false,"mode":"md"},{"id":312,"value":"viewof minimal_height_for_playboating = slider({\n min: 0, \n max: 30, \n step: 0.5, \n value: 12, \n title: \"What is your minimum Height for playboating? Tiny class I waves and riffles exist even at 9'\", \n description: \"Select a gauge hight that would be the minimum for your skill level, boat, and interests.\"\n})","pinned":false,"hidden":false,"mode":"ojs"},{"id":551,"value":"percentDaysAboveMinValue","pinned":false,"hidden":false,"mode":"md"},{"id":328,"value":"viewof most_features_wash_out = slider({\n min: 0, \n max: 30, \n step: 0.5, \n value: 24, \n title: \"Most river features wash out?\", \n description: \"Change when you think most features wash out. Note that this can be variable in part by your skill level, boat, and interests.\"\n})","pinned":false,"hidden":false,"mode":"ojs"},{"id":630,"value":"

Percent of days in selected period with water levels BOTH above selected minimal level and below user selected max or washout level = ${parseFloat(percentDaysWithinUserSelectedRange).toFixed(2)*100} %.\n

","pinned":false,"hidden":false,"mode":"html"},{"id":202,"value":"### Selecting Date Rate to Show\nNOTE: Selecting a date range too far back runs into issues with data format/quality in USGS API results not handled by current functions.","pinned":false,"hidden":false,"mode":"md"},{"id":133,"value":"viewof date_for_filter_start = date({\n title: \"Filter Received Data. This starts the range at\", \n min: \"1985-01-01\",\n // max: \"2017-12-31\",\n value: \"2018-02-01\",\n description: \"Click the calendar icon to change starting point.Only dates since 1985 calendar year are allowed. \"\n})","pinned":false,"hidden":false,"mode":"ojs"},{"id":638,"value":"and goes to the current day","pinned":false,"hidden":false,"mode":"md"},{"id":131,"value":"date_today_YYYYMMDD_string = new Date().toISOString().slice(0,10)","pinned":false,"hidden":false,"mode":"ojs"},{"id":107,"value":"---","pinned":false,"hidden":false,"mode":"md"},{"id":115,"value":"### The equation we're using is taken from https://people.tamu.edu/~sdaniel/hidalgo.html , with the key text replicated below.","pinned":false,"hidden":false,"mode":"md"},{"id":113,"value":"$34","pinned":false,"hidden":false,"mode":"md"},{"id":14,"value":"---","pinned":false,"hidden":false,"mode":"md"},{"id":21,"value":"----","pinned":false,"hidden":false,"mode":"md"},{"id":5,"value":"### Now we'll get the gage levels of the 3 sites from USGS's WaterServices API","pinned":false,"hidden":false,"mode":"md"},{"id":149,"value":"#### Bryan","pinned":false,"hidden":false,"mode":"md"},{"id":129,"value":"data_daily_avg_bryan = d3.json('https://waterservices.usgs.gov/nwis/dv/?format=json&sites=08108700&startDT='+date_for_filter_start+'&endDT='+date_today_YYYYMMDD_string+'&siteStatus=all')","pinned":true,"hidden":false,"mode":"ojs"},{"id":155,"value":"gage_height_daily_array_bryan = getGageHeightFromDailyAverageResults(data_daily_avg_bryan,\"Gage height, ft\")","pinned":true,"hidden":false,"mode":"ojs"},{"id":213,"value":"gage_height_daily_array_bryan","pinned":true,"hidden":false,"mode":"ojs"},{"id":179,"value":"vegalite({\n \"title\": \"Brazos River Gage Height at Bryan\",\n \"data\": {\n \"values\": gage_height_daily_array_bryan\n },\n \"mark\": \"line\",\n \"encoding\": {\n \"x\": {\"field\": \"dateTime\", \"type\": \"temporal\"},\n \"y\": {\"field\": \"value\", \n \"title\": \" Height in feet\",\n \"type\": \"quantitative\"}\n },\n \"width\":\"800\"\n})","pinned":false,"hidden":false,"mode":"ojs"},{"id":151,"value":"#### Hempstead","pinned":false,"hidden":false,"mode":"md"},{"id":142,"value":"data_daily_avg_hempstead = d3.json('https://waterservices.usgs.gov/nwis/dv/?format=json&sites=08111500&startDT='+date_for_filter_start+'&endDT='+date_today_YYYYMMDD_string+'&siteStatus=all')","pinned":true,"hidden":false,"mode":"ojs"},{"id":158,"value":"gage_height_daily_array_hempstead = getGageHeightFromDailyAverageResults(data_daily_avg_hempstead,\"Gage height, ft\")","pinned":true,"hidden":false,"mode":"ojs"},{"id":182,"value":"vegalite({\n \"title\": \"Brazos River Gage Height at Hempstead\",\n \"data\": {\n \"values\": gage_height_daily_array_hempstead\n },\n \"mark\": \"line\",\n \"encoding\": {\n \"x\": {\"field\": \"dateTime\", \"type\": \"temporal\"},\n \"y\": {\"field\": \"value\", \n \"title\": \" Height in feet\",\n \"type\": \"quantitative\"}\n },\n \"width\":\"800\"\n})","pinned":false,"hidden":false,"mode":"ojs"},{"id":153,"value":"#### Washington","pinned":false,"hidden":false,"mode":"md"},{"id":145,"value":"data_daily_avg_washington = d3.json('https://waterservices.usgs.gov/nwis/dv/?format=json&sites=08110200&startDT='+date_for_filter_start+'&endDT='+date_today_YYYYMMDD_string+'&siteStatus=all')","pinned":false,"hidden":false,"mode":"ojs"},{"id":161,"value":"gage_height_daily_array_washington = getGageHeightFromDailyAverageResults(data_daily_avg_washington,\"Gage height, ft\")","pinned":false,"hidden":false,"mode":"ojs"},{"id":459,"value":"#### This does not work as there is no \"gage heigh\" result in the API for the Washington location on the Brazos, only streamflow.","pinned":false,"hidden":false,"mode":"md"},{"id":187,"value":"vegalite({\n \"title\": \"Brazos River Gage Height at Washington\",\n \"data\": {\n \"values\": gage_height_daily_array_washington\n },\n \"mark\": \"line\",\n \"encoding\": {\n \"x\": {\"field\": \"dateTime\", \"type\": \"temporal\"},\n \"y\": {\"field\": \"value\", \n \"title\": \" Height in feet\",\n \"type\": \"quantitative\"}\n },\n \"width\":\"800\"\n})","pinned":false,"hidden":false,"mode":"ojs"},{"id":480,"value":"Instead, we can show streamflow though","pinned":false,"hidden":false,"mode":"md"},{"id":482,"value":"average_streamflow_washington = data_daily_avg_washington.value.timeSeries[0].values[0].value","pinned":true,"hidden":false,"mode":"ojs"},{"id":488,"value":"vegalite({\n \"title\": \"Brazos River Streamflow (feet^3/second) at Washington\",\n \"data\": {\n \"values\": average_streamflow_washington\n },\n \"mark\": \"line\",\n \"encoding\": {\n \"x\": {\"field\": \"dateTime\", \"type\": \"temporal\"},\n \"y\": {\"field\": \"value\", \n \"title\": \" feet^3/second\",\n \"type\": \"quantitative\"}\n },\n \"width\":\"800\"\n})","pinned":false,"hidden":false,"mode":"ojs"},{"id":428,"value":"### Calculations for Hidalgo Falls Location","pinned":false,"hidden":false,"mode":"md"},{"id":434,"value":"#### Aaron Function","pinned":false,"hidden":false,"mode":"md"},{"id":192,"value":"Aaron Smith has come up with a relatively accurate calculator for the river level at Hidalgo: subtract the Bryan level (e.g., 22.24) from the Hempstead level (e.g., 27.07), then multiply that figure (4.83) by 0.55 (=2.66) and add it to the Bryan level to get the current Hidalgo level (24.9)","pinned":false,"hidden":false,"mode":"md"},{"id":190,"value":"function applyAaronSmithsEquationToEachDayInArray(bryanAvgHt,hempsteadAvgHt){\n var hidalgoArray = []\n for (let i = 0; i < bryanAvgHt.length; i++) {\n var b = parseFloat(bryanAvgHt[i].value)\n var h = parseFloat(hempsteadAvgHt[i].value)\n var hidalgoOneDayValue = 0.55 * (h - b) + b\n bryanAvgHt[i].value = hidalgoOneDayValue\n hidalgoArray.push(bryanAvgHt[i])\n }\n return hidalgoArray\n}","pinned":true,"hidden":false,"mode":"ojs"},{"id":206,"value":"calculated_hidalgo_gage_height_daily_array = applyAaronSmithsEquationToEachDayInArray(gage_height_daily_array_bryan,gage_height_daily_array_hempstead)","pinned":true,"hidden":false,"mode":"ojs"},{"id":496,"value":"vegalite({\n \"$schema\": \"https://vega.github.io/schema/vega-lite/v5.json\",\n \"description\": \"Plot showing average data with raw values in the background.\",\n \n // \"transform\": [{\"filter\": \"datum.symbol==='GOOG'\"}],\n \"layer\": [ \n {\"title\": \"Calculated Approximate Level of Brazos River Height at Hidalgo Falls Using the Aaron Smith Method\",\n \"data\": {\"values\": calculated_hidalgo_gage_height_daily_array},\n \"mark\": {\"type\":\"line\",\"strokeWidth\":\"3\"},\n \"make\":\"line\",\n \"encoding\": {\n \"x\": {\"field\": \"dateTime\", \"type\": \"temporal\",\"timeUnit\": \"daymonthyear\"},\n \"y\": {\"field\": \"value\", \n \"title\": \" Height in feet\",\n \"type\": \"quantitative\"},\n }\n },\n\n ],\n \"width\":800\n})","pinned":false,"hidden":false,"mode":"ojs"},{"id":164,"value":"### Utility Functions","pinned":false,"hidden":false,"mode":"md"},{"id":450,"value":"#### NOTE: There are several different data objects called \"gage height\" in the API results for the Bryan gage. All but one has \"NaN\"s in front of the actual gage value or multiple decimanl points instead of just one. Due to this, we're hard coding what data object to take for gage height.","pinned":false,"hidden":false,"mode":"md"},{"id":147,"value":"function getGageHeightFromDailyAverageResults(raw_json_returned_daily_avgs,variableName){\n var variableName = \"Gage height, ft\"\n var data = raw_json_returned_daily_avgs.value.timeSeries\n if(data.length >= 3){\n if(data[3].sourceInfo.siteName == \"Brazos Rv at SH 21 nr Bryan, TX\"){\n return data[3].values[0].value\n }\n }\n for (var i = 0; i < data.length; i++){\n if(\n data[i].variable.variableName == \"Gage height, ft\"){\n return data[i].values[0].value\n }\n }\n}","pinned":true,"hidden":false,"mode":"ojs"},{"id":576,"value":"Calculate days above selected minimum limit","pinned":false,"hidden":false,"mode":"md"},{"id":543,"value":"function calculatePercentDaysAboveMinLimit(stream_data_array_of_objects,key_name,max_value){\n return stream_data_array_of_objects.filter(good_days => (good_days[key_name] < max_value)); \n}","pinned":true,"hidden":false,"mode":"ojs"},{"id":541,"value":"function percent_good_days_above_min_level(stream_data_array_of_objects,key_name,max_value){\n var good_days = calculatePercentDaysAboveMinLimit(stream_data_array_of_objects,key_name,max_value)\n var percent_good_days = good_days.length / stream_data_array_of_objects.length\n return percent_good_days\n}","pinned":true,"hidden":false,"mode":"ojs"},{"id":545,"value":"percentDaysAboveMinValue = percent_good_days_above_min_level(calculated_hidalgo_gage_height_daily_array,\"value\",minimal_height_for_playboating)","pinned":true,"hidden":false,"mode":"ojs"},{"id":578,"value":"Calculate days below max limit. Note that this includes flow levels most people should definitely not be paddling on!","pinned":false,"hidden":false,"mode":"md"},{"id":586,"value":"function calculatePercentDaysBelowSelectedMaxLimit(stream_data_array_of_objects,key_name,max_value){\n return stream_data_array_of_objects.filter(good_days => (good_days[key_name] < max_value)); \n}","pinned":true,"hidden":false,"mode":"ojs"},{"id":565,"value":"function percent_days_below_features_washout_user_selected(stream_data_array_of_objects,key_name,max_value){\n var good_days = calculatePercentDaysBelowSelectedMaxLimit(stream_data_array_of_objects,key_name,max_value)\n var percent_good_days = good_days.length / stream_data_array_of_objects.length\n return percent_good_days\n}","pinned":true,"hidden":false,"mode":"ojs"},{"id":590,"value":"percentDaysBelowSelectedWashOutValue = percent_good_days_above_min_level(calculated_hidalgo_gage_height_daily_array,\"value\",most_features_wash_out)","pinned":true,"hidden":false,"mode":"ojs"},{"id":563,"value":"most_features_wash_out","pinned":true,"hidden":false,"mode":"ojs"},{"id":596,"value":"Calculate days both above minimum limit and below max limit. Note that this includes flow levels most people should definitely not be paddling on!","pinned":false,"hidden":false,"mode":"md"},{"id":594,"value":"function calculatePercentDaysWithinUserSelectedRange(stream_data_array_of_objects,key_name,min_value,max_value){\n var stream_temp = stream_data_array_of_objects.filter(good_days => (good_days[key_name] < max_value))\n return stream_temp.filter(good_days => (good_days[key_name] > min_value)); \n}","pinned":true,"hidden":false,"mode":"ojs"},{"id":599,"value":"function percent_days_withinUserSelectedRange(stream_data_array_of_objects,key_name,min_value,max_value){\n var good_days = calculatePercentDaysWithinUserSelectedRange(stream_data_array_of_objects,key_name,min_value, max_value)\n var percent_good_days = good_days.length / stream_data_array_of_objects.length\n return percent_good_days\n}","pinned":true,"hidden":false,"mode":"ojs"},{"id":602,"value":"percentDaysWithinUserSelectedRange = percent_days_withinUserSelectedRange(calculated_hidalgo_gage_height_daily_array,\"value\",minimal_height_for_playboating,most_features_wash_out)","pinned":true,"hidden":false,"mode":"ojs"},{"id":441,"value":"### Tests","pinned":false,"hidden":false,"mode":"md"},{"id":607,"value":"minimal_height_for_playboating","pinned":true,"hidden":false,"mode":"ojs"},{"id":609,"value":"most_features_wash_out","pinned":true,"hidden":false,"mode":"ojs"},{"id":265,"value":"data_daily_avg_bryan.value.timeSeries[3].values[0].value[4]","pinned":true,"hidden":false,"mode":"ojs"},{"id":239,"value":"data_daily_avg_bryan.value.timeSeries[3].values[0].value[0].value.includes(\"NaN\")","pinned":true,"hidden":false,"mode":"ojs"},{"id":284,"value":"data_daily_avg_bryan.value.timeSeries","pinned":true,"hidden":false,"mode":"ojs"},{"id":304,"value":"data_daily_avg_bryan.value.timeSeries[4].values[0].value","pinned":true,"hidden":false,"mode":"ojs"},{"id":277,"value":"data_daily_avg_bryan.value.timeSeries[5].sourceInfo.siteName","pinned":true,"hidden":false,"mode":"ojs"},{"id":221,"value":"gage_height_daily_array_hempstead[0]","pinned":true,"hidden":false,"mode":"ojs"},{"id":138,"value":"## IMPORTS","pinned":false,"hidden":false,"mode":"md"},{"id":177,"value":"vegalite = require(\"@observablehq/vega-lite@0.1\")","pinned":true,"hidden":false,"mode":"ojs"},{"id":135,"value":"import {date} from \"@jashkenas/inputs\"","pinned":true,"hidden":false,"mode":"ojs"},{"id":127,"value":"d3 = require(\"d3@5\")","pinned":true,"hidden":false,"mode":"ojs"},{"id":19,"value":"import { toc } from \"@nebrius/indented-toc\" // This component generates the Table of Contents","pinned":true,"hidden":false,"mode":"ojs"},{"id":314,"value":"import {slider} from \"@jashkenas/inputs\"","pinned":true,"hidden":false,"mode":"ojs"}],"files":"$W35","stdlib":"1","titling":"auto"}