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Lumber River at Boardman water level

River gauge, Lumber River, North Carolina, United States

Directions

Right now

Low for mid-October

Water level

2.78ft Down 0.07 ft over the last 24 hours

Flow
253 cfs
0 5 10 15 Highest onrecord 14.41 ft Lowest on record 0.95 ft

History

History
468ftOct 13Oct 14Oct 16Oct 17Oct 19468ftOct 13Oct 16Oct 19
358ftSep 20Sep 27Oct 4Oct 12Oct 19358ftSep 20Oct 4Oct 19
358ftOct 2025Jan 2026Apr 2026Jul 2026Oct 2026358ftOct 2025Apr 2026Oct 2026
358ftJanMarMayJulSepNov2026358ftJanAprJulOct2026

20252026

Water level Normal range (10–90 %)

What this means

At 2.78 ft, the Lumber River at Boardman is below normal for mid-October.

That puts it 1.17 ft below the median of 3.95 ft for mid-October, based on 29 years of readings. A year ago it stood at 3.82 ft (−1.04 ft).

The level is falling, down 0.07 ft over the past 24 hours. Without real rain upstream, that is unlikely to change quickly. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 1.72 ft and 3.74 ft.

Fall is often low-water season on rivers, and it usually takes a few days of steady rain to change that.

Compared with 29 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date
3.95 ft1.17 ft below the median for this date
Normal for this date
2.67 ft – 7.65 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (29 years of records)
Same day last year
3.82 ft−1.04 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days
1.72 ft – 3.74 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months
1.18 ft – 5.71 ft
Highest on record
14.41 ftOctober 11, 2016
Lowest on record
0.95 ftAugust 13, 2002

What the stage means on the water

Low water means more dragging on shallow riffles and slower floats. Fish crowd into the deeper runs, and warm, low water stresses them, so play and release them quickly.

What happens at each level

14.00 ft
Water will reach the level of U.S. Highway 74 at the bridge over the Lumber River and the road may be closed due to flooding.
13.00 ft
The river will begin to flood U.S. Highway 74 near the Columbus County Robeson County line.
2.78 ft
Right now

Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.

Highest crests on record

RankLevelDate
114.41 ftOctober 11, 2016
214.36 ftSeptember 18, 2018
312.55 ftJanuary 27, 2000
411.80 ftSeptember 1, 1928
510.80 ftJuly 22, 1901
610.70 ftSeptember 19, 1999
710.66 ftOctober 22, 1999
810.64 ftSeptember 24, 1945
910.57 ftAugust 11, 2024
1010.36 ftNovember 16, 2020

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:25 AM Sunset 06:38 PM Daylight 11 hr, 13 min First quarter 59%

Map

Other gauges on the Lumber River

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Lumber River near MaxtonRiver gauge, Lumber River 6.65 ft Very low +0.08 ft 31 mi
Lumber River at LumbertonRiver gauge, Lumber River 7.32 ft Very low −0.11 ft 12 mi
Lumber River at NicholsRiver gauge, Lumber River 11.73 ft Very low −0.07 ft 18 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Big Swamp near Tar HeelRiver gauge, Big Swamp 5.43 ft Low −0.12 ft 20 mi
Little Pee Dee River near DillonRiver gauge, Little Pee Dee River 115 cfs Very low −6.0 cfs 22 mi
Cape Fear River at Wilm O Huske Lock near TarheelRiver gauge, Cape Fear River 1.27 ft Low −0.01 ft 28 mi
Little Pee Dee River at Galivants FerryRiver gauge, Little Pee Dee River 3.31 ft Very low −0.10 ft 31 mi
Big Shoe Heel Creek near LaurinburgRiver gauge, Big Shoe Heel Creek 1.40 ft Low +0.05 ft 32 mi
Waccamaw River at FreelandRiver gauge, Waccamaw River 2.11 ft Low −0.03 ft 34 mi
Buck Creek near LongsRiver gauge, Buck Creek 5.38 ft Low −0.03 ft 36 mi

Questions and answers

How does the Lumber River at Boardman compare with last year?

It is 1.04 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 3.82 ft.

What is a normal level for the Lumber River at Boardman in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 3.95 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 2.67 ft and 7.65 ft, based on 29 years of records.

Is gage height the same as water depth?

No. Gage height is measured from a fixed reference point chosen by the agency, so a reading of 10 ft does not mean the river is 10 ft deep.

What is the water level of Lumber River at Boardman today?

On Oct 19, 2026, 09:00 AM EDT, the water level was 2.78 ft. Down 0.07 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is Lumber River at Boardman rising or falling?

Down 0.07 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 0.96 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Lumber River at Boardman normal?

Low for mid-October. Compared with 29 years of daily readings for this time of year.

What is the highest water level ever recorded at Lumber River at Boardman?

The highest level on record is 14.41 ft on October 11, 2016. The lowest is 0.95 ft on August 13, 2002.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
Operator
U.S. Geological Survey
Station code
usgs:02134500 (Agency page)
Coordinates
34.44250, -78.96028 (WGS84)
Vertical datum
NAVD88
Update interval
every 15 minutes
Licence
Public domain. Data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), provisional data subject to revision

Published series

ParameterLast valueTime (UTC)Quality
Water level 2.78 ft 2026-10-19 13:00 Provisional
Flow 253 cfs 2026-10-19 13:00 Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Lumber River at Boardman (usgs:02134500). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/north-carolina/lumber-river-at-boardman

How we check values

Each reading is stored as published. We hold back values that jump faster than physically plausible and show the measurement time with every value.