Smith River at Eden water level
River gauge, Smith River, North Carolina, United States
Right now
Low for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 221 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
At 2.00 ft, the Smith River at Eden is below normal for mid-October.
That puts it 0.25 ft below the median of 2.25 ft for mid-October, based on 28 years of readings. It is 10.00 ft below the flood stage of 12.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 1.99 ft (+0.01 ft).
The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. Without real rain upstream, that is unlikely to change quickly. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 1.94 ft and 4.51 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, and it usually takes a few days of steady rain to change that.
Compared with 28 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 2.25 ft0.25 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 1.88 ft – 2.80 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (28 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 1.99 ft+0.01 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 1.94 ft – 4.51 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 1.78 ft – 4.51 ft
- Highest on record
- 19.28 ftAugust 15, 1940
- Lowest on record
- 1.18 ftAugust 7, 1967
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.
The National Weather Service puts flood stage for this gauge at 12.00 ft, still 10.00 ft away.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19.28 ft | August 15, 1940 |
| 2 | 16.24 ft | June 21, 1972 |
| 3 | 16.17 ft | September 8, 1987 |
| 4 | 15.68 ft | September 22, 1979 |
| 5 | 15.61 ft | September 6, 1996 |
| 6 | 15.40 ft | August 18, 1985 |
| 7 | 15.32 ft | September 18, 1945 |
| 8 | 14.01 ft | May 25, 2020 |
| 9 | 13.99 ft | January 25, 2010 |
| 10 | 13.73 ft | March 30, 1975 |
Weather at the gauge
No rain in the last 3 days.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Other gauges on the Smith River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smith River at Smith River Church near WoolwineRiver gauge, Smith River | 2.40 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 32 mi |
| Smith River near PhilpottRiver gauge, Smith River | 137 cfs | Normal | −2.0 cfs | 23 mi |
| Smith River at BassettRiver gauge, Smith River | 143 cfs | Low | −7.0 cfs | 21 mi |
| Smith River at MartinsvilleRiver gauge, Smith River | 1.85 ft | Below flood stage | +0.01 ft | 11 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dan River near WentworthRiver gauge, Dan River | 1.22 ft | Low | −0.15 ft | 9 mi |
| Mayo River near PriceRiver gauge, Mayo River | 1.08 ft | Low | −0.04 ft | 13 mi |
| North Mayo River near SpencerRiver gauge, North Mayo River | 1.43 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 13 mi |
| Sandy River near DanvilleRiver gauge, Sandy River | 1.00 ft | Below flood stage | −0.04 ft | 16 mi |
| South Mayo River near NettleridgeRiver gauge, South Mayo River | 3.27 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 20 mi |
| Dan River at Pine HallRiver gauge, Dan River | 1.81 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 21 mi |
| Dan River at Stp near DanvilleRiver gauge, Dan River | 4.21 ft | Below flood stage | −0.46 ft | 22 mi |
Questions and answers
How does the Smith River at Eden compare with last year?
It is 0.01 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 1.99 ft.
What is flood stage for the Smith River at Eden?
The official flood stage is 12.00 ft. The level is currently 10.00 ft below it.
What is a normal level for the Smith River at Eden in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 2.25 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 1.88 ft and 2.80 ft, based on 28 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 Smith River at Eden today?
On Oct 19, 2026, 07:00 PM EDT, the water level was 2.00 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Smith River at Eden rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 1.16 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Smith River at Eden normal?
Low for mid-October. Compared with 28 years of daily readings for this time of year.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:02074000(Agency page)- Coordinates
36.52556, -79.76556(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
| Parameter | Last value | Time (UTC) | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water level | 2.00 ft | 2026-10-19 23:00 | Provisional |
| Flow | 221 cfs | 2026-10-19 23:00 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Smith River at Eden (usgs:02074000). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/north-carolina/smith-river-at-eden
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.
Readings are provisional, can be delayed or wrong and are not a flood warning. Read the disclaimer