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Gaston Shoals Reservoir above Blacksburg water level

Reservoir, Gaston Shoals Reservoir, South Carolina, United States

Directions

Low for mid-October

Surface elevation

95.11ft

95 100 105 110 Highest onrecord 108.60 ft Minor floodstage 104.80 ft

History

90100ftOct 10Oct 11Oct 13Oct 15Oct 16Minor flood stage90100ftOct 10Oct 13Oct 16Minor flood stage
90100ftOct 9Oct 10Oct 12Oct 14Oct 16Minor flood stage90100ftOct 9Oct 12Oct 16Minor flood stage
8090100ftOct 2025Jan 2026Apr 2026Jul 2026Oct 2026Minor flood stage8090100ftOct 2025Apr 2026Oct 2026Minor flood stage
8090100ftOct 2020Apr 2022Oct 2023Apr 2025Oct 2026Minor flood stage8090100ftOct 2020Oct 2023Oct 2026Minor flood stage
8090100ftJanMarMayJulSepNov20268090100ftJanAprJulOct2026

202120222023202420252026

Surface elevation Normal range (10–90 %) Minor flood stage

What this means

At 95.11 ft, Gaston Shoals Reservoir above Blacksburg is below normal for mid-October.

It is 9.69 ft below the flood stage of 104.80 ft. The median for mid-October is 97.14 ft, based on 7 years of readings, so the lake level is 2.03 ft below typical. On the same day last year the reading was 97.30 ft, a difference of −2.19 ft.

Over the past 30 days it has moved between 84.08 ft and 100.35 ft.

Many reservoirs reach their low point of the year in fall, before winter rain and snow start the refill.

Compared with 7 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date
97.14 ft2.03 ft below the median for this date
Normal for this date
94.89 ft – 99.23 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (7 years of records)
Same day last year
97.30 ft−2.19 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days
84.08 ft – 100.35 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months
79.16 ft – 100.35 ft
Highest on record
108.60 ftAugust 16, 1928

Swimming and boating at Gaston Shoals Reservoir above Blacksburg

Low water changes a lake fast for boaters. Some ramps get shorter or close, docks may be moved, and rocks and sandbars that are usually well under the surface come within reach of a prop.

If you swim, pick a spot with an easy way out, and remember that drop-offs move as the level changes.

What happens at each level

104.80 ft
ROAD TO DAM AND POWER HOUSE WILL BE FLOODED. BRIDGES DOWNSTREAM SUCH AS SC HWY 18, HWY 29 AND I-85 WILL LIKELY BE CLOSED. BACK WATER EFFECTS WILL BE LIKELY ON BUFFALO CREEK.
103.80 ft
AT THIS LEVEL THE POWER PLANT SUBSTATION ROAD WILL LIKELY BE FLOODED. BBGS1 GAGE DOWNSTREAM WILL MOST LIKELY BE READING AROUND 21 FT.
102.00 ft
MINOR DOWNSTREAM EFFECTS ARE POSSIBLE DUE TO HIGHWATER. WATER WILL APPROACH ROAD TO DAM AND POWER HOUSE. FLS NEEDED.
100.00 ft
FULL POOL.. 2685 CFS.. FLS @ 102
95.11 ft
Right now

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

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:34 AM Sunset 06:51 PM Daylight 11h 18m First quarter 34 %

Map

Nearby gauges

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Broad River near BlacksburgRiver gauge, Broad River 3.96 ft High +0.22 ft 1.1 mi
Broad River near Boiling SpringsRiver gauge, Broad River 2.29 ft Normal −0.06 ft 8 mi
Thicketty Creek at Cnty Road 42 near GaffneyRiver gauge, Thicketty Creek 3.48 ft Very high −0.48 ft 8 mi
Kings Creek at BlacksburgRiver gauge, Kings Creek 2.43 ft Very low −0.06 ft 9 mi
Broad River below Ninetynine Island ReservoirRiver gauge, Broad River 26.76 ft Normal +0.11 ft 9 mi
Pacolet River below Lake Blalock near CowpensRiver gauge, Pacolet River 2.43 ft Normal −0.03 ft 16 mi
Pacolet River near SarattRiver gauge, Pacolet River 479 cfs Normal 19 mi
First Broad River at LawndaleRiver gauge, First Broad River 1.35 ft Normal −0.23 ft 19 mi

Questions and answers

Is Gaston Shoals Reservoir above Blacksburg higher than last year?

No, it is 2.19 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 97.30 ft.

How high and low has Gaston Shoals Reservoir above Blacksburg been?

The highest reading on record is 108.60 ft (August 16, 1928).

How often is Gaston Shoals Reservoir above Blacksburg updated?

Several times an hour. New readings from U.S. Geological Survey appear here as they arrive. Latest: Oct 16, 2026, 06:00 PM EDT.

What is the water level of Gaston Shoals Reservoir above Blacksburg today?

On Oct 16, 2026, 06:00 PM EDT, the surface elevation was 95.11 ft. Low.

Is the level of Gaston Shoals Reservoir above Blacksburg normal?

Low for mid-October. Compared with 7 years of daily readings for this time of year.

What is the highest water level ever recorded at Gaston Shoals Reservoir above Blacksburg?

The highest level on record is 108.60 ft on August 16, 1928.

How often is this data updated?

U.S. Geological Survey publishes a new reading every 15 minutes. This page refreshes within minutes of each update.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
Operator
U.S. Geological Survey
Station code
usgs:02153051 (Agency page)
Coordinates
35.13793, -81.59791 (WGS84)
Vertical datum
local
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
Surface elevation elevation 95.11 ft 2026-10-16 22:00 Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Gaston Shoals Reservoir above Blacksburg (usgs:02153051). Accessed October 16, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/south-carolina/gaston-shoals-reservoir-above-blacksburg

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