Spring River at Hardy
Arkansas · Tubing & floating
Measured at USGS 07069305 — Spring River at Spring Street Bridge at Hardy, AR · NWS forecast point HDYA4
Reading taken Jul 29, 12:00 AM UTC
Running thin — a slow, scrapey float
At 377 CFS, this gauge is running 69% of normal for late July — below the 546 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 24 years of record (2002–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Hardy
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge HDYA4, issued by WFO LZK. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Major flood 16.0 ft
- 16.0 ft Serious flooding in Fulton and Sharp counties along the river. Dangerous situation with swift water running through campground and under homes along the river. Life threatening situation.
- 18.0 ft Life threatening situation. Homes and businesses along the river and tributaries will be flooded. Water will begin impacting lower lying businesses in Old Town and City Hall. Water over railroad.
- 20.0 ft Portions of Old Town flooded. Spring Street flooded. Water under most elevated homes along the river bank.
- 22.0 ft Flood in April 2025 rose to 22.8 feet. Expect water over U.S. Highway 63 on the east side of town. Lower lying businesses in Old Town and City Hall flooded. Water over Spring Street at bridge. Water over railroad.
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Moderate flood 14.0 ft
- 14.0 ft Homes on Pilings along the riverbank have water under them. River Bend Campground and other low lying recreational facilities are flooded.
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Minor flood 10.0 ft
- 10.0 ft Water is breaking out of the banks and flooding low lying areas along the river.
- 12.0 ft Some flooding in City Park and in River Bend Campground. Water may be near homes along the riverbank.
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Action 8.0 ft
- Right now 2.88 ft
NWS forecast: 2.90 ft by Jul 29, 6:00 AM UTC.
12 months of flow at Hardy
Daily values from USGS gauge 07069305. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Hardy
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 29.00 ft | — | Dec 3, 1982 |
| 22.82 ft | — | Apr 5, 2025 |
| 22.29 ft | 80,700 CFS | Mar 19, 2008 |
| 20.81 ft | 70,081 CFS | Apr 11, 2008 |
| 20.71 ft | 69,624 CFS | Apr 26, 2011 |
| 17.41 ft | 48,273 CFS | Oct 30, 2009 |
| 16.75 ft | — | Sep 23, 2006 |
| 16.65 ft | — | Apr 30, 2017 |
| 15.60 ft | — | Dec 28, 2015 |
| 15.60 ft | — | Dec 28, 2015 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Spring River at Hardy
This gauge measures Spring River at Hardy, Arkansas — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Spring-fed so floatable all summer; 6+ canoe liveries.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 546 CFS for late July, from 24 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.
Spring River at Hardy — common questions
What is the current flow on Spring River at Hardy?
As of the last reading on this page, Spring River at Hardy was running 377 CFS at a gage height of 2.88 ft, or 69% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 07069305, 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 546 CFS, calculated from 24 years of record (2002–2026). 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 flow is good for tubing Spring River?
riverlvl does not publish a recommended tubing range — that call belongs to the outfitters and the local authorities who know this stretch. What this page gives you is the objective input: today's flow, the seasonal median for the same date, and where the reading sits in the 12-month record. Local outfitters generally publish their own cutoffs, and they close when the river is up.
Does rain upstream change this reading quickly?
Yes. This is a free-flowing gauge, so it responds directly to rain in the basin upstream. Flashy rises of several feet in a few hours are normal on rivers like this after a heavy storm, which is why the reading is worth checking the morning you go.
What does gage height mean versus CFS?
Gage height is how high the water surface is above the gauge's own zero point, in feet — a local measure, not depth and not elevation. CFS is cubic feet per second, the volume of water moving past the gauge. Flood stages are set in gage height; float and paddling conditions are usually discussed in CFS.