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ETOWAH RIVER

River Levels • Streamflow • Hydrology

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Total streamflow across the Etowah River was last observed at 12,373 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 24,542 acre-ft of water today; about 150% of normal. River levels are high. Average streamflow for this time of year is 8,230 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2019-04-20 when daily discharge volume was observed at 60,490 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Etowah River Near Kingston reporting a streamflow rate of 6,190 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the Etowah River At Ga 1 Loop with a gauge stage of 14.5 ft. This river is monitored from 6 different streamgauging stations along the Etowah River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 1,042 ft, the Etowah River At Ga 9.

Etowah River is a 164-mile-long river located in northern Georgia, United States. The river's history dates back to the 1800s when it was used for transportation and industrial purposes. The river's hydrology is affected by seasonal rainfall and snowmelt. The river has several reservoirs, including the Lake Allatoona, which was created by the construction of the Allatoona Dam in 1949. The river is also home to the Bartow County Reservoir, which serves as a water source for the city of Cartersville. The Etowah River is used for recreational purposes, including fishing, kayaking, and canoeing. The river also plays a critical role in agriculture, providing irrigation and water for livestock. The Etowah River is a vital natural resource that plays a vital role in the economy and ecosystem of northern Georgia.

November 21, 2024

Last Updated	2024-11-20
Discharge Volume	24,542 ACRE-FT
Streamflow	12,373.0 cfs +3847.0 cfs (+45.12%)
Percent of Normal	150.34%
Maximum	60,490.0 cfs 2019-04-20
Seasonal Avg	8,230 cfs

History of the River

The Etowah River is a 164-mile-long (264 km) waterway that rises northwest of Dahlonega, Georgia, north of Atlanta. On Matthew Carey's 1795 map the river was labeled "High Town River". On later maps, such as the 1839 Cass County map (Cass being the original name for Bartow County), it was referred to as "Hightower River", a name that was used in most early Cherokee records.
The large Amicalola Creek (which flows over Amicalola Falls) is a primary tributary near the beginning of the river. The Etowah then flows west-southwest through Canton, Georgia, and soon forms Lake Allatoona. From the dam at the lake, it passes Cartersville and the Etowah Indian Mounds archaeological site. It then flows to Rome, Georgia, where it meets the Oostanaula River and forms the Coosa River at their confluence. The river is the northernmost portion of the Etowah-Coosa-Alabama-Mobile Waterway, stretching from the mountains of north Georgia to Mobile Bay in Alabama.
The Little River is the largest tributary of the Etowah, their confluence now flooded by Lake Allatoona. Allatoona Creek is another major tributary, flowing north from Cobb County and forming the other major arm of the lake.
The U.S. Board on Geographic Names officially named the river in 1897.
The river ends at 571 feet (174 m) above mean sea level.
The river is home to the Etowah darter, which is listed on the Endangered Species List.
Country singer-songwriter Jerry Reed made the Etowah the home of the wild, misunderstood swamp dweller Ko-Ko Joe in the 1971 song "Ko-Ko Joe". The fictional character, who is reviled by respectable people but apparently dies a hero while saving a child's life, is alternately known as the "Etowah River Swamp Rat" in the song. Reed, a native of Atlanta, took some liberties with Georgia geography in the song, including the non-existent "Appaloosa County" and "Ko-Ko Ridge" as part of the song narrative’s setting.