Tuckasegee River at Dillsboro
North Carolina · Tubing & floating
Measured at USGS 03510577 — TUCKASEGEE RIVER AT BARKER'S CREEK, NC · NWS forecast point DILN7
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:15 PM UTC
Right around its normal summer float level
At 507 CFS, this gauge is running 94% of normal for late July — close to the 537 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 22 years of record (2004–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Dillsboro
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge DILN7, issued by WFO GSP. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Major flood 24.0 ft
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Moderate flood 18.0 ft
- 18.0 ft BARKERS CREEK ROAD WILL BEGIN TO FLOOD.
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Minor flood 12.0 ft · 13,400 CFS
- 12.0 ft HOMES NEAR THE RIVER AND ALONG BARKERS CREEK WILL BEGIN TO FLOOD.
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Action 10.0 ft · 9,500 CFS
- Right now 3.69 ft
12 months of flow at Dillsboro
Daily values from USGS gauge 03510577. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Dillsboro
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 13.26 ft | — | Sep 17, 2004 |
| 12.39 ft | 6,740 CFS | Sep 18, 2004 |
| 10.90 ft | 11,200 CFS | Jun 13, 2005 |
| 10.64 ft | 11,270 CFS | Dec 24, 2015 |
| 10.09 ft | — | Sep 22, 2009 |
| 10.09 ft | — | Sep 22, 2009 |
| 8.53 ft | — | Sep 27, 2004 |
| 6.92 ft | 3,990 CFS | Nov 29, 2005 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Tuckasegee River at Dillsboro
This gauge measures Tuckasegee River at Dillsboro, North Carolina — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Tubing gated on Duke East Fork release days.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 537 CFS for late July, from 22 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.
Tuckasegee River at Dillsboro — common questions
What is the current flow on Tuckasegee River at Dillsboro?
As of the last reading on this page, Tuckasegee River at Dillsboro was running 507 CFS at a gage height of 3.69 ft, or 94% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 03510577, 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 537 CFS, calculated from 22 years of record (2004–2026). 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 Tuckasegee 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.