North Anna River at Partlow
Virginia · Fishing & wading
Measured at USGS 01670400 — NORTH ANNA RIVER NEAR PARTLOW, VA · NWS forecast point PARV2
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:15 PM UTC
Below normal — good wading, low and clear
At 48 CFS, this gauge is running 85% of normal for late July — close to the 56 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 36 years of record (1979–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
Sponsor North Anna River
Put your outfitter, guide service, cabin rental or shuttle in front of everyone checking this stretch before they drive out. One exclusive sponsor per river.
Cancel anytime · Questions?
12 months of flow at Partlow
Daily values from USGS gauge 01670400. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Partlow
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 36.32 ft | 22,000 CFS | Jun 22, 1972 |
| 27.80 ft | 11,600 CFS | May 1, 2014 |
| 26.24 ft | 11,700 CFS | Jun 27, 1995 |
| 25.30 ft | 11,700 CFS | Feb 26, 1979 |
| 22.05 ft | 9,030 CFS | Mar 30, 1984 |
| 21.48 ft | 8,690 CFS | Nov 28, 1993 |
| 21.48 ft | 8,690 CFS | Nov 5, 1985 |
| 20.72 ft | 8,230 CFS | Mar 5, 1993 |
| 20.49 ft | 7,510 CFS | Nov 12, 2020 |
| 18.77 ft | 6,840 CFS | Dec 8, 2011 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About North Anna River at Partlow
This gauge sits on North Anna River at Partlow, Virginia, immediately below Lake Anna. 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.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 56 CFS for late July, from 36 years of record.
Reservoir feeding this stretch
Flow at this gauge is set by releases from Lake Anna. A full pool usually means more water is on its way down.
North Anna River at Partlow — common questions
What is the current flow on North Anna River at Partlow?
As of the last reading on this page, North Anna River at Partlow was running 48 CFS at a gage height of 3.69 ft, or 85% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 01670400, 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 56 CFS, calculated from 36 years of record (1979–2026). 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 North Anna River at Partlow 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 56 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 Anna 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 01670400. Flood categories, impact statements and the forecast come from the NOAA / National Weather Service National Water Prediction Service, gauge PARV2. riverlvl adds the seasonal comparison and plain-English summary; it is not an official source and does not issue warnings.