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Request and receive flows on your mobile device via text message!  Learn how at boatingbeta.com/tflows.

This page is available in WAP format.  Check flows using your PDA or mobile phone using the url boatingbeta.com/wflows.

The following release schedules are available as Google calendars:  Cheoah, Coosa, Gauley, Middle Ocoee, Upper Ocoee, Nantahala, Pigeon, Russell Fork, Tallulah, Tuckasegee, Upper Yough and The Full Monty (all eleven schedules).  Visit boatingbeta Google Calendars to learn how to add release schedules to your personal Google calendar.

Runs and Levels

Runs and Levels
Run Class Current Level Reference Gage Gage Quality & Information
Caney Fork (Rock Island) (IV) Park and Play 6329 cfs 
04/17/2020 10:00 CDT fall
BoatingBeta.com: Rock Island VG
TVA: Great Falls Dam
Excellent.  Hole under water when Center Hill Lake is over 650 feet.  Call 1-800-238-2264, 4, 36 for Great Falls Dam release. Click Great Falls Dam for predicted releases (need 2 or more units).  Color codes: minimum = 2000, medium = 2400 - 3200, too high = 7500.
647.53 feet
04/17/2020 10:00 CDT hold
TVA: Center Hill Lake Excellent.  Call 1-800-238-2264, 1, 37 for Center Hill Lake level.  Color codes: minimum = 0, medium = 1 - 649.9, too high = 650.
Doe Gorge IV 435 cfs
04/17/2020 09:00 EDT fall
TVA: Doe Excellent.  TVA : Doe.  Color codes: minimum = 300, medium = 450 - 700, too high = 1200.
French Broad, Barnard to Hot Springs (Section 9) III (IV-) 714 cfs
12/01/2023 11:00 EDT hold
USGS: FB (Marshall) Excellent.   Color codes: minimum = 700, medium = 1900 - 4000, too high = 10000.
Gauley, Upper IV-V-- 1003 cfs
(estimated)
12/01/2023 10:45 EDT hold
BoatingBeta.com: Gauley River Below Summersville Dam VG Very Good.  Based on the rating table the USGS used as of 10/01/03 and stage readings from USGS gage at the put in.  Alt:  Army Corps of Engineers Summersville Lake OutflowScheduled releases occur in September and early October; unscheduled releases occur year round.  Water takes no time to reach put-in.  Annual calendar of scheduled Gauley releases.  Color codes: minimum = 600, medium = 1100 - 3500, too high = 5000.
Gauley, Lower III-IV+ 3230 cfs
12/01/2023 11:00 EDT hold
USGS: Gauley Above Belva Very Good.  This gage measures the flow approximately four miles downstream of the take-out at Swiss.  Scheduled releases occur in September and early October; unscheduled releases occur year round.  Water takes approximately 4.5 hours to reach put-in.  Annual calendar of scheduled Gauley releases.  Color codes: minimum = 1000, medium = 1500 - 3500, too high = 5000.
Little Pigeon, Lower West Prong (Picnic Area to Campbell Overlook) V 1.31 inches
(rain, 24 hours)
01/21/2021 14:15 EST hold
AFWS: Newfound Gap RG Speculative.  Warning!  The relationship between the Picnic area bridge visual gage and safely boatable flows has changed several time in the last couple years.  The following values are at best hints . . . observe the flow independently of the gage and use your judgement!  Picnic area bridge visual gage:  min = 1', opt = 1.3-1.5', max = 1.7'.  If water table up, look for widespread 1+" of rain, esp. at Newfound Gap; in summer look for 1.5+":  AFWS: Sevier County.  Insufficient observations:   Report your runs!  Color codes: minimum = 1, medium = 1.5 - 2, too high = 2.5.
1 feet (estimated)
01/21/2021 13:39 EST hold
BoatingBeta.com: West Prong at Picnic Area VG Speculative.  Based on the AFWS: Chimney Pic SG;  as of December 2008 it appears the online gage reads about .7 feet above the visual gage.  Help dial this gage in, both the relationship to the visual gage and the color coding (the relationship between the Picnic Area visual reading and boatabilty changes more frequently than any other gage I know):  Report your runs!  Color codes: minimum = 1, medium = 1.3 - 1.5, too high = 1.7.
1.74 feet
01/21/2021 13:39 EST rise
AFWS: Chimney Pic SG Speculative.  Gage has been offline more than offline for years.  As of December 2008 it appears the online gage reads about .7 feet above the visual gage.  Help dial this gage in, both the relationship to the visual gage and the color coding (which frequently changes):  Report your runs!  Note:  AFWS gages can report sporadically.  Here are links to the Chimney Picnic Area (West Prong) hydrograph and Chimney Picnic Area (West Prong) streamflow archive.  Color codes: minimum = 1.7, medium = 2 - 2.2, too high = 2.4.
Little Pigeon, Road Prong of the West Prong V-V+ 1.31 inches
(rain, 24 hours)
01/21/2021 14:15 EST hold
AFWS: Newfound Gap RG Speculative.  Footbridge visual gage: 12 painted stripes down (-12") = min; if -7" can run Upper Road Prong.  Runs when everything else too high.  Insufficient observations:   Report your runs!  Color codes: minimum = 1, medium = 1.5 - 2, too high = 2.5.
Little Pigeon, Upper West Prong (Trailhead to Picnic Area) V-V+ 1.31 inches
(rain, 24 hours)
01/21/2021 14:15 EST hold
AFWS: Newfound Gap RG Speculative.  Warning!  The relationship between the Picnic area bridge visual gage and safely boatable flows has changed several time in the last couple years.  The following values are at best hints . . . observe the flow independently of the gage and use your judgement!  Picnic area bridge visual gage:  min = 1', opt = 1.3-1.5', max = 1.7'.  If water table up, look for widespread 1+" of rain, esp. at Newfound Gap; in summer look for 1.5+":  AFWS: Sevier County.  Insufficient observations:   Report your runs!  Color codes: minimum = 1, medium = 1.5 - 2, too high = 2.5.
1 feet (estimated)
01/21/2021 13:39 EST hold
BoatingBeta.com: West Prong at Picnic Area VG Speculative.  Based on the AFWS: Chimney Pic SG;  as of December 2008 it appears the online gage reads about .7 feet above the visual gage.  Help dial this gage in, both the relationship to the visual gage and the color coding (the relationship between the Picnic Area visual reading and boatabilty changes more frequently than any other gage I know):  Report your runs!  Color codes: minimum = 1, medium = 1.3 - 1.5, too high = 1.7.
1.74 feet
01/21/2021 13:39 EST rise
AFWS: Chimney Pic SG Speculative.  Gage has been offline more than offline for years.  As of December 2008 it appears the online gage reads about .7 feet above the visual gage.  Help dial this gage in, both the relationship to the visual gage and the color coding (which frequently changes):  Report your runs!  Note:  AFWS gages can report sporadically.  Here are links to the Chimney Picnic Area (West Prong) hydrograph and Chimney Picnic Area (West Prong) streamflow archive.  Color codes: minimum = 1.7, medium = 2 - 2.2, too high = 2.4.
Little Tennessee, Iotla to Lost Bridge I-II 256 cfs
12/01/2023 11:15 EDT hold
USGS: Little Tennessee (Needmore) Excellent.  Gage near TO.  Color codes: minimum = 230, medium = 500 - 1500, too high = 2500.
New River Gorge III-IV 2420 cfs
12/01/2023 10:45 EDT hold
USGS: New (Thurmond) Excellent.  Gage moderate distance upstream of PI.  Alt:  Army Corps of Engineers New at Thurmond  Has been run at least as low as 1000 cfs but gets very tight and shallow.  Color codes: minimum = 1700, medium = 2440 - 7500, too high = 14000.
New River Gorge III-IV -0 feet
(estimated)
12/01/2023 10:45 EDT hold
BoatingBeta.com: New River at Fayette Station VG Fair.  Based on an old raft company rating table.  Has been run as low as -2.3 feet but gets very tight and shallow.  Color codes: minimum = -1, medium = 0 - 4, too high = 7.
Nolichucky, Secret Spot (II+) Park and Play 4751 cfs
04/17/2020 09:00 EDT fall
TVA: Below Nolichucky Dam Excellent.  Gage below dam, near park 'n play spot.  Recently added to set of gages TVA reports.  Color codes: minimum = 1200, medium = 2200 - 3300, too high = 4500.
Ocoee, Flipper (II) Park and Play 1133 cfs
(estimated)
04/17/2020 11:00 EDT hold
BoatingBeta.com: Ocoee River Below Ocoee #2 Dam VG
TVA: Ocoee #2
Excellent.  Scheduled releases occur mid-March - first weekend in November; unscheduled releases sometimes occur after heavy rains.  The virtual gage displays both scheduled and unscheduled releases.  Call the TVA at 865-632-6065 for information on flume breaks, unscheduled spills, etc.  Annual calendar of scheduled Middle Ocoee releases.  Color codes: minimum = 450, medium = 1200 - 2200, too high = 3000.
Ocoee, Hellhole (III) Park and Play 1133 cfs
(estimated)
04/17/2020 11:00 EDT hold
BoatingBeta.com: Ocoee River Below Ocoee #2 Dam VG
TVA: Ocoee #2
Excellent.  Scheduled releases occur mid-March - first weekend in November; unscheduled releases sometimes occur after heavy rains.  The virtual gage displays both scheduled and unscheduled releases.  Call the TVA at 865-632-6065 for information on flume breaks, unscheduled spills, etc.  Annual calendar of scheduled Middle Ocoee releases.  Color codes: minimum = 1000, medium = 1500 - 2200, too high = 2400.
Ocoee, Middle (Ocoee #2 Dam to below Ocoee #2 Powerhouse) III+ 1133 cfs
(estimated)
04/17/2020 11:00 EDT hold
BoatingBeta.com: Ocoee River Below Ocoee #2 Dam VG
TVA: Ocoee #2
Excellent.  Scheduled releases occur mid-March - first weekend in November; unscheduled releases sometimes occur after heavy rains.  The virtual gage displays both scheduled and unscheduled releases.  Call the TVA at 865-632-6065 for information on flume breaks, unscheduled spills, etc.  Annual calendar of scheduled Middle Ocoee releases.  Color codes: minimum = 500, medium = 1000 - 2400, too high = 3600.
Tuckaseegee, East Fork, Granny Burrel Falls to Rock Bridge (Upper Upper EF Tuckaseegee) IV-V 5.41 feet
01/21/2021 13:40 EST hold
AFWS: Rock Bridge SG Fair.  Thanks to Kirk Eddlemon for tracking this gage and working out the levels.  Some of the color coding is still speculative, however, and it is always good to have more data:   Report your runs!  Note:  AFWS gages can report sporadically.  Here are links to the Rock Bridge hydrograph and Rock Bridge streamflow archive.  Color codes: minimum = 2, medium = 2.3 - 3, too high = 4.
0.04 inches
(rain,12 hrs)
01/21/2021 14:15 EST hold
AFWS: Hogback RG Speculative.  Thanks to Kirk Eddlemon for tracking this gage and working out the levels.  Except for the minimum the color coding is speculative, so Report your runs!  Color codes: minimum = 1.5, medium = 2 - 2.25, too high = 3.
0.04 inches
(rain, 24 hrs)
01/21/2021 14:15 EST hold
AFWS: Hogback RG Speculative.  Thanks to Kirk Eddlemon for tracking this gage and working out the levels.  Except for the minimum the color coding is speculative, so Report your runs!  Color codes: minimum = 2, medium = 3 - 4, too high = 5.

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Flow Color Coding Key

Flow Color Coding Key
Color Interpretation Meaning

Note:  assigning flow codes is highly subjective -- one person's "way too high" is another's "yahoo!"  I have attempted to assign the codes relative to the typical person likely to boat the run at normal levels.  "Too high" in this context means "the typical person found on this run at the levels it is most often paddled would find this run at this level very challenging."  In general, runs are harder at higher levels.  Use your discretion regarding the suitability of the run to your skill level and experience after seeing the level in person.
  Too High Beyond the envelope for the typical person likely to boat this run.
  High Frequently run this high, but a stretch for the typical person likely to boat this run.
  Medium Very enjoyable for the typical person likely to boat this run.
  Low Frequently run this low.  Worth a look but probably not a long drive.
  Too Low Seldom run lower by anyone who isn't desperate and/or lives by the put-in.
  Don't Know What's your opinion of this level?  Email The River Gages Project.

Gage Quality Key

Gage Quality Key
Rating Meaning
Excellent Gage located on the reach near the run.  Significant number of observations.
Very good Gage located on the reach but a significant number of tributaries upstream or downsteam from the run, or gage based on rainfall or located on a proxy reach.  Significant number of observations and strong correlation.
Fair Gage located on the reach near the run but very limited number of observations; gage located on the reach but a significant number of tributaries upstream or downsteam from the run, or gage based on rainfall or located on a proxy reach.  Limited number of observations and/or modest correlation.
Poor Gage is based on rainfall or located on a proxy reach.  Significant number of observations but weak correlation.
Speculative Gage is based on rainfall or located on a proxy reach.  Very limited number of observations or very weak correlation.