Oconee River at Milledgeville
Georgia · Flood watch
Measured at USGS 02223000 — OCONEE RIVER AT MILLEDGEVILLE, GA · NWS forecast point MLGG1
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:45 PM UTC
Running far above normal for the date
At 3,210 CFS, this gauge is running 495% of normal for late July — above the 648 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 73 years of record (1953–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Milledgeville
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge MLGG1, issued by WFO FFC. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Major flood 38.0 ft
- 38.0 ft Major flooding begins with numerous roads closed in the east and south sides of Milledgeville near the river...and along Fishing Creek and Tanyard Branch Stream. Several structures will be flooded. Widespread flooding of woodlands and pastures near the river occurs. Sinclair Dam will likely have eight gates open to reach this height.
- 43.0 ft Record flooding begins with the water level just five feet below the bottom of the Georgia Highway 22 and 24 bridge. Widespread inundation flooding of roads and structures on the east side of Milledgeville near the river and along Fishing Creek and Tanyard Branch continues. Sinclair Dam will likely have around 14 gates open to reach this height.
- 45.0 ft Record flooding continues with the water level approaching the bottom of the Georgia Highway 22 and 24 bridge. The bridge will likely be closed by state officials. Widespread inundation flooding of roads and structures on the east side of Milledgeville near the river and along Fishing Creek and Tanyard Branch continues. Sinclair Dam will likely have around 17 gates open to reach this height.
- 48.0 ft Record flooding continues with the water level reaching the bottom of the Georgia Highway 22 and 24 bridge. The bridge will be closed by state officials. Widespread inundation flooding of roads and structures on the east side of Milledgeville near the river and along Fishing Creek and Tanyard Branch continues. Sinclair Dam will likely have around 20 gates open to reach this height.
- 50.0 ft Record flooding continues with the water level hitting the Georgia Highway 22 and 24 bridge. The bridge will become an obstacle and act like a dam causing some backwater and erosion eddies to the sides of the bridge. The bridge will be closed by state officials. Widespread inundation flooding of roads and structures on the east side of Milledgeville near the river and along Fishing Creek and Tanyard Branch will continue. Sinclair Dam will likely have around 22 gates open to reach this height.
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Moderate flood 32.0 ft
- 32.0 ft Moderate flooding begins and expands further into the woodlands and pastures along the river. Fishing Creek continues to back up and spread further into woodland areas and covers some roads in low lying areas. Tanyard Branch Stream continues to flood. Sinclair Dam will likely have five gates open to reach this height.
- 34.0 ft Moderate flooding continues to expand further into the woodlands and pastures along the river. Fishing Creek continues to back up and spread further into woodland areas and cover some roads. Some structures near the creek will begin to flood. Tanyard Branch Stream continues to flood. Sinclair Dam will likely have six gates open to reach this height.
- 36.0 ft Significant flood continues with numerous roads closed in the east and south sides of Milledgeville near the river...and along Fishing Creek and Tanyard Branch Stream. Several structures will be flooded. Widespread flooding of woodlands and pastures near the river occurs. Sinclair Dam will likely have seven gates open to reach this height.
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Minor flood 22.0 ft
- 22.0 ft Flood stage is reached. Minor flooding occurs upstream and downstream from the gage located around one half mile upstream from the Georgia Highway 22 and 24 bridge. Low lying portions of woodlands and pasture in the natural flood plain will begin to flood. This will include portions of the sidewalks in the Oconee River Greenway Park just downstream from the bridge. Sinclair Dam will have one to two gates open to reach this height.
- 24.0 ft Minor flooding continues upstream and downstream from the gage located around one half mile upstream from the Georgia Highway 22 and 24 bridge. The parking lot and portions of the Oconee River Greenway Park just downstream from the bridge will be flooded. Low lying areas of woodlands and pasture near the river will be flooded one to two feet deep. Sinclair Dam will likely have two gates open to reach this height.
- 27.0 ft Minor flooding continues in the woodlands and pasture upstream and downstream from the gage located around one half mile upstream from the Georgia Highway 22 and 24 bridge. The parking lot and the Oconee River Greenway Park just downstream from the bridge will be completely flooded with water several feet deep. Sinclair Dam will have three to four gates open to reach this height.
- 30.0 ft Minor flooding continues to expand further into the woodlands and pasture upstream and downstream from the gage near the Georgia Highway 22 and 24 bridge. Fishing Creek backs up and a few buildings along the creek will be flooded. Also Tanyard Branch Stream between East Thomas and East Charleston Streets in Milledgeville will flood. Sinclair Dam will likely have four to five gates open to reach this height.
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Action 20.0 ft
- 20.0 ft Bankfull conditions will occur upstream and downstream from the stream gage located on the right bank of the river around one half mile upstream from the Georgia Highway 22 and 24 bridge. The water level will reach the top of the boat ramp just downstream from the bridge. Cattle located on the flood plain and logging equipment near the river banks should be moved to higher ground. Sinclair Dam will likely have one gate open to reach this height.
- Right now 9.74 ft
NWS forecast: 7.70 ft by Jul 29, 6:00 AM UTC.
12 months of flow at Milledgeville
Daily values from USGS gauge 02223000. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Milledgeville
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 42.90 ft | 122,000 CFS | Feb 25, 1961 |
| 41.10 ft | 86,000 CFS | Mar 9, 1998 |
| 40.20 ft | 83,100 CFS | Oct 2, 1989 |
| 39.35 ft | 81,800 CFS | Mar 3, 1971 |
| 38.70 ft | 95,000 CFS | Aug 16, 1928 |
| 37.60 ft | 73,600 CFS | Mar 6, 1996 |
| 37.30 ft | 80,800 CFS | Nov 30, 1948 |
| 37.30 ft | 73,000 CFS | Nov 30, 1949 |
| 37.06 ft | — | Feb 4, 1998 |
| 37.00 ft | 86,500 CFS | Feb 28, 1929 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Oconee River at Milledgeville
This gauge sits on Oconee River at Milledgeville, Georgia, immediately below Lake Sinclair. 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 — 648 CFS for late July, from 73 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 Sinclair. A full pool usually means more water is on its way down.
Oconee River at Milledgeville — common questions
What is the current flow on Oconee River at Milledgeville?
As of the last reading on this page, Oconee River at Milledgeville was running 3,210 CFS at a gage height of 9.74 ft, or 495% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 02223000, 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 648 CFS, calculated from 73 years of record (1953–2026). 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 flood stage at Milledgeville?
The National Weather Service sets minor flood stage at this gauge at 22.0 ft, moderate at 32.0 ft, and major at 38.0 ft. Action stage — the level at which agencies begin preparing — is 20.0 ft. The ladder on this page shows each threshold against the current reading.
What happens at each flood stage here?
The National Weather Service publishes 13 stage-by-stage impact statements for this gauge, describing what specific roads, properties and structures are affected at each level. They are reproduced verbatim on this page, lowest to highest. They are NWS descriptions, not riverlvl's.
Is there a forecast for this gauge?
Yes. This is an NWS forecast point, so the chart shows the observed hydrograph running into the official National Weather Service forecast. Forecasts are issued by the local Weather Forecast Office (FFC) and updated through the day during high water.