Yadkin River watchers can use the internet to track the measurements of the river height, stage and temperature online. There is a small gage station located on the Jonesville side of the Hugh G. Chatham Bridge.

The station was established in 1964 and is maintained by the state. Every 4 hours real time information is downloaded from the gage to measure the river values. By logging onto waterdata.usgs.gov you can create graphs, maps, tables for local stations along the river. The Jonesville gage is called "Yadkin River at Elkin". You can search by the site's number "02112250".

Hydrological technicians from the US geological survey come out every six weeks to measure the water levels which means climbing into a very cold river. "We measure the cubic feet per second to gain data to help build better bridges, map flood plains, and create insurance maps," said hydrological technician Josh Manzer. "We gage along the entire Yadkin River." Manzer also said, "Six weeks ago the river was at the lowest it's been in a while." On Monday he said that he recorded a slight gain in water level of 0.4 to 0.5 inches.

The Jonesville/Elkin site might have to be moved with the eventual demolition of the bridge, but nothing is planned for at this time. Manzer said, "If we do have to move it, we can just go a little further up or down stream from here."