Nolichucky River at Erwin
Tennessee · Paddling & whitewater
Measured at USGS 03465500 — NOLICHUCKY RIVER AT EMBREEVILLE, TN · NWS forecast point EMBT1
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:30 PM UTC
Reading live
This gauge is reporting, but USGS has not published enough daily statistics for this site to compare today's reading against a seasonal normal.
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Erwin
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge EMBT1, issued by WFO MRX. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Major flood 20.0 ft
- 21.5 ft A Bumpus Cove Road resident reported that the 1977 flood was said to have gotten into the house she lives in, which sits on a concrete slab, while it did not get into the house next door, which sits two feet higher atop a crawl space. This is a source of uncertainty of impacts at this location and its relation to gauge measurements downstream near the bridge and any effects of damming the bridge may cause near the gauge. These homes were destroyed by Helene flooding; perhaps some may be rebuilt.
- 24.0 ft Previous Flood of Record from 1901.
- 33.9 ft Flood of record from the 2024 Helene event, as established by high water marks.
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Moderate flood 16.0 ft
- 16.0 ft Water reaches the pad of the train car at KOA Campground. This campground was destructively impacted by Helene flooding; perhaps it will be restored.
- 17.0 ft Low spots along Hwy 107 between Embreeville and Erwin might flood.
- 18.0 ft Water might threaten the lowest of a row of riverside homes along Bumpus Cove Road a half mile upstream from the bridge. Flows this high contain increasing uncertainty as to how the gauge readings downstream near the bridge are reflective of stream heights and impacts along Bumpus Cove Road. These homes were destroyed by Helene flooding; perhaps some may be rebuilt.
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Minor flood 12.0 ft
- 12.0 ft Pasture land around the Highway 107 bridge floods. The channel narrows at the bridge just downstream of the gauge, which may elevate the river level at the gauge during higher flows due to damming effect.
- 13.0 ft Portions of AJ Willis Road will flood.
- 14.0 ft Back yards of riverside homes along Bumpus Cove Road take substantial water. These homes were destroyed by Helene flooding; perhaps some may be rebuilt.
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Action 10.0 ft
- 11.0 ft The main camping level of the KOA campground is covered by water. This campground was destructively impacted by Helene flooding; perhaps it will be restored.
- 11.5 ft Property at Bumpus Cove Road and Little Germany Road floods. Much of the Bumpus Cove area was destroyed by Helene flooding; some structures may gradually be rebuilt.
- Right now 2.59 ft
NWS forecast: 4.10 ft by Jul 29, 6:00 PM UTC.
12 months of flow at Erwin
Daily values from USGS gauge 03465500. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Erwin
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 33.88 ft | — | Sep 27, 2024 |
| 24.00 ft | 120,000 CFS | May 21, 1901 |
| 21.52 ft | 110,000 CFS | Nov 6, 1977 |
| 18.57 ft | 82,500 CFS | Aug 13, 1940 |
| 15.55 ft | 64,100 CFS | Sep 17, 2004 |
| 15.53 ft | 64,000 CFS | Jan 15, 1995 |
| 14.92 ft | 60,220 CFS | Sep 8, 2004 |
| 13.85 ft | 35,300 CFS | Aug 16, 1928 |
| 13.45 ft | 51,400 CFS | Jan 8, 1998 |
| 12.76 ft | 47,900 CFS | Mar 12, 1963 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Nolichucky River at Erwin
This gauge measures Nolichucky River at Erwin, Tennessee — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Nolichucky Gorge; classic natural-flow run.
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.
Nolichucky River at Erwin — common questions
What is the current flow on Nolichucky River at Erwin?
The live reading comes from USGS gauge 03465500, 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?
USGS has not published enough daily statistics for this site to compute a seasonal median, so this page shows the live reading and its recent trend rather than a percent-of-normal figure.
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 03465500, 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 EMBT1.