Stones River level at Donelson
Tennessee · Flood watch
Measured at USGS 03430200 — STONES RIVER AT US HWY 70 NEAR DONELSON, TN · NWS forecast point DONT1
Reading taken · as of 1 hour ago
Well below normal for the date
At -144.0 CFS, this gauge is running -94% of normal for mid-September — below the 153 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 13 years of record (2012–2025).
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Flood stages at Donelson
National Weather Service categories for gauge DONT1, WFO OHX. Impact wording is the NWS's own, verbatim.
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Major flood 46.0 ft
- 46.0 ft Significant flooding is occurring on the Stones River below Percy Priest Dam. Impacts include Donelson Christian Academy, and industrial and commercial properties near Central Pike, Old Hickory Blvd, and Jackson Downs Blvd. Residences are also being impacted in the Polo Park and Stewarts Ferry Apartments complexes, the Rivers Edge and Stanford Estates subdivisions, and on Andrew Jackson Pkwy. Water covers Old Hickory Blvd between Andrew Jackson Pkwy and Old Lebanon Dirt Rd which may be impassable.
- 49.0 ft Significant flooding continues to impact industrial and commercial properties near Central Pike, Old Hickory Blvd, and Jackson Downs Blvd, and residences in the Polo Park and Stewaerts Ferry Apartments complexes, the Rivers Edge and Stanford Estates subdivisions, and on Andrew Jackson Pkwy. Donelson Christian Academy and recreational areas near the river are also impacted, and Old Hickory Blvd is impassable between Andrew Jackson Pkwy and Old Lebanon Dirt Rd.
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Moderate flood 41.0 ft
- 41.0 ft Widespread flooding is occurring along the river impacting parkland and other recreational areas, agricultural property, industrial and commercial property along Stoners Creek near Central Pike and Old Hickory Blvd, and structures at Donelson Christian Academy. Water approaches yards of residential properties on River Walk Dr, homes in low lying areas of the Stanford Estates subdivision, and homes on Andrew Jackson Pkwy.
- 44.0 ft Widespread flooding continues to impact parkland and recreation areas, Donelson Christian Academy, and agricultural, industrial, and commercial property along Stoners Creek near Central Pike and Old Hickory Blvd. Water reaches residences on River Walk Dr and Andrew Jackson Pkwy, the Polo Park and Stewarts Ferry Apartments complexes, the Stanford Estates subdivision, commercial properties on Jackson Downs Blvd, and a section of Old Hickory Blvd between Andrew Jackson Pkwy and Old Lebanon Dirt Rd.
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Minor flood 35.0 ft
- 35.0 ft Flooding begins along the Stones River from Percy Priest Dam to the Cumberland River. Impacts include the Stones River Greenway, parkland on Jackson Downs Blvd, Heartland Park, agricultural property, industrial property along Stoners Creek off Central Pike, portions of the old Ravenwood Golf Course, and the athletic fields near Donelson Christian Academy. Water approaches low lying areas of property on Jobee Creek Cove in the Stewarts Ferry Apartments complex.
- 38.0 ft Flooding continues to impact the greenway, parkland and recreational areas, the athletic fields at Donelson Christian Academy, the old Ravenwood Golf Course, agricultural property, industrial property near Central Pike and Brandau Rd, and property on Jobee Creek Cove in the Stewarts Ferry Apartments complex. Water approaches structures at Donelson Christian Academy, homes in Stanford Estates, and commercial property along Stoners Creek at Old Hickory Blvd, which may be inundated at higher levels.
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Action 20.0 ft
- 20.0 ft Portions of the Stones River Greenway between Percy Priest Dam and Lebanon Road are inundated.
- 23.0 ft Sections of the Stones River Greenway are impassable between Percy Priest Dam and Lebanon Road, and low lying areas along the river are inundated near the park on Jackson Downs Blvd.
- 25.0 ft The Stones River Greenway is impassable at a few locations between Percy Priest Dam and Lebanon Road, and the park area on Jackson Downs Blvd is mostly inundated.
- 29.0 ft Water continues to inundate the Stones River Greenway between Percy Priest Dam and Lebanon Road, and has completely inundated the park area on Jackson Downs Blvd. Low lying areas near the Heartland Park athletic fields begin to be inundated, as well as low lying areas along Stoners Creek near industrial property.
- 33.0 ft The Stones River Greenway, parkland on Jackson Downs Blvd, and areas near Heartland Park continue to be inundated. Low lying areas of industrial property along Stoners Creek, and agricultural property along the river begin to be inundated. Water also approaches portions of the old Ravenwood Golf Course and athletic fields near Donelson Christian Academy.
- Right now 3.36 ft
Flow history at Donelson
Daily values from USGS 03430200, updated every 15 to 60 minutes; NWS forecast for DONT1 reissued through the day. Provisional.
Highest crests on record at Donelson
5 on record
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 25.50 ft | 14,200 CFS | Apr 30, 2013 |
| 22.87 ft | 15,200 CFS | Apr 27, 2017 |
| 22.75 ft | 13,200 CFS | Mar 10, 2015 |
| 15.81 ft | 8,190 CFS | Jan 2, 2016 |
| 14.02 ft | 6,180 CFS | Mar 4, 2014 |
Crests published by the National Weather Service.
About Stones River at Donelson
In Tennessee, below J. Percy Priest Lake. Releases can change the flow by hundreds of CFS in an hour with no rain in the basin — check it the morning you go, not the night before.
Reservoir feeding this stretch
Flow here is set by releases from J. Percy Priest Lake. A full pool usually means more water on its way down.
Stones River at Donelson — common questions
3 questions
What is flood stage at Donelson?
The National Weather Service sets minor flood stage at this gauge at 35.0 ft, moderate at 41.0 ft, and major at 46.0 ft. Action stage — the level at which agencies begin preparing — is 20.0 ft. The ladder on this page shows each threshold against the current reading, with the NWS's own impact statements at each level. Note that this reach is also dam-controlled, below J. Percy Priest Lake, so a release can move the stage with no rain involved.
Is Stones River at Donelson high or low for this time of year?
The USGS median flow for mid-September here is 153 CFS, from 13 years of record (2012–2025). Today is -94% of it. The comparison is what makes the raw number mean anything: the same reading is a drought on one river and a flood on another.
How often does this reading update?
USGS transmits from gauge 03430200 every 15 to 60 minutes, and the National Weather Service reissues the flood forecast for DONT1 a few times a day — more often when the river is rising. This page refreshes from both when you open it. The timestamp is in the gauge's local time.