Smith River at Bassett
Virginia · Fishing & wading
Measured at USGS 02072500 — SMITH RIVER AT BASSETT, VA · NWS forecast point BASV2
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:55 PM UTC
Low and clear — wadeable, and fish will be spooky
At 183 CFS, this gauge is running 57% of normal for late July — below the 321 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 75 years of record (1951–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Bassett
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge BASV2, issued by WFO RNK. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
-
Action 8.0 ft · 4,852 CFS
- Right now 1.86 ft
12 months of flow at Bassett
Daily values from USGS gauge 02072500. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Bassett
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 15.20 ft | 17,700 CFS | Sep 7, 1987 |
| 13.35 ft | 14,400 CFS | May 25, 2020 |
| 13.04 ft | 16,000 CFS | Sep 10, 1950 |
| 11.87 ft | 11,200 CFS | May 28, 1982 |
| 11.64 ft | 10,800 CFS | Sep 22, 1979 |
| 11.20 ft | 12,800 CFS | Dec 7, 1950 |
| 10.50 ft | 8,680 CFS | Sep 6, 1996 |
| 10.07 ft | 7,686 CFS | Oct 1, 2015 |
| 9.60 ft | 7,940 CFS | Jul 26, 1974 |
| 9.17 ft | 6,400 CFS | Apr 9, 1983 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Smith River at Bassett
This gauge measures Smith River at Bassett, Virginia — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Philpott generation swings the river feet with no warning.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 321 CFS for late July, from 75 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.
Smith River at Bassett — common questions
What is the current flow on Smith River at Bassett?
As of the last reading on this page, Smith River at Bassett was running 183 CFS at a gage height of 1.86 ft, or 57% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 02072500, 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 321 CFS, calculated from 75 years of record (1951–2026). 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 Smith River at Bassett 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 321 CFS, which is the single most useful input to that decision.
What makes the flow change on this stretch?
Rain in the basin upstream, plus seasonal baseflow. The 12-month chart shows the past year of daily values, which is the clearest picture of how this gauge behaves through the seasons.
Where does this data come from?
Flow and gage height are public-domain USGS data from gauge 02072500. Flood categories, impact statements and the forecast come from the NOAA / National Weather Service National Water Prediction Service, gauge BASV2. riverlvl adds the seasonal comparison and plain-English summary; it is not an official source and does not issue warnings.