River Report

Tallapoosa River river

5 streamgauges 46% of normal Last updated 2026-05-30
Aggregate flow
5,181cfs
% of normal
46%
Daily volume
10,276AF
Seasonal avg
11,363cfs

Total streamflow across the Tallapoosa River was last observed at 5,181 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 10,276 acre-ft of water today; about 46% of normal. River levels are low and may signify a drought. Average streamflow for this time of year is 11,363 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2020-03-07 when daily discharge volume was observed at 144,210 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Tallapoosa River Near Mont.-Mont. Water Works reporting a streamflow rate of 2,140 cfs. This is also the highest stage along the Tallapoosa River, with a gauge stage of 5.06 ft at this location. This river is monitored from 5 different streamgauging stations along the Tallapoosa River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 919 ft, the Tallapoosa River Below Tallapoosa.

Aggregate trend

River streamflow levels

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

All 5 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)
Tallapoosa River Below Tallapoosa GA
USGS 02411930
648 3.57 239.3 322% 1 6,770 919
Tallapoosa River Near Heflin AL
USGS 02412000
349 3.44 -34.0 93% 0 9,670 837
Tallapoosa River At Wadley Al AL
USGS 02414500
1,660 4.73 6.4 89% 63 48,700 651
Tallapoosa River Nr New Site AL
USGS 02414715
733 2.79 -18.2 62% 77 51,000 572
Tallapoosa River Near Mont.-Mont. Water Works AL
USGS 02419890
2,140 5.06 -38.0 58% 479 90,900 143
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

Tallapoosa River

The Tallapoosa River, located in Alabama, is approximately 265 miles long and has a rich history dating back to the Creek Indian Wars. The river is fed by several smaller tributaries, including the Little Tallapoosa River and the Chatahoochee River. The hydrology of the river is affected by several dams and reservoirs, including Yates Dam and Lake Martin, Harris Dam and Lake Wedowee, and Thurlow Dam and Lake Tallassee. These dams provide hydroelectric power, flood control, and recreational opportunities for boating, fishing, and swimming. The Tallapoosa River also plays a significant role in agricultural practices, providing irrigation for crops such as cotton and soybeans. Despite its importance to the local economy, the river has faced ecological challenges such as pollution and habitat destruction in recent decades.

Around the river

Recreation along the Tallapoosa River

Fishing access and paddle runs Snoflo tracks within the watershed.

Track the Tallapoosa 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 Tallapoosa River

Where does the data for the Tallapoosa 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.