Blackwater River at Milton
Florida · Tubing & floating
Measured at USGS 02370000 — BLACKWATER RIVER NR BAKER, FLA. · NWS forecast point BAKF1
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:00 PM UTC
Low and slow — expect to drag in the shallows
At 94 CFS, this gauge is running 52% of normal for late July — below the 181 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 73 years of record (1950–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Milton
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge BAKF1, issued by WFO MOB. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
-
Major flood 24.0 ft
- 24.0 ft Highway 4 bridge is closed.
-
Moderate flood 16.0 ft
- 16.0 ft Some residential flooding occurs downstream from the Highway 4 bridge.
- 23.0 ft Water reaches eaves of buildings in Cotton Bridge Park.
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Minor flood 11.0 ft
- 11.0 ft Minor flooding of secondary roads and lowlands from the Highway 4 Bridge downstream.
- 14.5 ft Flooding of Cotton Ridge Park in Baker begins.
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Action 6.0 ft
- 9.5 ft Kennedy and Peaden Bridges are flooded upstream of Highway 4 bridge.
- Right now 1.17 ft
12 months of flow at Milton
Daily values from USGS gauge 02370000. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Milton
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 25.68 ft | 26,500 CFS | Sep 29, 1998 |
| 25.61 ft | 26,200 CFS | Jun 4, 1990 |
| 25.00 ft | — | Oct 6, 1995 |
| 24.99 ft | 24,400 CFS | Mar 17, 1990 |
| 24.55 ft | 23,100 CFS | Sep 17, 2020 |
| 23.05 ft | — | Mar 9, 1998 |
| 22.97 ft | 18,800 CFS | Sep 17, 1988 |
| 22.97 ft | 18,600 CFS | Jul 31, 1975 |
| 21.66 ft | 15,800 CFS | Mar 29, 2009 |
| 20.80 ft | 17,200 CFS | Dec 4, 1953 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Blackwater River at Milton
This gauge measures Blackwater River at Milton, Florida — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Heaviest Panhandle tubing cluster.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 181 CFS for late July, from 73 years of record.
Because the National Weather Service also operates a forecast point here, the page carries the official flood-category ladder and the NWS's own stage-by-stage impact statements.
Blackwater River at Milton — common questions
What is the current flow on Blackwater River at Milton?
As of the last reading on this page, Blackwater River at Milton was running 94 CFS at a gage height of 1.17 ft, or 52% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 02370000, which reports every 15 to 60 minutes.
Is that high or low for this time of year?
The USGS median flow for late July at this gauge is 181 CFS, calculated from 73 years of record (1950–2026). Comparing today's reading against that median is the only way a raw CFS number tells you anything — 200 CFS is a drought on one river and a flood on another.
How often does this reading update?
USGS transmits from this gauge every 15 to 60 minutes. This page bakes in the most recent reading when it is rebuilt, then refreshes live from USGS when you open it. Readings are provisional and subject to revision by USGS.
What flow is good for tubing Blackwater River?
riverlvl does not publish a recommended tubing range — that call belongs to the outfitters and the local authorities who know this stretch. What this page gives you is the objective input: today's flow, the seasonal median for the same date, and where the reading sits in the 12-month record. Local outfitters generally publish their own cutoffs, and they close when the river is up.
Does rain upstream change this reading quickly?
Yes. This is a free-flowing gauge, so it responds directly to rain in the basin upstream. Flashy rises of several feet in a few hours are normal on rivers like this after a heavy storm, which is why the reading is worth checking the morning you go.
What does gage height mean versus CFS?
Gage height is how high the water surface is above the gauge's own zero point, in feet — a local measure, not depth and not elevation. CFS is cubic feet per second, the volume of water moving past the gauge. Flood stages are set in gage height; float and paddling conditions are usually discussed in CFS.