Total streamflow across the
Lumber River
was last observed at
936
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
1,857
acre-ft of water today; about 40%
of normal.
River levels are low and may signify a drought.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
2,352 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2018-09-18 when daily discharge volume was observed at
53,950 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
Lumber River At Boardman
reporting a streamflow rate of 398 cfs.
However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the
Lumber River At Lumberton
with a gauge stage of 8.29 ft.
This river is monitored from 3 different streamgauging stations along the Lumber River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 183 ft, the
Lumber River Near Maxton.
Last Updated | 2025-04-27 |
Discharge Volume | 1,857 ACRE-FT |
Streamflow |
936.0 cfs
-63.0 cfs (-6.31%) |
Percent of Normal | 39.8% |
Maximum |
53,950.0 cfs
2018-09-18 |
Seasonal Avg | 2,352 cfs |
The Lumber River is a 133-mile-long (214 km) river in south-central North Carolina in the flat Coastal Plain. European settlers first called the river Drowning Creek, which still is the name of its headwater. The waterway known as the Lumber River extends downstream from the Scotland County-Hoke County border to the North Carolina-South Carolina border. Soon after crossing into South Carolina, the Lumber River flows into the Little Pee River, which flows into the Pee Dee River, or Great Pee Dee River. Finally, the combined waters flow into Winyah Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.
In 1989, the river was designated as a "Natural and Scenic River" by the North Carolina General Assembly. In addition, it is the only blackwater river in North Carolina to be designated as a National Wild and Scenic River by the Department of the Interior. In 2010, the Lumber River was voted one of North Carolina’s Ten Natural Wonders, the result of an on-line contest held by Land for Tomorrow, a coalition dedicated to supporting the preservation of North Carolina’s land and water resources.