Nottely River at Blairsville
Georgia · Fishing & wading
Measured at USGS 03550500 — NOTTELY RIVER NEAR BLAIRSVILLE, GA · NWS forecast point BRVG1
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:45 PM UTC
Below normal — good wading, low and clear
At 60 CFS, this gauge is running 70% of normal for late July — below the 85 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 58 years of record (1942–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Blairsville
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge BRVG1, issued by WFO FFC. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Major flood 21.0 ft
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Moderate flood 18.0 ft
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Minor flood 13.0 ft
- 13.0 ft Flood stage is reached. Minor flooding occurs in the woodlands...fields and pastures upstream and downstream from the gage on Owltown Road. Evacuations will be needed in any recreational parks near the river.
- 14.0 ft Minor flooding continues to expand further into the woodlands...fields and pastures upstream and downstream from the gage on Owltown Road. The recreational parks near the river should be closed due to flooding.
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Action 10.0 ft
- 10.0 ft Bankfull conditions are reached upstream and downstream from the gage on Owltown Road.
- 11.0 ft Bankfull conditions continue upstream and downstream from the gage on Owltown Road. Some flooding of low lying areas in recreational parks will occur.
- Right now 1.62 ft
12 months of flow at Blairsville
Daily values from USGS gauge 03550500. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Blairsville
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 19.04 ft | 12,900 CFS | Aug 23, 1967 |
| 15.63 ft | 7,467 CFS | Dec 24, 2015 |
| 14.88 ft | 6,837 CFS | Mar 26, 2021 |
| 14.78 ft | 8,500 CFS | Mar 11, 1952 |
| 14.68 ft | 6,674 CFS | Oct 29, 2020 |
| 14.28 ft | 7,950 CFS | Oct 4, 1964 |
| 14.04 ft | 7,230 CFS | May 28, 1973 |
| 13.92 ft | 6,524 CFS | Jan 30, 2013 |
| 13.13 ft | 6,770 CFS | Mar 3, 1979 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Nottely River at Blairsville
This gauge sits on Nottely River at Blairsville, Georgia, immediately below Lake Nottely. 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 — 85 CFS for late July, from 58 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 Nottely. A full pool usually means more water is on its way down.
Nottely River at Blairsville — common questions
What is the current flow on Nottely River at Blairsville?
As of the last reading on this page, Nottely River at Blairsville was running 60 CFS at a gage height of 1.62 ft, or 70% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 03550500, 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 85 CFS, calculated from 58 years of record (1942–2026). 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 Nottely River at Blairsville 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 85 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 Nottely 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 03550500. Flood categories, impact statements and the forecast come from the NOAA / National Weather Service National Water Prediction Service, gauge BRVG1. riverlvl adds the seasonal comparison and plain-English summary; it is not an official source and does not issue warnings.