CHATTOOGA RIVER

RIVER LEVELS
December 21, 2024
34.26, -85.57


TOTAL RIVER DISCHARGE

Total streamflow across the Chattooga River was last observed at 450 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 893 acre-ft of water today; about 27% of normal. River levels are low and may signify a drought. Average streamflow for this time of year is 1,690 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2020-04-14 when daily discharge volume was observed at 29,640 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Chattooga River Near Clayton reporting a streamflow rate of 450 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the Chattooga River Above Gaylesville Al with a gauge stage of 4.45 ft. This river is monitored from 3 different streamgauging stations along the Chattooga River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 1,165 ft, the Chattooga River Near Clayton.

The Chattooga River is a 57-mile-long river that flows through Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. It is known for its whitewater rapids and scenic beauty, as well as its role in several movies, including "Deliverance." The river is fed by numerous small streams and is regulated by several reservoirs and dams, including the Tugalo Dam, which creates Lake Tugalo, and the Chattooga Dam, which creates Lake Chattooga. These reservoirs are used for hydropower, flood control, and recreation. The Chattooga River is also used for fishing, swimming, and other recreational activities, and it provides water for irrigation and other agricultural uses. The river has a rich history, dating back to the Native American tribes who once lived along its banks, and it has been designated a National Wild and Scenic River for its unique natural and cultural features.

Last Updated 2024-12-21
Discharge Volume 893 ACRE-FT
Streamflow 450.0 cfs
-28.0 cfs (-5.86%)
Percent of Normal 26.63%
Maximum 29,640.0 cfs
2020-04-14
Seasonal Avg 1,690 cfs

YEAR OVER YEAR DISCHARGE (CFS)

Streamflow Conditions
Streamgauge Streamflow Gauge Stage 24hr Change (%) % Normal Minimum (cfs) Maximum (cfs) Air Temp Elevation
Chattooga River Near Clayton
USGS 02177000
450 cfs 1.64 ft -5.86
Chattooga River At Summerville
USGS 02398000
158 cfs 2.56 ft -11.73
Chattooga River Above Gaylesville Al
USGS 02398300
288 cfs 4.45 ft -11.38
History of the River

The Chattooga River (also spelled Chatooga, Chatuga, and Chautaga, variant name Guinekelokee River) is the main tributary of the Tugaloo River. Its headwaters are located southwest of Cashiers, North Carolina, and it stretches 57 miles (92 km) to where it has its confluence with the Tallulah River within Lake Tugalo, held back by the Tugalo Dam. The Chattooga and the Tallulah combine to make the Tugaloo River starting at the outlet of Lake Tugalo. The Chattooga begins in southern Jackson County, North Carolina, then flows southwestward between northwestern Oconee County, South Carolina, and eastern Rabun County, Georgia. The "Chattooga" spelling was approved by the US Board on Geographic Names in 1897.The Chattooga River flows into Tugalo Lake where it joins the Tallulah River. After flowing through Tugalo Dam the combined rivers become the Tugaloo River which, along with the Seneca River, becomes the Savannah River below Lake Hartwell. Downstream from that point, the water flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Savannah, Georgia. The Chattooga was used as a setting for the fictional Cahulawassee River in the book and film Deliverance.

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