Clinch River river
Total streamflow across the Clinch River was last observed at 5,410 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 10,731 acre-ft of water today; about 82% of normal. Average streamflow for this time of year is 6,597 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2020-02-07 when daily discharge volume was observed at 137,300 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Clinch River Above Tazewell reporting a streamflow rate of 2,510 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the Clinch River At Speers Ferry with a gauge stage of 4.8 ft. This river is monitored from 4 different streamgauging stations along the Clinch River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 1,510 ft, the Clinch River At Cleveland.
River streamflow levels
Daily aggregate streamflow across every monitored gauge along the Clinch River. Use the range buttons to zoom in on a specific period.
Total streamflow
Sum of all monitored streamgauges · daily
Every streamgauge along the Clinch River
All 4 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)▾ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Clinch River At Cleveland
VA
USGS 03524000
|
1,070 | 3.55 | 16.1 | 187% | 71 | 20,900 | 1,510 |
|
Clinch River At Speers Ferry
VA
USGS 03527000
|
1,830 | 4.80 | -35.8 | 161% | 67 | 40,400 | 1,206 |
|
Clinch River Near Looneys Gap
TN
USGS 03527220
|
1,750 | 3.65 | 0.0 | 67% | 95 | 39,700 | 1,188 |
|
Clinch River Above Tazewell
TN
USGS 03528000
|
2,510 | 3.33 | -29.1 | 181% | 171 | 43,700 | 1,083 |
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
Clinch River
The Clinch River is a 300-mile-long river that flows through Virginia and Tennessee. It has played an important role in the history of the region, being used for transportation and industry. The river is fed by numerous tributaries and its hydrology is influenced by several large dams and reservoirs, including Norris Dam and Melton Hill Dam. These dams provide hydroelectric power and flood control, and also create recreational opportunities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The Clinch River is home to a variety of fish species, including the endangered snail darter. The river is also used for irrigation and agricultural purposes, particularly in the lower reaches of the river in Tennessee. Despite its importance to the region, the Clinch River has faced challenges in recent years due to pollution and habitat degradation.
Recreation along the Clinch River
Fishing access and paddle runs Snoflo tracks within the watershed.
Track the Clinch 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 Clinch River
Where does the data for the Clinch 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.