With my just recent iPhone savvy (and one of the very first iPads on its way to the Rapid offices), I learned about this very cool app for your iPhone, iPod or iPad.

RiverGuide is a handy tool for the paddler on the move, with thousands of real-time streamflow gauges throughout the U.S. literally at your fingertips. A few quick finger taps will tell you the cubic feet per second of your favorite river, the relative level ( high, med or low) and when the information was last recorded.

The new version of RiverGuide, first released in 2008, has a host of cool updates and new features.

Features:

1.) US River coverage for thousands of real-time river gauges.

2.) RiverGuide Maps- Allow you to zoom in (double tap one finger) and zoom out (double tap two fingers) on a map to reveal river data. The river gauges are represented by the same icons we used when the river forecasting feature was added. If you tap on a gauge icon a callout will be displayed showing more details about that specific river gauge. As you zoom in on the maps more and more local river gauges are shown.

Detail River maps to all of the rivers are now available from the River Detail View. The Detail River Maps will show three modes, Standard, Satellite and Hybrid(Satellite view with streets labeled) map views, and are also zoomable and scrollable.

3.) Daily and Weekly Stream Flow Charts are now available for all of the almost 10,000 rivers in RiverGuide. Simply tap on a river in the state or favorite river lists. Charts contain both flow and gauge ht where reported by the river gauge.

4.) River forecasting - With RiverGuide arrows. Red(high), yellow(low) or green(med) arrows are displayed for each river that indicate the relative river level and the direction of the arrow lets you know if the river is rising, falling or constant.

5.) Indexed River Lists - River lists are now indexed for even faster access. Just tap the letter the river begins with and the list will zoom to that section.

6.) Favorite Rivers feature allows you to create a custom river list. The Favorite Rivers feature will also retain the last accessed gauge readings in case you lose your Wi-Fi or cellular signal as you approach the put-in.

7.) News Sources for Whitewater kayaking, Sea kayaking, Rafting, Canoeing as well as Regional river news coverage.

8.) Local Rivers -Get river flow information within a user specified distance from their current location.

9.) River Search - Allows users to search for rivers flow information by name.

10.) River Detail View - The Detail River Maps will show three modes, Standard, Satellite and Hybrid (Satellite view with streets labeled) map views, and are also zoomable and scrollable.

Best of all, RiverGuide is available from the iTunes store for just $3.99. Now all we need is a version for Canada!