River Report

Lumber River river

3 streamgauges 24% of normal Last updated 2026-05-21
Aggregate flow
334cfs
% of normal
24%
Daily volume
662AF
Seasonal avg
1,411cfs

Total streamflow across the Lumber River was last observed at 334 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 662 acre-ft of water today; about 24% of normal. River levels are low and may signify a drought. Average streamflow for this time of year is 1,411 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 132 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the Lumber River At Lumberton with a gauge stage of 6.81 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.

Max discharge

Lumber River At Boardman

132cfs
Highest stage

Lumber River At Lumberton

6.81ft
Highest-elevation gauge

Lumber River Near Maxton

183ft
Aggregate trend

River streamflow levels

Daily aggregate streamflow across every monitored gauge along the Lumber River. Use the range buttons to zoom in on a specific period.

Total streamflow

Sum of all monitored streamgauges · daily

Per-gauge breakdown

Every streamgauge along the Lumber 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)
Lumber River Near Maxton NC
USGS 02133624
88 6.41 -3.7 28% 57 18,900 183
Lumber River At Lumberton NC
USGS 02134170
114 6.81 -5.0 25% 79 17,100 120
Lumber River At Boardman NC
USGS 02134500
132 1.90 -7.0 21% 80 38,200 78
Annual peaks

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

Profile

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

About this river

Lumber River

The Lumber River is a 133-mile-long river located in southeastern North Carolina. It is historically significant as it was a major transportation route for the Lumbee Indian tribe and was also used for logging during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The river is also known for its unique hydrology, as it is one of the few blackwater rivers in the world, meaning that its water is darkly stained due to the presence of tannins. There are several reservoirs and dams located along the river, including the Blewett Falls Lake and the Lumber River State Park. These reservoirs provide a source of hydroelectric power and are also used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and hiking. Additionally, the river is a valuable resource for agriculture, as it provides water for irrigation and supports agricultural activities in the surrounding areas.

Around the river

Recreation along the Lumber River

Fishing access and paddle runs Snoflo tracks within the watershed.

Track the Lumber 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.

FAQ

About the Lumber River

Where does the data for the Lumber 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.