Content
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
| Run | Class | Current Level | Reference Gage | Gage Quality & Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaverdam Creek (Backbone Rock Park to Laurel Creek) | II-III | 609 cfs (SF Holston) 05/18/2013 17:45  |
USGS: SF Holston (Damascus) | Fair. Gage well downstream of PI. Insufficient observations: Report your runs! Color codes: minimum = 1500, medium = 2000 - 3000, too high = 5000. |
| Big Cedar Creek (Route 727 to Clinch River) | II-III | 467 cfs (Clinch) 05/18/2013 17:45 |
USGS: Clinch (Cleveland) | Fair. Gage well downstream of PI. Insufficient observations: Report your runs! Color codes: minimum = 1400, medium = 2000 - 3000, too high = 6000. |
| Cataloochee Creek | II-III (IV) | 138 cfs 05/18/2013 17:30  |
USGS: Cataloochee | Fair. Gage mid-run. Insufficient information: Report your runs! Color codes: minimum = 200, medium = 300 - 500, too high = 700. |
| Catawba, North Fork, Sevier to Lake James (Lower) | II+ | 320 cfs (Watauga) 05/18/2013 17:30 |
USGS: Watauga | Speculative. Railroad trestle PI visual gage: min = 0. Insufficient observations: Report your runs! Color codes: minimum = 700, medium = 900 - 1200, too high = 1500. |
| Clinch Gorge (Puckett Hole to Nash Ford) | II-III | 467 cfs 05/18/2013 17:45 |
USGS: Clinch (Cleveland) | Very Good. Insufficient observations: Report your runs! Color codes: minimum = 1500, medium = 2000 - 3500, too high = 5000. |
| French Broad, Alexander Wave | (II) Park and Play | 4820 cfs 05/18/2013 17:00  |
USGS: FB (Asheville) | Very Good. Gage several miles upstream. Above 3,000 cfs the wave gets bigger and bigger but it becomes difficult to impossible to get back to the staging eddy. Insufficient observations: Report your sessions! Color codes: minimum = 1800, medium = 2100 - 2700, too high = 3000. |
| French Broad, Bent Creek to Hominy Creek (Biltmore) | I-II | 4820 cfs 05/18/2013 17:00 |
USGS: FB (Asheville) | Excellent. Color codes: minimum = 500, medium = 750 - 1200, too high = 1600. |
| French Broad, Ledges | (II) Park and Play | 4820 cfs 05/18/2013 17:00 |
USGS: FB (Asheville) | Very Good. Gage several miles upstream. Insufficient observations: Report your sessions! Color codes: minimum = 1000, medium = 2500 - 4000, too high = 5000. |
| French Broad, Marshall to Barnard (Section 8) | I-II | 4820 cfs 05/18/2013 17:00 |
USGS: FB (Asheville) | Very Good. Insufficient observations: Report your runs! Color codes: minimum = 500, medium = 750 - 1200, too high = 1600. |
| French Broad, Rosman to Bent Creek (multiple sections) | I | 1930 cfs 05/18/2013 17:30 |
USGS: FB (Blantyre) | Very Good. Color codes: minimum = 250, medium = 350 - 600, too high = 1100. |
| French Broad, Woodfin to Alexander (Section 6) | II | 4820 cfs 05/18/2013 17:00 |
USGS: FB (Asheville) | Very Good. Insufficient observations: Report your runs! Color codes: minimum = 500, medium = 750 - 1200, too high = 1600. |
| Green, Lower | I-II | 2 Units Full @ 17:58 2 Units Full 11:00am to 11:59pm; lake = 98.6 05/18/2013 17:55 |
BoatingBeta.com: Green River at Fishtop Falls Access VG Green River Flows Page Duke Energy: Lake Levels |
Very Good. Alt: Call 828-698-2068. Level cell format: current flow and time taking into account 4.5 hour delay between release and arrival of water at put-in; day's release message as recorded by Duke Energy; current lake level; date and time message accessed. Archive of past release schedules on the Green River Flows Page. Color codes: minimum = 90, medium = 99 - 300, too high = 400. |
| Green, Upper | II-III- (2@III+) | 2 Units Full @ 17:58 2 Units Full 11:00am to 11:59pm; lake = 98.6 05/18/2013 17:55 |
BoatingBeta.com: Green River Below Tuxedo Hydro Plant VG Green River Flows Page Duke Energy: Lake Levels |
Excellent. Alt: Call 828-698-2068. Level cell format: current flow and time taking into account 15 minute delay between release and arrival of water at put-in; day's release message as recorded by Duke Energy; current lake level; date and time message accessed. Archive of past release schedules on the Green River Flows Page. Color codes: minimum = 90, medium = 110 - 300, too high = 400. |
| Ivy, Forks of Ivy to Eller Cove Road | I-II (II+) | 384 cfs 05/18/2013 17:30 |
USGS: Ivy | Poor. Run well upstream of gage. Insufficient observations: Report your runs! Color codes: minimum = 200, medium = 250 - 350, too high = 400. |
| Little (AL), Powell Trail to Mouth | II | 295 cfs 05/18/2013 16:00 |
USGS: Little (near Blue Pond) | Excellent. Gage is located at the take-out. An alternate gage is located about 13 miles upstream of the put-in (on one of the 3 forks of the little river) and can be used an early indicator to see if and how quickly the water level is rising or falling: USGS: WF Little at DeSoto Park. Color codes: minimum = 400, medium = 800 - 3000, too high = 4000. |
| Little (TN), Elkmont to Metcalf Bottoms | II-III | 70.7 feet 05/13/2013 01:30  |
NOAA: Little River (Townsend) | Good. Note that NOAA reports values in UTC; boatingbeta converts these values to the time zone local to the gage. The online gage is eleven miles downstream of the put-in and 0.25 miles downstream of a major tributary -- check the visual gage on the river left side of the bridge inside the Elkmont Campground for confirmation before putting on. The minimum to put on at the parking area downstream of the intersection of Little River Road and Elkmont Road is 0" (water just to the top of the footer); the minimum to put on at the campground 4". These levels will be boney -- 1'-2' is optimum, over 2.5' is too high. The online gage is has been available in real time only since 11/2004 and the floods of 2004 may have changed the old rules of thumb; thus the color coding speculative: Report your runs! Color codes: minimum = 3, medium = 4 - 6, too high = 7. |
| 93946513 cfs (estimated) 05/13/2013 01:30 |
BoatingBeta.com: Little River Above Townsend VG | Good. Based on USGS data on the relationship between stages and flows January 2001-August 2003. The flow color coding differs slightly from the stage color coding to make the critical flow points more memorable. The online gage is eleven miles downstream of the put-in and 0.25 miles downstream of a major tributary so the actual flow will be significantly less that the flow reported here. Color codes: minimum = 660, medium = 1400 - 3600, too high = 5100. | ||
| Little Pigeon, Middle Prong, Porters Creek to Highway 73 (Greenbrier) | II-III | 704 cfs 05/18/2013 16:00 |
TVA: Little Pigeon (Sevierville) | Poor. Route 321 bridge visual gage: min = 1.75'. Runs when W. Prong on high side. Insufficient observations: Report your runs! Color codes: minimum = 2500, medium = 3000 - 4000, too high = 4500. |
| Little Tennessee | I-II | 1450 cfs 05/18/2013 17:15 |
USGS: Little Tennessee (Needmore) | Excellent. Gage near TO. Color codes: minimum = 230, medium = 500 - 1500, too high = 2500. |
| Little Tennessee | II+ | 1450 cfs 05/18/2013 17:15 |
USGS: Little Tennessee (Needmore) | Excellent. Gage near PI. Color codes: minimum = 350, medium = 500 - 2000, too high = 2500. |
| Mills, South Fork (Pink Beds to South Mills River Road) | II (IV, portage) | 461 cfs 05/18/2013 17:30 |
USGS: Mills | Fair. Gage located below confluence of NF and SF. Insufficient observations: Report your runs! Color codes: minimum = 450, medium = 550 - 1000, too high = 1500. |
| Nantahala, Gorge (Beechertown to Wesser) | II+ (III) | 820 cfs 05/18/2013 17:30 |
USGS: Nantahala at Hewett | Excellent. Alt: Call 866-332-5253 for release information. Duke Energy provides 2-3 day forecasts every morning. Forecasts as of date and time message accessed and archive of past forecasts available at Nantahala River Flows Page. A calendar of scheduled releases is available at Annual calendar of scheduled Nantahala Gorge releases. The water takes approximately 3 hours to reach Lesser Wesser Falls and the NOC. Color codes: minimum = 500, medium = 750 - 1000, too high = 1600. |
| Release Schedule 05/18/2013: 12:00m to 11:59pm. 05/19/2013: 12:00m to 11:59pm. 05/20/2013: 12:00m to 11:59pm. 05/18/2013 17:55  |
Duke Energy: Nantahala RS | Good This is the most recent schedule as posted by Nantahala Power & Light. These schedules sometimes change from day to day and over the course of the day, so don't take them as gospel. | ||
| Nolichucky, Big Rock | (II+) Park and Play | 2270 cfs 05/18/2013 17:30 |
USGS: Nolichucky | Excellent The gage is located within minutes of the hole. Color codes: minimum = 400, medium = 550 - 650, too high = 900. |
| Nolichucky, Cowbell | (II) Mystery moves | 2270 cfs 05/18/2013 17:30 |
USGS: Nolichucky | Poor. The Embreeville reading is an historical record of the flow at Cowbell eight hours earlier. Cowbell washed away in floods of 2004 but is coming back.%nbsp; Help dial it back in: Report your sinks! Color codes: minimum = 1000, medium = 1600 - 2800, too high = 4000. |
| Nolichucky, Secret Spot | (II+) Park and Play | NA NA |
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. |
| Obed, Devil's Breakfast Table to Nemo | II-III (IV+) | 585 cfs (Emory) 05/18/2013 17:15 |
USGS: Emory | Fair. Run well upstream of gage. Insufficient observations: Report your runs! Color codes: minimum = 1500, medium = 2500 - 3500, too high = 5000. |
| Ocoee, Flipper | (II) Park and Play | 818 cfs (estimated) 05/18/2013 16:00 |
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, Whirly Bird (Staging Eddy) | (II+) Park and Play | 818 cfs (estimated) 05/18/2013 16:00 |
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 = 2000, medium = 2400 - 3600, too high = 3800. |
| Oconaluftee | II-III | 649 cfs 05/18/2013 17:30 |
USGS: Oconaluftee | Poor. Insufficient observations: Report your runs! Color codes: minimum = 360, medium = 500 - 800, too high = 1500. |
| Raven Fork, Straight Fork to Job Corps Center Bridge | II-III | 649 cfs (Oconaluftee) 05/18/2013 17:30 |
USGS: Oconaluftee | Very Good. Gage located several miles downstream of usual takeout. Currently closed to paddling! Color codes: minimum = 650, medium = 1000 - 1500, too high = 2000. |
| Russell Fork of the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy, Upper | II-III (IV-) | 771 cfs (estimated) 05/18/2013 17:30 |
USGS: Russell Fork + USGS: Pound | Excellent. The gages that are combined to create this virtual gage are located approximately two (Pound) and four (Russell Fork) miles upstream of the Bartlick Bridge put-in. Alt: Army Corps of Engineers Russell Fork at Bartlick. This gage combines the Russell Fork and Pound River flows. It is located at the Bartlick Bridge put-in. Scheduled releases occur in October; unscheduled releases occur year round. Water takes approximately one hour to reach put-in. Annual calendar of scheduled Russell Fork releases. Color codes: minimum = 400, medium = 800 - 1200, too high = 3000. |
| Saluda (Mosh Pit / Pop Up Hole) | (II) Park and Play | 1080 cfs 05/18/2013 16:15 |
USGS: Saluda near Columbia | Excellent. Gage located a short distance upstream of the hole. Alt #1: Call 1-800-830-5253 for the daily release forecast. If SCE&G is releasing the hole will be playable; two turbines are good and all five can be ideal. Alt #2: the USGS gages the Saluda below Lake Murray Dam; this flow reaches the Mosh Pit a little over two hours later. Note: the color coding is for the Mosh Pit, but this hole is part of a series of rapids with plenty of opportunities for paddling and play at levels as high as 20,000 cfs! Color codes: minimum = 1000, medium = 3300 - 4500, too high = 5000. |
| Swannanoa | I-II | 551 cfs 05/18/2013 17:00 |
USGS: Swannanoa | Speculative. Color coding inspired guesswork. Insufficient observations: Report your runs! Color codes: minimum = 100, medium = 150 - 300, too high = 400. |
| Tennessee Laurel Creek (Highway 91 to Whitetop Laurel Creek) | III | 609 cfs (SF Holston) 05/18/2013 17:45 |
USGS: SF Holston (Damascus) | Fair. Gage well downstream of PI. Insufficient observations: Report your runs! Color codes: minimum = 1500, medium = 2000 - 3000, too high = 5000. |
| Toe River Gorge, Toecane to Red Hill Bridge | II-III | 2270 cfs (Nolichucky) 05/18/2013 17:30 |
USGS: Nolichucky | Fair. Red Hill bridge visual gage: min = 0, opt = 1-2'. Generally runs when the Nolichucky runs; Noli gage 40 miles downstream. Insufficient observations: Report your runs! Color codes: minimum = 800, medium = 1500 - 2000, too high = 6000. |
| Toe River, South Fork, Carolina Hemlocks to Patience Mullindore Park | I-II | 270 cfs 05/18/2013 17:30 |
USGS: South Toe | Fair. When over 700 cfs top half becomes Ocoee-like in nature. Watch for low water bridges that must be portaged. Insufficient observations: Report your runs! Color codes: minimum = 250, medium = 400 - 1000, too high = 1800. |
| Toe River, South Fork, Patience Mullindore Park to NC 80 Bridge | II (III) | 270 cfs 05/18/2013 17:30 |
USGS: South Toe | Fair. Insufficient observations: Report your runs! Color codes: minimum = 150, medium = 300 - 800, too high = 1800. |
| Tuckaseegee, Devil's Dip | (II) Park and Play | 2090 cfs 05/18/2013 17:15 |
USGS: Tuckasegee (Bryson City) | Excellent. Duke Energy provides 3 day generation schedules every morning. Water arrives about 13 hours after release. A release on either Fork provides water to Devil's Dip. Alt: Call 866-332-5253 (toll free) or 828-369-4559 for release information. When the water is too low Devil's Dip is sticky and shallow, with the potential to break paddles in the player's right side of the hole. From 700-2000 cfs it is a sticky hole, from 2,500-2,800 (the optimum) an excellent wave/hole, from 2,800-3,000 it is tricky to get to, and over 3,000 it is gone. Color codes: minimum = 700, medium = 2000 - 2800, too high = 3000. |
| Tuckaseegee, Dillsboro to Barker's Creek | II | 5.17 feet 05/18/2013 17:15 |
USGS: Tuckasegee (Barker's Creek) | Excellent. Gage at take-out, but gage is new so color coding is a best guess. Alt: Call 866-332-5253 (toll free) or 828-369-4559 for release information. Help dial in this new gage: Report your runs!. Annual calendar of scheduled Tuckasegee Gorge releases. Color codes: minimum = 3.7, medium = 4.4 - 5, too high = 5.5. |
| Tuckaseegee, East Fork (Slab Hole) | (II) Park and Play | 250 cfs @ 17:58 (estimated) 05/18/2013: Release from 9:00am to 11:59pm. 05/18/2013 17:55 |
BoatingBeta.com: Tuckasegee River at Slab Hole VG Duke Energy: East Fork |
Excellent. Scheduled releases into river approximately 1/2 mile above the hole. Level cell format: estimated current flow and time; current date and release message as recorded by Duke Energy; date and time message accessed. Estimated current flow speculative; all Duke Energy reports is whether the river is "on" or "off." Duke Energy provides 3 day generation schedules every morning. Alt: Call 866-332-5253 (toll free) or 828-369-4559 for release information. Color codes: minimum = 100, medium = 200 - 300, too high = 400. |
| Release Schedule 05/18/2013: 9:00am to 11:59pm. 05/19/2013: 12:00m to 11:59pm. 05/20/2013: 12:00m to 11:59pm. 05/18/2013 17:55 |
Duke Energy: EF Tuck RS | Good This is the most recent schedule as posted by Nantahala Power & Light. These schedules sometimes change from day to day and over the course of the day, so don't take them as gospel. | ||
| Tuckaseegee, Ela to Bryson City | II | 2090 cfs 05/18/2013 17:15 |
USGS: Tuckasegee | Excellent. Gage at TO. Alt: Call 866-332-5253 (toll free) or 828-369-4559 for release information. Color codes: minimum = 750, medium = 1250 - 3000, too high = 6000. |
| Tuckaseegee, Whittier to Ela | II (II+) | 2090 cfs 05/18/2013 17:15 |
USGS: Tuckasegee | Fair. Gage well downstream of PI. Alt: Call 866-332-5253 (toll free) or 828-369-4559 for release information. Color codes: minimum = 750, medium = 1250 - 3000, too high = 6000. |
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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
| 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. |
