Tellico River Flow Today
As of October 15, 2026 at 3:00 AM, the Tellico River is flowing at 74 cfs at Tellico Plains, TN — 77% of normal for the date and down 14% in 24 hours. ❤ Favorite
Tellico River map
See the Tellico River on a live map
Every gauge, dam and paddle run on the river, one tap each:
- Gauges now — which reaches are high or low
- Dams & paddle runs — storage and what’s in range
- Rain — past 24 hrs and the 72-hr forecast, press play
✓ Free for 7 days · ✓ Cancel anytime
Tellico River conditions today
Where the river is running versus normal, what’s rising or dropping, and what it means for a trip — built from the live USGS readings below.
At Tellico Plains, the Tellico River is running 74 cfs — 77% of normal, down 14% since yesterday. Along the river, 1 of 1 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 77% of normal).
In the last 24 hours the river is dropping at Tellico Plains (-14%).
Paddlers: 1 of 1 runs on the Tellico River with a live range are in range.
How the Tellico River compares to normal
Every reporting gauge from the top of the river to the bottom: bar length is today’s flow, colour is percent of normal for the date.
Flow along the river, upstream to downstream
- Tellico Plains864 ft 74 cfs77%
Bar length uses a square-root scale so small headwater flows stay visible next to big downstream ones. Colour: <50% 50–90 90–110 110–150 150%+ of normal.
Where every gauge sits
One dot per Tellico River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (77%).
Tellico River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Tellico River At Tellico Plains TN
Oct 15, 3:00 AM · USGS 03518500 |
74 cfs | 77% | -14% | 0.82 ft | 864 ft |
USGS provisional data. Readings are in each gauge’s local time; gauges silent for more than 3 days are marked “Last reported”. Tap any gauge for its hydrograph, forecast and history.
Paddle runs on the Tellico River
1 of 2 runs is in range right now. Each run is checked against its runnable range using the gauge it is keyed to (or the nearest gauge on this river).
| Run | Status | Flow now | Runnable range | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tn/Nc State Line (Rm 48.0) To Tn360 Bridge (Rm 30.0) Gauge: Tellico Plains |
In range | 74 cfs | 65–807 cfs typical | · |
| Headwaters Near Graham County Line To Nc/Tn State Line Gauge: Tellico Plains |
No live range | 74 cfs | 196–471 cfs typical | · |
Tellico River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river (this total last updated earlier; the live gauge readings above are current).
Tellico River
The Tellico River, located in eastern Tennessee, is approximately 52 miles long and a tributary of the Little Tennessee River. The river's hydrology is primarily influenced by precipitation and snowmelt, with its flow regulated by several dams, including the Tellico Dam and the Chilhowee Dam. The Tellico Dam creates the Tellico Reservoir, which is used for hydroelectric power generation, flood control, and recreational activities such as boating and fishing. The Chilhowee Dam, on the other hand, creates the Chilhowee Reservoir, which is mainly used for flood control. The Tellico River has a rich history, with Native American tribes such as the Cherokee and Creek inhabiting the area, followed by European settlers in the 1700s. Today, the river is an important source of drinking water and irrigation for surrounding agricultural communities and a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
Fishing near the Tellico River
About the Tellico River
How is the Tellico River flowing right now?
As of October 15, 2026, the Tellico River is flowing at 74 cfs at Tellico Plains, TN, about 77% of normal for the date. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Tellico River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Tellico River is at 77% of normal for the date. Above 100% means higher than the historical average for this calendar day; below 100% means lower. The profile above shows which reaches are high or low.
Is the Tellico River runnable for paddling today?
1 of 2 paddle runs is in range right now. Each run in the paddle table is checked against its runnable range using its gauge's live flow.
Where does the data come from?
Discharge and gage height are from the USGS National Water Information System; flood stages from the National Weather Service. The history chart sums every monitored gauge on the river.
Can I get alerts for a gauge?
Yes — open any gauge from the table, favorite it in the Snoflo app and set a flow threshold.