Cahaba River river
Total streamflow across the Cahaba River was last observed at 5,952 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 11,805 acre-ft of water today; about 97% of normal. Average streamflow for this time of year is 6,145 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2014-04-08 when daily discharge volume was observed at 130,420 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Cahaba River Near Marion Junction Al reporting a streamflow rate of 2,880 cfs. This is also the highest stage along the Cahaba River, with a gauge stage of 7.33 ft at this location. This river is monitored from 9 different streamgauging stations along the Cahaba River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 679 ft, the Cahaba River At Trussville.
River streamflow levels
Daily aggregate streamflow across every monitored gauge along the Cahaba River. Use the range buttons to zoom in on a specific period.
Total streamflow
Sum of all monitored streamgauges · daily
Every streamgauge along the Cahaba River
All 9 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)▾ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cahaba River At Trussville
AL
USGS 02423130
|
7 | 1.81 | -18.5 | 61% | 0 | 2,940 | 679 |
|
Cahaba River Near Mountain Brook Al
AL
USGS 02423380
|
152 | 1.21 | -47.4 | 163% | 3 | 20,900 | 473 |
|
Cahaba River Near Hoover
AL
USGS 02423496
|
125 | 3.62 | -73.7 | 103% | 2 | 15,900 | 466 |
|
Cahaba River Near Cahaba Heights Al
AL
USGS 02423425
|
130 | 1.79 | -67.6 | 116% | 0 | 14,300 | 423 |
|
Cahaba River Near Helena Al
AL
USGS 02423555
|
289 | 2.06 | 38.3 | 124% | 23 | 18,900 | 401 |
|
Cahaba River Near Acton Al
AL
USGS 02423500
|
149 | 2.87 | -58.2 | 102% | 6 | 14,500 | 393 |
|
Cahaba River Near West Blocton Al
AL
USGS 02423647
|
1,010 | 3.21 | 28.0 | 175% | 41 | 29,100 | 264 |
|
Cahaba River At Centreville Al
AL
USGS 02424000
|
1,210 | 3.38 | -22.9 | 161% | 112 | 48,800 | 218 |
|
Cahaba River Near Marion Junction Al
AL
USGS 02425000
|
2,880 | 7.33 | 1.4 | 204% | 264 | 49,000 | 128 |
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
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
Cahaba River
The Cahaba River flows through central Alabama and is approximately 194 miles in length. It is known for its unique aquatic biodiversity, including several endangered species. The river has a rich history and was used for transportation during the early 1800s. The Cahaba River is also important for agriculture, providing water for crops and livestock. Specifically, the river flows through impoundments including the Martin Dam, which provides hydroelectric power to the region. The river is used for recreational activities such as swimming, boating, and fishing. The Cahaba River is a valuable resource for the region and is protected by various conservation efforts to preserve its ecological significance.
Recreation along the Cahaba River
Fishing access and paddle runs Snoflo tracks within the watershed.
Track the Cahaba 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.
About the Cahaba River
Where does the data for the Cahaba 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.