Chattooga River at Long Creek
South Carolina · Paddling & whitewater
Measured at USGS 02177000 — CHATTOOGA RIVER NEAR CLAYTON, GA · NWS forecast point CYNG1
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:00 PM UTC
Too low for most boats — rocky and technical
At 196 CFS, this gauge is running 54% of normal for late July — below the 362 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 86 years of record (1940–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Long Creek
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge CYNG1, issued by WFO GSP. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
-
Major flood 29.0 ft
- 42.0 ft ROAD OVER THE RIVER WILL BEGIN TO FLOOD...BUT IS WELL ABOVE RECORD CREST OF 13.8 FEET.
-
Moderate flood 20.0 ft
-
Minor flood 15.0 ft
- 15.0 ft ROADS DOWNSTREAM MAY START TO FLOOD
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Action 14.0 ft
- Right now 1.21 ft
12 months of flow at Long Creek
Daily values from USGS gauge 02177000. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Long Creek
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 13.80 ft | 29,000 CFS | Aug 30, 1940 |
| 12.00 ft | — | May 28, 1973 |
| 11.37 ft | 34,300 CFS | Sep 27, 2024 |
| 11.21 ft | 33,300 CFS | Sep 17, 2004 |
| 11.12 ft | — | Oct 4, 1964 |
| 10.36 ft | — | May 15, 1976 |
| 10.12 ft | — | Mar 4, 1979 |
| 9.21 ft | 14,950 CFS | Sep 8, 2004 |
| 9.17 ft | — | Feb 13, 1966 |
| 9.09 ft | 12,600 CFS | Jan 8, 1998 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Chattooga River at Long Creek
This gauge measures Chattooga River at Long Creek, South Carolina — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Section IV Five Falls; most level-sensitive commercial run in the region.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 362 CFS for late July, from 86 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.
Chattooga River at Long Creek — common questions
What is the current flow on Chattooga River at Long Creek?
As of the last reading on this page, Chattooga River at Long Creek was running 196 CFS at a gage height of 1.21 ft, or 54% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 02177000, 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 362 CFS, calculated from 86 years of record (1940–2026). 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 is a runnable level on this stretch?
riverlvl deliberately does not publish a runnable range. American Whitewater and the local paddling community maintain the correlations for this reach, and they are the authority. This page gives you the raw inputs — current CFS, gage height, the seasonal median, and the 12-month hydrograph — so you can apply whatever range you trust.
How fast can this gauge come up?
This is a free-flowing gauge, so it rises with rain in the basin. The 12-month chart on this page shows the shape of the past year's rises, which is the best available guide to how flashy this particular reach is.
Where does this data come from?
The flow and gage height come from USGS gauge 02177000, public-domain data from the U.S. Geological Survey. The flood categories, impact statements and forecast come from the National Weather Service's National Water Prediction Service, gauge CYNG1.