River Report

Buttahatchee River river

2 streamgauges 98% of normal Last updated 2026-05-22
Aggregate flow
968cfs
% of normal
98%
Daily volume
1,920AF
Seasonal avg
983cfs

Total streamflow across the Buttahatchee River was last observed at 968 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 1,920 acre-ft of water today; about 98% of normal. Average streamflow for this time of year is 983 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2020-02-13 when daily discharge volume was observed at 39,100 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Buttahatchee River Nr Aberdeen reporting a streamflow rate of 1,640 cfs. This is also the highest stage along the Buttahatchee River, with a gauge stage of 9.45 ft at this location. This river is monitored from 2 different streamgauging stations along the Buttahatchee River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 394 ft, the Buttahatchee River Below Hamilton Al.

Max discharge

Buttahatchee River Nr Aberdeen

1,640cfs
Highest stage

Buttahatchee River Nr Aberdeen

9.45ft
Highest-elevation gauge

Buttahatchee River Below Hamilton Al

394ft
Aggregate trend

River streamflow levels

Daily aggregate streamflow across every monitored gauge along the Buttahatchee River. Use the range buttons to zoom in on a specific period.

Total streamflow

Sum of all monitored streamgauges · daily

Per-gauge breakdown

Every streamgauge along the Buttahatchee River

All 2 USGS gauges Snoflo tracks for this river, with current flow, stage, recent change, percent of normal, and the gauge's all-time min / max. Click any header to sort. Cells are heatmapped relative to the column min/max -- darker blue = higher.

Streamgauge Streamflow (cfs) Gauge stage (ft) 24h Δ (%) % Normal Min (cfs) Max (cfs) Elevation (ft)
Buttahatchee River Below Hamilton Al AL
USGS 02438000
380 2.80 -60.7 191% 33 38,800 394
Buttahatchee River Nr Aberdeen MS
USGS 02439400
1,640 9.45 173.3 246% 96 26,400 240
Annual peaks

Maximum streamflow discharge by year

The single highest aggregate discharge recorded each year. Spotting the multi-year trend reveals droughts vs. wet cycles long before the headline daily flow does.

Annual peak discharge

From the river's full record · one point per water year

Profile

Streamflow elevation profile

Each bubble is one gauge along the river, plotted by current streamflow (x-axis) vs elevation (y-axis), sized by gauge stage. Reading top-to-bottom traces the river from headwaters down to its mouth -- you can see flow accumulate as elevation drops.

Elevation vs streamflow

One point per monitored gauge · bubble size = gauge stage

About this river

Buttahatchee River

The Buttahatchee River is located in northwestern Alabama, and is approximately 97 miles in length. The river has a rich history, having been used for transportation during the Civil War and serving as a major source of power for the region throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. The river's hydrology is dominated by seasonal changes in water levels, with peak flow occurring in the winter and spring months. The river is home to several reservoirs and dams, including the Smith Lake Dam and the Side Channel Dam. These structures serve various purposes, including flood control, power generation, and recreation. The river supports both agricultural and recreational activities, with fishing, boating, and camping being popular among visitors.

Around the river

Recreation along the Buttahatchee River

Fishing access and paddle runs Snoflo tracks within the watershed.

Track the Buttahatchee River in the Snoflo app

Set per-gauge push alerts (e.g. "alert me when flow at the Russian R Nr Healdsburg crosses 5,000 cfs"), and Snoflo's iOS app pushes the moment USGS reports the crossing.

FAQ

About the Buttahatchee River

Where does the data for the Buttahatchee River come from?

Streamflow and gauge stage data are sourced from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Information System. The aggregate flow shown at the top of the page is computed by Snoflo as the sum of all monitored gauges along the river.

How is "percent of normal" calculated?

Today's aggregate streamflow is compared to the historical average aggregate streamflow on this calendar day across the river's full record. 100% means right on average; values above 100% indicate above-normal flow (wet year); values below indicate below-normal (dry year or drought).

Why are some gauges showing very different flows?

Gauges along a river measure flow at different points: headwater gauges read what's coming off the snowpack or mountain runoff; downstream gauges integrate everything upstream, including tributary inputs. Wide spreads usually mean a tributary is contributing significantly between gauges.

What's the elevation profile chart showing?

Each bubble is one gauge along the river, plotted by streamflow (x-axis) and elevation (y-axis), sized by gauge stage. Reading top-down traces the river from headwaters to mouth -- you can see flow build as elevation drops.

Can I get alerts when a specific gauge crosses a threshold?

Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app on a per-gauge basis. Open any individual streamgauge from the table above and favorite it to set a discharge threshold.