http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE4DA1031F936A35754C0A9639C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print
a ny times article about a rafting trip an author took to promote his book

Gaging Stations with daily Q output:
http://water.usgs.gov/waterwatch/?m=real&r=il&w=map (map of all current continuous stations, flagged by flow percentile, links to each gage)
Specific gages at and DS of St Louis:
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/mo/nwis/uv?07010000 (St. Louis)
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/il/nwis/uv?07020500 (Chester)
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/il/nwis/uv?07022000 (Thebes)
Unfortunately no close gaging stations US of STL - Alton daily Q collection was discontinued in May.