APPOMATTOX RIVER

RIVER LEVELS
February 7, 2025
37.25, -77.66


TOTAL RIVER DISCHARGE

Total streamflow across the Appomattox River was last observed at 4,071 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 8,075 acre-ft of water today; about 140% of normal. River levels are high. Average streamflow for this time of year is 2,910 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2018-10-14 when daily discharge volume was observed at 35,350 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Appomattox River At Matoaca reporting a streamflow rate of 2,200 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the Appomattox River At Mattoax with a gauge stage of 12.03 ft. This river is monitored from 3 different streamgauging stations along the Appomattox River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 299 ft, the Appomattox River At Farmville.

The Appomattox River is a 157-mile-long river located in central Virginia. Historically, the river was significant during the American Civil War as it played a role in the Confederate Army's retreat from Richmond in 1865. Today, the river is primarily used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. It also serves as a source of irrigation for crops in the surrounding agricultural areas. There are several reservoirs and dams along the river, including Lake Chesdin, which is used for hydroelectric power generation and water supply for the city of Petersburg. The Appomattox River has a diverse hydrology, with both slow moving stretches and rapids for kayaking and canoeing. It is a valuable natural resource for the region and an important part of Virginia's history.

Last Updated 2025-02-07
Discharge Volume 8,075 ACRE-FT
Streamflow 4,071.0 cfs
+1695.0 cfs (+71.34%)
Percent of Normal 139.92%
Maximum 35,350.0 cfs
2018-10-14
Seasonal Avg 2,910 cfs

YEAR OVER YEAR DISCHARGE (CFS)

Streamflow Conditions
Streamgauge Streamflow Gauge Stage 24hr Change (%) % Normal Minimum (cfs) Maximum (cfs) Air Temp Elevation
Appomattox River At Farmville
USGS 02039500
651 cfs 7.45 ft -18.07
Appomattox River At Mattoax
USGS 02040000
1220 cfs 12.03 ft -22.53
Appomattox River At Matoaca
USGS 02041650
2200 cfs 4.93 ft -40.17
History of the River

The Appomattox River is a tributary of the James River, approximately 157 miles (253 km) long, in central and eastern Virginia in the United States, named for the Appomattocs Indian tribe who lived along its lower banks in the 17th century. It drains a cotton and tobacco-growing region of the Piedmont and coastal plain southwest of Richmond.
The English colonists in Virginia at first tried to rename the Appomattox as the "Bristoll River", however this name did not catch on, while the native one did. There are numerous historical spelling variants, such as Apamatuck, Apamutiky, Appamattuck, Appomattake, and Apumetecs, among others.

       

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