River Cam – ToltHawk Sensors

The ToltHawk River Cam is our stream gauge with an integrated camera that operates in concert with onboard sensors. By pairing precise water-level measurements with visual context of the monitored site, the system enriches the data stream while allowing operators to verify real-world conditions remotely—eliminating the need for routine field visits.

Photos taken by ToltHawk gauge can also be stitched into a time-lapse video. This time-lapse video was taken by the River Cam of an actual flood in Duvall, WA in March 2025

The camera may be aimed independently of the sensing hardware, ensuring optimal visual coverage without compromising measurement accuracy. Sensor data and imagery are transmitted together over the cellular network, creating a tightly aligned record of conditions. This combination of stage data and visuals forms a robust analytical dataset that supports forecasting, environmental assessment, and informed public-sector decision-making.

Capabilities Include:

Scheduled hourly or daily site imagery
On-demand live images during events such as flooding
Time-lapse visual records of changing conditions
Visual and AI-assisted validation of sensor data

For more information, please see ToltHawk River & Stream Gauge

How many pictures does it take per day?

As the owner of the gauge, you can set the frequency of pictures. During active events, pictures are typically uploaded @ one per hour. During normal days, or when conditions don’t change frequently, we recommend not more than one picture per two hours. Configuring this setting too high can drain the battery during long periods of no sunlight.

Does the River Cam also report water level, and send out alerts?

Yes. The River Cam can do everything that our regular gauge is capable of doing with the addition of a camera, and SD card. It also uses more data to accommodate imagery upload to your website.