Watauga River at Sugar Grove
North Carolina · Tubing & floating
Measured at USGS 03479000 — WATAUGA RIVER NEAR SUGAR GROVE, NC · NWS forecast point SGWN7
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:15 PM UTC
Right around its normal summer float level
At 75 CFS, this gauge is running 103% of normal for late July — close to the 73 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 86 years of record (1940–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Sugar Grove
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge SGWN7, issued by WFO RNK. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
-
Major flood 20.0 ft · 18,750 CFS
-
Moderate flood 16.0 ft · 11,805 CFS
- 16.0 ft Several buildings in the Valle Crucis area are affected by flood waters.
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Minor flood 6.0 ft · 2,411 CFS
- 6.0 ft Flooding on portions of Watauga River road begins.
- 14.0 ft Significant lowland flooding through the Valle Crucis area.
-
Action 5.0 ft · 1,710 CFS
- 5.0 ft Several low water bridges begin to flood including Dewitt Barnett road 5.5 miles upstream and Hubert Thomas road 1.8 miles downstream from gage.
- Right now 1.65 ft
12 months of flow at Sugar Grove
Daily values from USGS gauge 03479000. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Sugar Grove
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 29.60 ft | 50,800 CFS | Aug 13, 1940 |
| 29.57 ft | 51,500 CFS | Sep 27, 2024 |
| 22.10 ft | 28,000 CFS | Jul 15, 1916 |
| 21.90 ft | 23,000 CFS | Sep 17, 2004 |
| 20.46 ft | 20,500 CFS | Jan 14, 1995 |
| 18.26 ft | 15,464 CFS | Nov 19, 2003 |
| 17.64 ft | 15,000 CFS | Aug 17, 1994 |
| 17.14 ft | 17,000 CFS | Feb 13, 1966 |
| 16.86 ft | 13,700 CFS | Oct 5, 1995 |
| 16.77 ft | 16,200 CFS | Nov 6, 1977 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Watauga River at Sugar Grove
This gauge measures Watauga River at Sugar Grove, North Carolina — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Boone and App State summer base.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 73 CFS for late July, from 86 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.
Watauga River at Sugar Grove — common questions
What is the current flow on Watauga River at Sugar Grove?
As of the last reading on this page, Watauga River at Sugar Grove was running 75 CFS at a gage height of 1.65 ft, or 103% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 03479000, 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 73 CFS, calculated from 86 years of record (1940–2026). 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 Watauga 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.