Jackson River river
Total streamflow across the Jackson River was last observed at 4,658 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 9,239 acre-ft of water today; about 257% of normal. River levels are high. Average streamflow for this time of year is 1,815 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2025-02-16 when daily discharge volume was observed at 15,360 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Jackson River Bl Dunlap Creek At Covington reporting a streamflow rate of 2,400 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the Jackson River Bl Gathright Dam Nr Hot Spgs with a gauge stage of 11.5 ft. This river is monitored from 3 different streamgauging stations along the Jackson River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 1,721 ft, the Jackson River Near Bacova.
River streamflow levels
Daily aggregate streamflow across every monitored gauge along the Jackson River. Use the range buttons to zoom in on a specific period.
Total streamflow
Sum of all monitored streamgauges · daily
Every streamgauge along the Jackson River
All 3 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)▾ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Jackson River Near Bacova
VA
USGS 02011400
|
198 | 4.22 | -27.5 | 110% | 17 | 4,020 | 1,721 |
|
Jackson River Bl Gathright Dam Nr Hot Spgs
VA
USGS 02011800
|
2,060 | 11.50 | -22.6 | 518% | 102 | 6,090 | 1,475 |
|
Jackson River Bl Dunlap Creek At Covington
VA
USGS 02013100
|
2,400 | 7.08 | -22.1 | 413% | 123 | 13,300 | 1,278 |
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
Jackson River
The Jackson River, located in western Virginia, is a tributary of the James River and has a length of approximately 96 miles. The river is known for its rich history, with Native American artifacts and settlements dating back to prehistoric times. It has also been a source of power for mills and factories in the past. The river's hydrology is controlled by several dams, including the Gathright Dam, which forms the 2,500-acre Lake Moomaw, and the Back Creek Dam, which forms the 200-acre Back Creek Reservoir. These dams provide hydroelectric power and recreation opportunities such as fishing, boating, and camping. The river is also used for agricultural purposes, mainly for irrigation and livestock watering. The Jackson River is a vital resource for the community and the environment, providing both economic and recreational benefits.
Recreation along the Jackson River
Fishing access and paddle runs Snoflo tracks within the watershed.
Track the Jackson 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 Jackson River
Where does the data for the Jackson 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.