Pigeon River at Hartford
Tennessee · Paddling & whitewater
Measured at USGS 03460795 — PIGEON R BL POWER PLANT NR WATERVILLE, NC
Reading taken Jul 29, 12:00 AM UTC
Very high — big-water conditions well above the seasonal norm
At 1,580 CFS, this gauge is running 255% of normal for late July — above the 619 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 29 years of record (1997–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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12 months of flow at Hartford
Daily values from USGS gauge 03460795. Provisional data, subject to revision.
About Pigeon River at Hartford
This gauge measures Pigeon River at Hartford, Tennessee — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Walters Dam releases; Gatlinburg tourist funnel.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 619 CFS for late July, from 29 years of record.
Pigeon River at Hartford — common questions
What is the current flow on Pigeon River at Hartford?
As of the last reading on this page, Pigeon River at Hartford was running 1,580 CFS at a gage height of 9.16 ft, or 255% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 03460795, 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 619 CFS, calculated from 29 years of record (1997–2026). 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 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 03460795, public-domain data from the U.S. Geological Survey.