The water level monitor is easily visible near Woodville just east of Paint Rock on Rt 72. As you cross the bridge over the Paint Rock River near the turn to the lane to Nat Mountain you can see an antenna attached to an equipment box. That is the level monitor and satellite upload antenna.
We could have used the data back around 1983 on a visit to Fern. We were in JV's red truck with a couple of others for a trip into the cave. We parked at the parking lot at the bottom of the mountain and watched the water level of the river for about 30 minutes before becoming convinced the water was receding. It was very high then due to heavy storms the night before.
When we returned to the truck 7-8 hrs later the water was over the seats and equipment was floating back in the bed. Groan...... We had to rig a rope to pull it thru some low spots on the road where we risked floating right into the river. The truck would not start.
We walked into Paint Rock and called Eric Steenburn, I think, to come rescue us. Eric did that for us a couple of times back then. Pesky rivers.....