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From time to time we like to bring you unusual or innovate approaches that customers use in the field. Located in Red Feather Lakes, CO (elevation 7,890 ft. [2,405 m]), Shambhala Mountain Center is nestled high in the Colorado Rockies in a serene 600-acre mountain valley…

Periodically we are asked the question:  Can Parshall flumes be made out of concrete?  The answer is:  yes, they can (but they usually aren’t)! The use of concrete in makiing Parshall flumes is limited by a number of factors: Ready availability of fiberglass…

Customer - Portland Water Bureau Portland Water Bureau had been using painted steel weir boxes to monitor its Bull Run Watershed dams.  The longevity of these weir boxes was never very high and several sites have had boxes placed and replaced over the years.  Also,…

Historically, flume manufacturers have been like mattress salesmen – they made it difficult to find the information that you need so that you can compare among offerings. In comparing among flume manufacturers keep these 5 things in mind: Are flumes a main product line for…

The use of galvanized steel Parshall flumes is common in measuring water rights on irrigation channels.  So much so they are almost the default flume / material of construction!  In fact, some states specify the use of Parshall flumes by law for certain situations and…

There are six standard angles for V-notch weirs:  22-1/2º, 30º, 45º, 60º, 90º, and 120º, but from time to time this range of sizes is not enough. Sometimes there is a need to correct for a weir plate cut at an incorrect angle.  While other…

Of all the various sizes of Parshall Flumes that we offer, the 4-inch Parshall flume is one of the most popular. Whether in fiberglass, galvanized, or stainless steel, we get a lot of inquires for this particular size. There’s only one problem…the 4-inch Parshall…

One of the problems in applying Trapezoidal flumes has been that many of the flumes lack free-flow discharge equations in the standard (and short) format availale for other popular flumes. A solution to this problem in presented by Utah State University...

Since the Parshall flume is the most commonly applied flume in North America and fiberglass the most common material, it is not uncommon when talking with a customer for the first time to be asked:  so how much does a fiberglass Parshall flume cost anyway? Finding out this…

In the past, calculating the flow in a submerged Parshall flume has been difficult.  The solutions available were graphs (Robinson, Bureau of Reclamation), limited (size) equations (Wahl), or long, complex equations (ISO 9826:1992). A better solution was need –…

Let’s face it – we are all under pressure to save money and accomplish our jobs at a minimum of cost.  In stream gauging, it is tempting to use wood (usually plywood) to make a weir from.  Why not?  The shape of a weir is deceptively simple - just a…

Staff ("head" or "level") gauges provide a quick, visual indication of the level of water in a channel, flume, or weir. Although they should not be solely relied on when more precise level measurement devices are available, staff gauges allow operators to quickly gauge the…