A crest-stage gage provides a one-time measure of a flood peak height.

A Crest Stage Gage

Here is a low-tech device made of solely of a metal pipe, a wooden pole, and crushed cork that is invaluable to providing a one-time measurement of the maximum height (stage) that a stream hits during a high-water event.

Visit our Water Science School page about crest-stage gages to find out the details of how these "silent watchmen" work to record peak stream stages.