Blackwater River Flow Today
As of October 22, 2026 at 3:30 AM, the Blackwater River is flowing at 171 cfs at Davis, WV — 380% of normal for the date and down 17% in 24 hours. 7 of 9 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 0 to 171 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Blackwater River map
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Every gauge, dam and paddle run on the river, one tap each:
- Gauges now — which reaches are high or low
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Blackwater River conditions today
Where the river is running versus normal, what’s rising or dropping, and what it means for a trip — built from the live USGS readings below.
At Davis, the Blackwater River is running 171 cfs — 380% of normal, down 17% since yesterday. Along the river, 4 of 7 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 76% of normal).
In the last 24 hours the river is rising at Blue Lick (+12%); dropping at Davis (-17%).
Highest against normal: Davis at 380%. Lowest: Dendron at 0%.
Paddlers: 0 of 3 runs on the Blackwater River with a live range are in range, 3 too low.
How the Blackwater River compares to normal
Every reporting gauge from the top of the river to the bottom: bar length is today’s flow, colour is percent of normal for the date.
Flow along the river, upstream to downstream
- Davis3,071 ft 171 cfs380%
- Rocky Mount903 ft 45 cfs58%
- Blue Lick603 ft 26 cfs123%
- Bradley Al141 ft 44 cfs76%
- Baker64 ft 140 cfs109%
- Dendron33 ft 0 cfs0%
- Franklin3 ft 13 cfs11%
Bar length uses a square-root scale so small headwater flows stay visible next to big downstream ones. Colour: <50% 50–90 90–110 110–150 150%+ of normal.
Where every gauge sits
One dot per Blackwater River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (76%).
Blackwater River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Blackwater River Near Davis WV
Last reported Dec 6 · USGS 03065400 |
132 cfs | · | · | 1.81 ft | · | 3,138 ft |
|
Blackwater River At Davis WV
Oct 22, 3:30 AM · USGS 03066000 |
171 cfs | 380% | -17% | 2.36 ft | · | 3,071 ft |
|
Blackwater River Near Rocky Mount VA
Oct 22, 2:45 AM · USGS 02056900 |
45 cfs | 58% | -4% | 1.88 ft | · | 903 ft |
|
Blackwater River At Blue Lick MO
Oct 22, 2:45 AM · USGS 06908000 |
26 cfs | 123% | +12% | 7.01 ft | 17.0 ft below | 603 ft |
|
Blackwater River Near Webster NH
Last reported Oct 1 · USGS 01087000 |
19 cfs | · | · | 1.91 ft | · | 453 ft |
|
Blackwater River Near Bradley Al AL
Oct 22, 2:00 AM · USGS 02369800 |
44 cfs | 76% | -3% | 0.85 ft | · | 141 ft |
|
Blackwater River Near Baker FL
Oct 22, 2:00 AM · USGS 02370000 |
140 cfs | 109% | -9% | 1.51 ft | 9.5 ft below | 64 ft |
|
Blackwater River Near Dendron VA
Oct 22, 2:45 AM · USGS 02047500 |
0 cfs | 0% | -100% | 31.77 ft | · | 33 ft |
|
Blackwater River Near Franklin VA
Oct 22, 2:45 AM · USGS 02049500 |
13 cfs | 11% | -6% | 0.55 ft | 10.3 ft below | 3 ft |
USGS provisional data. Readings are in each gauge’s local time; gauges silent for more than 3 days are marked “Last reported”. Tap any gauge for its hydrograph, forecast and history.
Paddle runs on the Blackwater River
Each run is checked against its runnable range using the gauge it is keyed to (or the nearest gauge on this river).
| Run | Status | Flow now | Runnable range | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Fork To Hickory Lick Run Gauge: Davis |
Too low | 171 cfs | 3,000–20,000 cfs | IV |
| Otter Creek To Blackwater Gauge: Davis |
Too low | 171 cfs | 3,000–20,000 cfs | · |
| State Park Bridge To North Fork Gauge: Davis |
Too low | 171 cfs | 250–550 cfs | III–IV |
Blackwater River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
Blackwater River
The Blackwater River is a 65-mile-long river located in West Virginia. It is known for its clear waters, scenic beauty, and recreational activities such as fishing, kayaking, and camping. The river was named for its dark color, which is caused by tannins from the surrounding forests. The river has a significant history, as it was used by Native Americans for transportation and fishing. It was also used during the logging era to transport logs downstream. The Blackwater River has several tributaries and is fed by several reservoirs, including the Jennings Randolph Lake and the Mount Storm Lake. These reservoirs provide hydroelectric power and water for agricultural and recreational use. The river is also home to a variety of fish species, including trout and bass, making it a popular spot for fishing enthusiasts.
Fishing near the Blackwater River
About the Blackwater River
How is the Blackwater River flowing right now?
As of October 22, 2026, the Blackwater River is flowing at 171 cfs at Davis, WV, about 380% of normal for the date. Across its 9 USGS gauges, current flows range from 0 to 171 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Blackwater River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Blackwater River is at 76% of normal for the date. Above 100% means higher than the historical average for this calendar day; below 100% means lower. The profile above shows which reaches are high or low.
What is flood stage on the Blackwater River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Blue Lick (24.0 ft), Baker (11.0 ft), Franklin (10.8 ft). The table shows how far each gauge is below its flood stage right now.
Is the Blackwater River runnable for paddling today?
Each run in the paddle table is checked against its runnable range using its gauge's live flow.
Where does the data come from?
Discharge and gage height are from the USGS National Water Information System; flood stages from the National Weather Service. The history chart sums every monitored gauge on the river.
Can I get alerts for a gauge?
Yes — open any gauge from the table, favorite it in the Snoflo app and set a flow threshold.