Bogue Chitto River at Franklinton
Louisiana · Tubing & floating
Measured at USGS 02491500 — Bogue Chitto River at Franklinton, LA · NWS forecast point FRNL1
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:15 PM UTC
Right around its normal summer float level
At — CFS, this gauge is running 116% of normal for late July — above the 0.6 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 28 years of record (1998–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Franklinton
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge FRNL1, issued by WFO LIX. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced 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 0.65 ft
NWS forecast: 0.70 ft by Jul 29, 6:00 AM UTC.
12 months of flow at Franklinton
Daily values from USGS gauge 02491500. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Franklinton
| 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 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Bogue Chitto River at Franklinton
This gauge measures Bogue Chitto River at Franklinton, Louisiana — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Longest tubing float in Louisiana.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 0.6 CFS for late July, from 28 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.
Bogue Chitto River at Franklinton — common questions
What is the current flow on Bogue Chitto River at Franklinton?
The live reading comes from USGS gauge 02491500, which reports every 15 to 60 minutes. The current value is shown at the top of this page.
Is that high or low for this time of year?
The USGS median flow for late July at this gauge is 0.6 CFS, calculated from 28 years of record (1998–2026). 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 Bogue Chitto 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.