Edisto River at Givhans Ferry
South Carolina · Tubing & floating
Measured at USGS 02175000 — EDISTO RIVER NR GIVHANS, SC · NWS forecast point GIVS1
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:30 PM UTC
Low and slow — expect to drag in the shallows
At 485 CFS, this gauge is running 43% of normal for late July — below the 1,120 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 87 years of record (1939–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Givhans Ferry
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge GIVS1, issued by WFO CHS. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Major flood 15.0 ft
- 15.0 ft major flooding occurs as the entire flood plain is inundated from Holly Ridge to Highway 17. Extensive damage occurs to homes and cabins throughout this area and most river access roads are impassable. Flooding will also impede travel as portions of major roadways are closed to traffic including Parkers Ferry Road, Camp Buddy Road, and Wire Road.
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Moderate flood 12.0 ft
- 12.0 ft most homes on Happiness Lane are accessible only by boat. Flooding also occurs along roadways south of Highway 17 Alternate including Martins Landing Road.
- 12.5 ft lower portions of Hideaway Lane flood. Water also covers the driveways in the Harts Bluff community.
- 13.0 ft some homes near the end of Happiness Lane are flooded. Most homes and cabins along the river between Holly Ridge and Norman Landing are accessible only by boat. Flooding will also impact portions of Parkers Ferry Road.
- 14.2 ft numerous homes along Happiness Lane are flooded. Water covers most of Hideaway Lane.
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Minor flood 10.0 ft
- 10.0 ft water affects the ends of numerous river access roads including Happiness Lane, Canon Road, Cardinal Lane, Huckleberry Hill Lane, and Gator Walk.
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Action 9.0 ft
- Right now 1.96 ft
NWS forecast: 2.00 ft by Jul 29, 6:00 AM UTC.
12 months of flow at Givhans Ferry
Daily values from USGS gauge 02175000. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Givhans Ferry
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 17.50 ft | 24,900 CFS | Feb 1, 1925 |
| 17.28 ft | 24,300 CFS | Sep 21, 1945 |
| 17.21 ft | 37,400 CFS | Aug 11, 2024 |
| 17.00 ft | — | Aug 1, 1904 |
| 16.06 ft | 26,600 CFS | Oct 8, 2015 |
| 15.84 ft | 24,500 CFS | Jun 14, 1973 |
| 15.70 ft | 19,500 CFS | Sep 11, 1928 |
| 15.54 ft | — | Jan 16, 1993 |
| 15.51 ft | 22,400 CFS | Sep 9, 1979 |
| 15.50 ft | — | Sep 1, 1924 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Edisto River at Givhans Ferry
This gauge measures Edisto River at Givhans Ferry, South Carolina — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Outfitters merchandise stage directly.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 1,120 CFS for late July, from 87 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.
Edisto River at Givhans Ferry — common questions
What is the current flow on Edisto River at Givhans Ferry?
As of the last reading on this page, Edisto River at Givhans Ferry was running 485 CFS at a gage height of 1.96 ft, or 43% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 02175000, 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 1,120 CFS, calculated from 87 years of record (1939–2026). 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 Edisto 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.