Chattahoochee River at Buford Dam
Georgia · Fishing & wading
Measured at USGS 02334430 — CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER AT BUFORD DAM, NEAR BUFORD, GA · NWS forecast point BUFG1
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:45 PM UTC
High and likely stained — not a wading flow
At 4,590 CFS, this gauge is running 319% of normal for late July — above the 1,440 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 70 years of record (1956–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Buford Dam
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge BUFG1, issued by WFO FFC. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
-
Minor flood 12.0 ft
- 12.0 ft Flood stage is reached. Minor flooding begins on the river just downstream from Buford Dam. This will primarily affect the woodlands in the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. Portions of Little Mill Road leading to a park near the dam will begin to flood.
-
Action 8.0 ft
- 8.0 ft Bankfull conditions occur on the river just downstream from Buford Dam.
- 10.0 ft Bankfull conditions continue on the river just downstream from Buford Dam. Some low lying areas near the banks will begin to flood in the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.
- Right now 2.40 ft
12 months of flow at Buford Dam
Daily values from USGS gauge 02334430. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Buford Dam
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 7.88 ft | 9,670 CFS | Oct 22, 1971 |
| 7.76 ft | 9,620 CFS | Oct 10, 1972 |
| 7.41 ft | 11,000 CFS | Nov 2, 1978 |
| 7.30 ft | 9,970 CFS | Jun 29, 1976 |
| 7.30 ft | 9,970 CFS | Sep 4, 1975 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Chattahoochee River at Buford Dam
This gauge sits on Chattahoochee River at Buford Dam, Georgia, immediately below Lake Lanier. Flow here is controlled by releases from the dam, so it can change by hundreds of CFS within an hour with no rain anywhere in the basin — check it before you go, not the day before.
Southeast's most-fished tailwater; generation horn. Below Lake Lanier.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 1,440 CFS for late July, from 70 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.
Reservoir feeding this stretch
Flow at this gauge is set by releases from Lake Lanier. A full pool usually means more water is on its way down.
Chattahoochee River at Buford Dam — common questions
What is the current flow on Chattahoochee River at Buford Dam?
As of the last reading on this page, Chattahoochee River at Buford Dam was running 4,590 CFS at a gage height of 2.40 ft, or 319% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 02334430, 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 1,440 CFS, calculated from 70 years of record (1956–2026). 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.
Is Chattahoochee River at Buford Dam wadeable right now?
That depends on the reach and on your own judgement — riverlvl will not tell you the water is safe to stand in. What it will tell you is whether today's flow is unusually high or low for the date, against a seasonal median of 1,440 CFS, which is the single most useful input to that decision. On a dam tailwater like this one, the bigger risk is a sudden generation release, which can raise the river several feet with little warning.
How do releases from Lake Lanier affect this stretch?
Directly and quickly. When the dam generates or spills, flow at this gauge climbs — often within an hour, often by an order of magnitude. The reservoir level itself is tracked on lakelvl.com, and the link on this page goes straight to it, so you can see whether the pool is high enough that releases are likely.
Where does this data come from?
Flow and gage height are public-domain USGS data from gauge 02334430. Flood categories, impact statements and the forecast come from the NOAA / National Weather Service National Water Prediction Service, gauge BUFG1. riverlvl adds the seasonal comparison and plain-English summary; it is not an official source and does not issue warnings.