Saluda River at Columbia
South Carolina · Paddling & whitewater
Measured at USGS 02168504 — SALUDA RIVER BELOW LK MURRAY DAM NR COLUMBIA, SC · NWS forecast point MURS1
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:45 PM UTC
On the low side — bony, but runnable in a plastic boat
At 775 CFS, this gauge is running 78% of normal for late July — below the 998 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 37 years of record (1989–2026).
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 Columbia
Daily values from USGS gauge 02168504. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Columbia
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 27.50 ft | — | Oct 4, 2015 |
| 20.39 ft | — | Dec 29, 1992 |
| 16.01 ft | — | Feb 21, 1990 |
| 15.88 ft | 20,000 CFS | Mar 21, 2003 |
| 15.88 ft | 22,100 CFS | Mar 9, 1996 |
| 15.85 ft | 22,000 CFS | Jan 16, 1995 |
| 15.70 ft | 21,600 CFS | Sep 21, 1989 |
| 15.69 ft | 17,857 CFS | Sep 29, 2024 |
| 15.34 ft | 18,900 CFS | Feb 4, 1998 |
| 15.29 ft | 20,600 CFS | Oct 12, 1990 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Saluda River at Columbia
This gauge sits on Saluda River at Columbia, South Carolina, immediately below Lake Murray. 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.
Lower Saluda below Lake Murray; no public release schedule.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 998 CFS for late July, from 37 years of record.
Reservoir feeding this stretch
Flow at this gauge is set by releases from Lake Murray. A full pool usually means more water is on its way down.
Saluda River at Columbia — common questions
What is the current flow on Saluda River at Columbia?
As of the last reading on this page, Saluda River at Columbia was running 775 CFS at a gage height of 3.66 ft, or 78% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 02168504, 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 998 CFS, calculated from 37 years of record (1989–2026). 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 reach is dam-controlled, below Lake Murray. Flow changes when the operator changes the release — often on a schedule, often within minutes, and often with no rain involved at all.
Where does this data come from?
The flow and gage height come from USGS gauge 02168504, 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 MURS1.