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River report

Blackwater River Flow Today

As of October 2, 2026 at 2:00 AM, the Blackwater River is flowing at 93 cfs near Baker, FL — 72% of normal for the date and up 6% in 24 hours. 7 of 9 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 13 to 93 cfs. ❤ Favorite

USGS gauges
9 7 reporting · upstream → down
Blackwater River At Davis: 199% of normalBlackwater River Near Rocky Mount: 22% of normalBlackwater River At Blue Lick: 251% of normalBlackwater River Near Bradley Al: 66% of normalBlackwater River Near Baker: 72% of normalBlackwater River Near Dendron: 34% of normalBlackwater River Near Franklin: 21% of normal
Typical gauge
66% of normal for the date
0%normal200%
Paddle runs
3 0 in range now
3 low
Updated
Oct 2, 2:00 AM
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Blackwater River map

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River briefing · Oct 2, 2026

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 Baker, the Blackwater River is running 93 cfs — 72% of normal, up 6% since yesterday. Along the river, 5 of 7 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 66% of normal).

In the last 24 hours the river is rising at Blue Lick (+189%); dropping at Davis (-14%) and Franklin (-13%).

Highest against normal: Blue Lick at 251%. Lowest: Franklin at 21%.

Paddlers: 0 of 3 runs on the Blackwater River with a live range are in range, 3 too low.

Headwaters to mouth

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

  1. Davis3,071 ft 84 cfs199%
  2. Rocky Mount903 ft 13 cfs22%
  3. Blue Lick603 ft 38 cfs251%
  4. Bradley Al141 ft 31 cfs66%
  5. Baker64 ft 93 cfs72%
  6. Dendron33 ft 14 cfs34%
  7. Franklin3 ft 37 cfs21%

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 (66%).

Typical gauge 66%
0%50%100% · normal150%200%+
Much below normal3Below normal2Near normal0Above normal0Much above normal2

Blackwater River flow report

9 gauges
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 2, 3:30 AM · USGS 03066000
84 cfs 199% -14% 1.90 ft · 3,071 ft
Blackwater River Near Rocky Mount VA
Oct 2, 3:45 AM · USGS 02056900
13 cfs 22% 0% 1.57 ft · 903 ft
Blackwater River At Blue Lick MO
Oct 2, 4:45 AM · USGS 06908000
38 cfs 251% +189% 7.28 ft 16.7 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 2, 2:00 AM · USGS 02369800
31 cfs 66% +6% 0.66 ft · 141 ft
Blackwater River Near Baker FL
Oct 2, 2:00 AM · USGS 02370000
93 cfs 72% +6% 1.05 ft 10.0 ft below 64 ft
Blackwater River Near Dendron VA
Oct 2, 3:45 AM · USGS 02047500
14 cfs 34% -12% 31.95 ft · 33 ft
Blackwater River Near Franklin VA
Oct 2, 3:45 AM · USGS 02049500
37 cfs 21% -13% 1.33 ft 9.5 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.

Whitewater & paddle

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).

RunStatusFlow nowRunnable rangeClass
North Fork To Hickory Lick Run
Gauge: Davis
Too low 84 cfs 3,000–20,000 cfs IV
Otter Creek To Blackwater
Gauge: Davis
Too low 84 cfs 3,000–20,000 cfs ·
State Park Bridge To North Fork
Gauge: Davis
Too low 84 cfs 250–550 cfs III–IV
History

Blackwater River streamflow over time

Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.

Maximum streamflow by year

About this river

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.

Around the river

Fishing near the Blackwater River

FAQ

About the Blackwater River

How is the Blackwater River flowing right now?

As of October 2, 2026, the Blackwater River is flowing at 93 cfs near Baker, FL, about 72% of normal for the date. Across its 9 USGS gauges, current flows range from 13 to 93 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 66% 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.

More river levels

Rivers in West Virginia & Virginia & Missouri & New Hampshire