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HATCHIE RIVER

River Levels • Streamflow • Hydrology

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Total streamflow across the Hatchie River was last observed at 9,150 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 18,149 acre-ft of water today; about 145% of normal. River levels are high. Average streamflow for this time of year is 6,331 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2019-02-27 when daily discharge volume was observed at 73,340 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Hatchie River At Rialto reporting a streamflow rate of 4,960 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the Hatchie River At Bolivar with a gauge stage of 13.97 ft. This river is monitored from 3 different streamgauging stations along the Hatchie River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 381 ft, the Hatchie River Near Walnut.

The Hatchie River is a 238-mile-long river in western Tennessee that flows from the northern Mississippi border into the Mississippi River. It has a long history of flooding and was once a vital transportation route for early settlers. Today, the river is mostly used for recreational activities such as fishing, kayaking, and birdwatching. The Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge provides habitat for many species of wildlife and is a popular destination for nature enthusiasts. There are several reservoirs and dams along the river, including the 11,000-acre Carroll County Lake, which provides water for irrigation and drinking. The Hatchie River also supports a variety of agricultural uses, including cotton and soybean farming. Despite its importance to the local economy and ecosystem, the Hatchie River is threatened by pollution and habitat destruction caused by human activities.

December 23, 2024

Last Updated	2024-12-23
Discharge Volume	18,149 ACRE-FT
Streamflow	9,150.0 cfs -539.0 cfs (-5.56%)
Percent of Normal	144.53%
Maximum	73,340.0 cfs 2019-02-27
Seasonal Avg	6,331 cfs

History of the River

The Hatchie River is a 238-mile-long (383 km) river in northern Mississippi and southwestern Tennessee. It is of considerable geographic, cultural, and historic significance. In large measure this is because it is the only major river of West Tennessee that has never been impounded, channelized, or otherwise modified by human activity to any major degree, although several of its tributaries have. Its environs are indicative of what much of West Tennessee must have resembled prior to the time of European settlement in early 19th century.

The Hatchie rises in the northern part of Union County, Mississippi and travels through Tippah and Alcorn counties before crossing into Hardeman County, Tennessee, near the community of Pocahontas. After a short jog into adjoining McNairy County, Tennessee, the Hatchie flows north, in a serpentine fashion, then turns northwest toward Bolivar. While there is usually a discernible main channel, the Hatchie at this point is largely a zone of wetlands approximately one mile (1.6 km) wide. Supposedly Bolivar was the head of navigation for small, shallow-draught steamboats in the 19th century.
From Bolivar, the Hatchie continues generally northwest, crossing into Haywood County and the southwestern corner of Madison County. it then enters Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge. The rest of the stream course generally trends west. There is a "bow" to the north in the final part of the stream course, which forms the line between Tipton County and Lauderdale County. The Hatchie enters the Mississippi River just north of the Hatchie Towhead and just south of the Lower Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge. The Hatchie is designated as a "scenic river" under the Tennessee Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
The name "Hatchie River" is in a way a redundancy, as the element "hatchie" means "river" in the Choctaw language.Variant names of the Hatchie River include Arteguet River and Big Hatchie River.