Bogue Chitto River level at Franklinton
Louisiana · Tubing & floating
Measured at USGS 02491500 — Bogue Chitto River at Franklinton, LA · NWS forecast point FRNL1
Reading taken · as of 48 min ago
Running thin — a slow, scrapey float
At 0.57 ft, this gauge is running 85% of normal for mid-September — close to the 0.7 ft median USGS has recorded for this date across 25 years of record (1998–2026).
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Flood stages at Franklinton
National Weather Service categories for gauge FRNL1, WFO LIX. Impact wording is the NWS's own, verbatim.
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Major flood 21.0 ft
- 21.0 ft There will be major flooding for three-quarters of a mile east of the river above Bogue Chitto Heights and for three-quarters of a mile either side of the river from Bogue Chitto Heights downstream. Homes on the west bank along Highway 10 will flood.
- 28.0 ft There will be major flooding for about one mile either side of the river from Warnerton through Franklinton downstream to Enon. Louisiana Highway 16 near Enon will be under water.
- 29.6 ft Flood of Record occurred on April 15, 1900. Water will cover sections of LA Highways 10, 16, 25, and 440. Water will threaten other roads as far east as LA Highway 1072. Water will back up along tributaries.
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Moderate flood 16.0 ft
- 16.0 ft Bogue Chitto Heights Subdivision will begin to flood. Some homes will be damaged. Homes on the west bank north of Louisiana Highway 10 will flood. It is recommended that sand and gravel operations be stopped and equipment secured. Access roads to recreational areas will flood.
- 18.0 ft Homes, recreational camps, and industry for a mile along the east bank below the Franklinton bridge will be flooded. Bogue Citto Heights Subdivision will begin to flood. Some homes will be damaged. Homes on the west bank north of Louisiana Highway 10 will flood.
- 20.0 ft Homes on the west bank along Highway 10 will flood along with homes, recreational camps, and industry for a mile along the east bank below the Franklinton bridge. Portions of Bogue Chitto Heights Subdivision will remain flooded affecting some homes.
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Minor flood 12.0 ft
- 12.0 ft The national guard armory and parish corrections facility will require flood protection measures as river front property will flood. Sand bagging is recommended
- 14.0 ft There will be minor flooding along both banks. The National Guard Armory and parish corrections facility will require flood protection measures, as river front property will flood. Sand bagging is recommended. It is recommended that sand and gravel operations be stopped and equipment secured. Access roads to recreational areas will flood.
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Action 10.0 ft
- Right now 0.57 ft
NWS forecast: 0.60 ft by .
Flow history at Franklinton
Daily values from USGS 02491500, updated every 15 to 60 minutes; NWS forecast for FRNL1 reissued through the day. Provisional.
Highest crests on record at Franklinton
12 on record
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 29.60 ft | — | Apr 15, 1900 |
| 24.69 ft | 125,000 CFS | Apr 7, 1983 |
| 24.27 ft | 121,493 CFS | Mar 11, 2016 |
| 22.13 ft | 80,300 CFS | Aug 31, 2012 |
| 21.16 ft | 67,000 CFS | Jan 26, 1990 |
| 20.90 ft | 64,400 CFS | Jan 18, 1925 |
| 20.65 ft | 59,983 CFS | Aug 12, 2016 |
| 20.55 ft | 56,700 CFS | Mar 30, 1980 |
| 19.80 ft | — | Mar 26, 2021 |
| 19.50 ft | 49,500 CFS | Feb 14, 1927 |
Crests published by the National Weather Service.
About Bogue Chitto River at Franklinton
In Louisiana — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters here check before committing to a shuttle. Longest tubing float in Louisiana.
Bogue Chitto River at Franklinton — common questions
3 questions
Does rain upstream change Bogue Chitto River at Franklinton quickly?
Yes. It is free-flowing, so rain upstream moves it directly. Several feet in a few hours is normal after a heavy storm.
Is Bogue Chitto River at Franklinton high or low for this time of year?
The USGS median gage height for mid-September here is 0.7 ft, from 25 years of record (1998–2026). Today is 85% of it. The comparison is what makes the raw number mean anything: the same reading is a drought on one river and a flood on another.
How often does this reading update?
USGS transmits from gauge 02491500 every 15 to 60 minutes, and the National Weather Service reissues the flood forecast for FRNL1 a few times a day — more often when the river is rising. This page refreshes from both when you open it. The timestamp is in the gauge's local time.