Summary
Total streamflow across the
Little Tennessee River
was last observed at
589
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
1,168
acre-ft of water today; about 30%
of normal.
River levels are low and may signify a drought.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
1,972 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2015-12-25 when daily discharge volume was observed at
19,840 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
Little Tennessee River At Needmore
reporting a streamflow rate of 428 cfs.
This is also the highest stage along the Little Tennessee River, with a gauge stage of
2.23 ft at this location.
This river is monitored from 2 different streamgauging stations along the Little Tennessee River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 2,012 ft, the
Little Tennessee River Near Prentiss.
River Details
| Last Updated | 2026-01-01 |
| Discharge Volume | 1,168 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
589.0 cfs
-3.0 cfs (-0.51%) |
| Percent of Normal | 29.87% |
| Maximum |
19,840.0 cfs
2015-12-25 |
| Seasonal Avg | 1,972 cfs |
River Streamflow Levels
| Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Little Tennessee River Near Prentiss
USGS 03500000 |
161 cfs | 1.66 ft | -1.83 | |||||
|
Little Tennessee River At Needmore
USGS 03503000 |
428 cfs | 2.23 ft | 0 |
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile
The Little Tennessee River is a 135-mile (217 km) tributary of the Tennessee River that flows through the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee, in the southeastern United States. It drains portions of three national forests— Chattahoochee, Nantahala, and Cherokee— and provides the southwestern boundary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The river flows through five major impoundments: Fontana Dam, Cheoah Dam, Calderwood Dam, Chilhowee Dam, and Tellico Dam, and one smaller impoundment, Porters Bend Dam.