This paper considers the use of channel capacity as a reconnaissance technique for estimating mean flow and the magnitude of floods at various expected frequencies. Channel capacity is shown to be a valuable tool in estimating mean flow and flood values. Low flows are examined briefly and are shown to have diminishing relationships to channel capacity with increasing severity of low flow. Derived equations to estimate flood magnitudes provided good results when tested within the same environment. The coefficients of the derived equations are shown to lack transferability to different physical environments.