Russell Fork at Haysi
Virginia · Paddling & whitewater
Measured at USGS 03209200 — RUSSELL FORK AT BARTLICK, VA · NWS forecast point BRFV2
Reading taken Jul 29, 12:00 AM UTC
On the low side — bony, but runnable in a plastic boat
At 133 CFS, this gauge is running 87% of normal for late July — close to the 153 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 26 years of record (1963–2022).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Haysi
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge BRFV2, issued by WFO RLX. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
-
Major flood 27.0 ft
- 27.0 ft Most homes 0.5 miles below the gauge and along the bend in Tom's Bottom Road flood.
- 35.0 ft Most of Tom's Bottom Road and Bartlick Road flood.
- 36.0 ft Bartlick Road Bridge floods.
-
Moderate flood 25.0 ft
- 25.0 ft A couple of homes 0.5 miles below the gauge and along the bend in Tom's Bottom Road begin to flood.
-
Minor flood 15.0 ft
- 15.0 ft Bartlick Road above the gauge and in the vicinity of the railroad trestle floods.
- 19.0 ft Low sections of Tom's Bottom Road flood.
- 20.0 ft Small outbuildings 0.5 miles below the gauge and along the bend in Tom's Bottom Road flood.
-
Action 14.0 ft
- 14.0 ft Water begins to cover Bartlick Road above the gauge and in the vicinity of the railroad trestle.
- Right now 7.44 ft
12 months of flow at Haysi
Daily values from USGS gauge 03209200. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Haysi
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 30.00 ft | — | Jan 29, 1957 |
| 27.55 ft | 50,000 CFS | Apr 4, 1977 |
| 24.83 ft | 47,000 CFS | Mar 12, 1963 |
| 21.76 ft | 27,700 CFS | May 7, 1984 |
| 21.54 ft | — | Feb 16, 2025 |
| 20.97 ft | 32,700 CFS | Mar 7, 1967 |
| 19.80 ft | 26,700 CFS | Jan 26, 1978 |
| 19.74 ft | 20,700 CFS | Feb 16, 2003 |
| 19.46 ft | 22,000 CFS | Feb 6, 2020 |
| 19.15 ft | 18,900 CFS | Mar 18, 2002 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Russell Fork at Haysi
This gauge measures Russell Fork at Haysi, Virginia — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Eight Flannagan release days in October; national pilgrimage.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 153 CFS for late July, from 26 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.
Russell Fork at Haysi — common questions
What is the current flow on Russell Fork at Haysi?
As of the last reading on this page, Russell Fork at Haysi was running 133 CFS at a gage height of 7.44 ft, or 87% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 03209200, 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 153 CFS, calculated from 26 years of record (1963–2022). 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 03209200, 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 BRFV2.