Now I can access the measuring stick – I say stick,  but it is a nine feet or so aluminium angle which despite aluminium’s natural lack of robustness, makes this forged piece of hardware really quite substantial.  It is secured to the branch with a cable tie, and secured at the base by a large stone.  Remarkably, the force of water bent it out of true. 

As you can see the level has retreated to about 12″ above normal (normal is when the bottom of the stick is dry).  Notice the clear water.  All the inherent river detritus has been cleared away and the river is beautifully fresh and clear.  A new start for this year.  You can almost see why floods occur, and why they are necessary.  Almost ordained.  Not much comfort for those who are inundated though.  Incidental thoughts include “what happened to the fry”?  We had seem then in the river only days prior to the flood; little more than 1.5cm or so and swimming in shoals.  Can they, do they, have the ability to “cling” on the river bed, or hide behind large stones and rocks

Presumably this piece of flotsam was at about water height when it got lodged between the two trees.