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2025-12-17T18:00:00-07:00

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Nolichucky River River Levels

Last Updated: December 17, 2025

The Nolichucky River is a free-flowing river that stretches for 114 miles through North Carolina and Tennessee.


Summary

Total streamflow across the Nolichucky River was last observed at 1,526 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 3,027 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 5,029 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2025-07-07 when daily discharge volume was observed at 120,000 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Nolichucky River At Embreeville reporting a streamflow rate of 2,020 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the Nolichucky River Below Nolichucky Dam with a gauge stage of 41.91 ft. This river is monitored from 3 different streamgauging stations along the Nolichucky River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 1,533 ft, the Nolichucky River At Embreeville.

River Details

Last Updated 2025-12-17
Discharge Volume 3,027 ACRE-FT
Streamflow 1,526.0 cfs
-150.0 cfs (-8.95%)
Percent of Normal 30.34%
Maximum 120,000.0 cfs
2025-07-07
Seasonal Avg 5,029 cfs
       
River Streamflow Levels
Streamgauge Streamflow Gauge Stage 24hr Change (%) % Normal Minimum (cfs) Maximum (cfs) Air Temp Elevation
Nolichucky River At Embreeville
USGS 03465500
2020 cfs 1.51 ft -6.05
Nolichucky River Below Nolichucky Dam
USGS 03466500
709 cfs 41.91 ft -6.96
Nolichucky River Near Lowland
USGS 03467609
817 cfs 7.05 ft -10.61
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile

The Nolichucky River is a 115-mile (185 km) river that flows through Western North Carolina and East Tennessee, in the southeastern United States. Traversing the Pisgah National Forest and the Cherokee National Forest in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the river's watershed is home to some of the highest mountains in the Appalachians, including Mount Mitchell, the highest point in the eastern United States. The river is a tributary of the French Broad River, and is impounded by Nolichucky Dam near Greeneville, Tennessee.