Tuckasegee River river
Total streamflow across the Tuckasegee River was last observed at 2,751 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 5,457 acre-ft of water today; about 75% of normal. Average streamflow for this time of year is 3,673 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2022-05-27 when daily discharge volume was observed at 43,830 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Tuckasegee River At Bryson City reporting a streamflow rate of 1,680 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the Tuckasegee River At Sr 1172 Nr Cullowhee with a gauge stage of 4.98 ft. This river is monitored from 3 different streamgauging stations along the Tuckasegee River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 2,116 ft, the Tuckasegee River At Sr 1172 Nr Cullowhee.
River streamflow levels
Daily aggregate streamflow across every monitored gauge along the Tuckasegee River. Use the range buttons to zoom in on a specific period.
Total streamflow
Sum of all monitored streamgauges · daily
Every streamgauge along the Tuckasegee 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)▾ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Tuckasegee River At Sr 1172 Nr Cullowhee
NC
USGS 03508050
|
326 | 4.98 | -49.3 | 58% | 26 | 8,630 | 2,116 |
|
Tuckasegee River At Barker's Creek
NC
USGS 03510577
|
745 | 4.14 | -26.2 | 74% | 115 | 19,800 | 1,885 |
|
Tuckasegee River At Bryson City
NC
USGS 03513000
|
1,680 | 2.91 | -16.8 | 116% | 255 | 26,000 | 1,717 |
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
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
Tuckasegee River
The Tuckasegee River is an important natural resource in western North Carolina, stretching 50 miles from its headwaters in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to its confluence with the Little Tennessee River. Historically, the river played a significant role in Cherokee culture and served as a source of food and transportation for early settlers. Today, the river supports a variety of recreational activities, including fishing, kayaking, and tubing. The river's hydrology is impacted by several large reservoirs, including Lake Glenville, Bear Creek Lake, and Fontana Lake, which was created by the Fontana Dam, the tallest dam east of the Rocky Mountains. These reservoirs provide hydroelectric power, flood control, and water supply for residents and industries in the region. Additionally, the Tuckasegee River Valley is home to several farms and vineyards, which benefit from the river's fertile soils and abundant water supply.
Recreation along the Tuckasegee River
Fishing access and paddle runs Snoflo tracks within the watershed.
Paddle runs
- Yellowstone Prong From Headwaters To Confluence With East Fork And Yellowstone Prong
- Dark Prong From Headwaters To Confluence East Fork And Yellowstone Prong
- Headwaters To Sloan's Bridge Crossing, Crossing Of Sc 107
- East Fork From Us Highway 276 To Confluence Of Dark Prong And Yellowstone Prong
- 1/4 Mile Above The Walhalla Fish Hatchery To 1/4 Mile Below The Walhalla Fish Hatchery
- Sloan's Bridge Crossing To 1/4 Mile Above The Walhalla Fish Hatchery
Track the Tuckasegee 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.
About the Tuckasegee River
Where does the data for the Tuckasegee 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.