River Report

Rocky River river

6 streamgauges 55% of normal Last updated 2026-05-28
Aggregate flow
1,696cfs
% of normal
55%
Daily volume
3,364AF
Seasonal avg
3,091cfs

Total streamflow across the Rocky River was last observed at 1,696 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 3,364 acre-ft of water today; about 55% of normal. River levels are low and may signify a drought. Average streamflow for this time of year is 3,091 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2020-05-21 when daily discharge volume was observed at 64,447 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Rocky River Near Norwood reporting a streamflow rate of 1,260 cfs. This is also the highest stage along the Rocky River, with a gauge stage of 5.78 ft at this location. This river is monitored from 6 different streamgauging stations along the Rocky River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 649 ft, the Rocky River Near Berea Oh.

Max discharge

Rocky River Near Norwood

1,260cfs
Highest stage

Rocky River Near Norwood

5.78ft
Highest-elevation gauge

Rocky River Near Berea Oh

649ft
Aggregate trend

River streamflow levels

Daily aggregate streamflow across every monitored gauge along the Rocky 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 Rocky River

All 6 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)
Rocky River Near Berea Oh OH
USGS 04201500
141 5.70 -22.1 95% 1 16,900 649
Rocky R At Sr1300 Nr Crutchfield Crossroads NC
USGS 0210166029
7 1.27 -3.4 308% 0 904 614
Rocky River Nr Starr SC
USGS 02187910
143 4.51 -54.3 152% 7 4,140 578
Rocky R Ab Irish Buffalo Cr Nr Rocky River NC
USGS 0212433550
152 1.93 -78.5 153% 21 1,010 497
Rocky River Nr Stanfield NC
USGS 02124742
173 1.73 · · · · 421
Rocky River Near Norwood NC
USGS 02126000
1,260 5.78 -47.1 445% 31 62,000 214
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

Rocky River

The Rocky River is a tributary of the Yadkin River in North Carolina, spanning 90 miles from its headwaters in the Uwharrie Mountains to the confluence with the Yadkin. The river was historically used for transportation and power, with mills and factories along its banks. Today, the river is primarily used for recreation, with popular activities including fishing, kayaking, and hiking along the Riverwalk trail. The river is fed by several small tributaries and is home to several species of fish, including largemouth bass, bluegill, and catfish. The river is also home to several reservoirs, including Falls Reservoir and Lake Norman, which serve as sources of hydroelectric power and drinking water for nearby communities. The river and its ecosystem are protected by various organizations, including the Rocky River Heritage Foundation and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.

Track the Rocky 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 Rocky River

Where does the data for the Rocky 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.