Coosawattee River near Ellijay water level

Name: Coosawattee River near Ellijay water level (U.S. Geological Survey)
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
License: https://www.usgs.gov/information-policies-and-instructions/copyrights-and-credits

River gauge, Coosawattee River, Georgia, United States

Directions

Normal for mid-October

Water level

1.39ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 20, 2026, 02:45 PM EDT (52 min ago)

Flow: 199 cfs

History

7 days 30 days 1 year Years compared

20252026

Water level Normal range (10–90 %) Minor flood stage

What this means

The gauge at Coosawattee River near Ellijay reads 1.39 ft, a normal level for mid-October.

That puts it 0.10 ft below the median of 1.49 ft for mid-October, based on 27 years of readings. It is 6.61 ft below the flood stage of 8.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 1.43 ft (−0.04 ft).

The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 1.31 ft and 2.00 ft.

Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.

Compared with 27 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date: 1.49 ft0.10 ft below the median for this date
Normal for this date: 1.04 ft – 1.85 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (27 years of records)
Same day last year: 1.43 ft−0.04 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 1.31 ft – 2.00 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 1.31 ft – 4.09 ft
Highest on record: 20.70 ftMarch 29, 1951

What the stage means on the water

A normal level is usually prime time for floating and wade fishing, as long as the weather holds upstream.

The National Weather Service puts flood stage for this gauge at 8.00 ft, still 6.61 ft away.

What happens at each level

23.00 ft: Record flooding never seen before will affect all of Ellijay. Old Georgia 5 bridge on the Ellijay River will be flooded and closed. A catastrophic and massive flood will continue to affect much of the infrastructure of Ellijay. Widespread inundation flooding will occur along the Coosawattee...Ellijay...and Cartecay Rivers. Numerous homes...businesses...and roads will be affected with up to 10 feet of water. Transportation in and out of Ellijay will be almost impossible due to road closures.
21.00 ft: Record flooding occurs. A catastrophic and massive flood event will affect much of the infrastructure of Ellijay. Widespread inundation flooding will occur along the Coosawattee...Ellijay...and Cartecay Rivers. Numerous homes...businesses...and roads will be affected with several feet of water. Transportation in and out of Ellijay will be extremely difficult due to road closures.
18.00 ft: Major flooding continues with the Sheriffs Patrol Office and the Parks and Recreation Office at the Harold Hefner River Park beginning to flood. Water reaches the bottom of the bridge on Georgia Highway 282 near the intersection of Old Georgia Highway 5. The bridge will likely be closed by state officials. Widespread flooding of homes and businesses continues in Ellijay. This flooding will be worse than the flooding experienced with Hurricane Ivan in September 2004.
17.00 ft: A major flood event continues. The U.S. Post Office and the C S Bank on Industrial Boulevard will begin to flood. Numerous industries surrounding the intersection of the Ellijay...Cartecay...and Coosawattee Rivers will begin to flood. Otherwise...widespread flooding of Ellijay continues...with many businesses...homes...and roads affected. Evacuations will be needed. This event will be comparable to flooding associated with Hurricane Ivan in September 2004.
16.00 ft: Major flooding continues to expand with significant flooding of homes...businesses...and roads in the Ellijay area. Widespread evacuations are likely. Parts of Old Georgia Highway 5 in Ellijay go underwater and will need to be closed. The Ellijay Water Treatment Plant...off of Merk Davis Road...will begin to flood. The Harold Hefner River Park will be completely flooded with several feet of water.
15.00 ft: Major flooding continues. Widespread inundation flooding continues throughout much of Ellijay. State Highway 52 begins to flood and will need to be closed. The Fleet store will begin to flood. Some homes and businesses are flooded and evacuations may be needed. Portions of the Pilgrims Pride Processing Plant parking lot will be under 4 feet of water. The American Legion Post building...the Georgia Power Substation...and the Harold Hefner River Park are now flooded with several feet of water.
14.00 ft: Major flooding expands and affects several homes and some businesses in Ellijay. Some evacuations may be needed. The Spring Ellijay Plant will begin to flood. Portions of the Pilgrims Pride Processing Plant parking lot will be under 3 feet of water. The American Legion Post 82 building and the Georgia Power Substation next to the Post are flooded with around 3 feet of water. Most of the Harold Hefner River Park is flooded with a few feet of water.
13.00 ft: Major flooding continues to expand. Flooding expands along low portions of Legion Road. Flooding continues in several homes and mobile homes from just downstream of Ellijay to several miles upstream of Ellijay on the Ellijay and Cartecay Rivers. Flooding expands in the Pilgrims Pride Processing Plant parking lot...off of Industrial Boulevard. The American Legion Post 82 building and the Georgia Power Substation next to the Post are flooded.
12.00 ft: Major flooding continues. Flooding expands along low portions of Legion Road. Flooding of several homes and mobile homes continues from just downstream of Ellijay to several miles upstream of Ellijay on the Ellijay and Cartecay Rivers. Flooding expands in the Pilgrims Pride Processing Plant parking lot...off of Industrial Boulevard. The American Legion Post 82 building and the Georgia Power Substation next to the Post is flooded.
11.00 ft: Major flooding begins. Low portions of Legion Road begin to flood. Several homes and mobile homes will flood from just downstream of Ellijay to several miles upstream of Ellijay on the Ellijay and Cartecay Rivers. Flooding of the Pilgrims Pride Processing Plant parking lot begins...off of Industrial Boulevard. The western portion of the American Legion Post 82 building starts to flood. The Georgia Power Substation next to the Post is flooded.
10.00 ft: Moderate flooding begins. Flood water surrounds the American Legion Post 82 on Legion Road...and affects the Georgia Power Substation next to the Post. Significant flooding expands over the Harold Hefner River Park...including the athletic fields and walking trail.
9.00 ft: Minor flooding expands. Flooding of much of the walking trail in the Harold Hefner River Park occurs. Flooding of the parking lot of the Georgia Power substation at the corner of Legion Road and Old Highway 5 begins. Flooding of low lands...yards and parking areas...develop along a several mile stretch from just downstream of Ellijay to several miles upstream...including the Ellijay and Cartecay Rivers.
1.39 ft: Right now

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

Highest crests on record

Rank	Level	Date
1	20.70 ft	March 29, 1951
2	17.63 ft	October 4, 1964
3	17.33 ft	September 17, 2004
4	16.74 ft	February 16, 1990
5	14.95 ft	May 28, 1973
6	14.30 ft	January 20, 1947
7	14.30 ft	February 10, 1946
8	14.16 ft	March 4, 1979
9	13.88 ft	December 24, 2015
10	13.10 ft	November 28, 1948

Weather at the gauge

No rain in the last 3 days.

20 Tue 71° 40° – Wind 6 mph

21 Wed 73° 47° – Wind 8 mph

22 Thu 73° 47° – Wind 7 mph

23 Fri 72° 51° – Wind 6 mph

24 Sat 73° 48° – Wind 5 mph

25 Sun 73° 46° – Wind 5 mph

26 Mon 71° 48° – Wind 5 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:48 AM Sunset 06:59 PM Daylight 11 hr, 10 min Waxing gibbous 71%

Map

Other gauges on the Coosawattee River

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Coosawattee River at CartersRiver gauge, Coosawattee River	3.90 ft	Very low	−0.04 ft	12 mi
Coosawattee River near Pine ChapelRiver gauge, Coosawattee River	3.79 ft	Low	+0.04 ft	20 mi
Coosawattee River at Pine ChapelRiver gauge, Coosawattee River	0.89 ft	Very low	+0.06 ft	21 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Mountaintown Creek at GA 282, near EllijayRiver gauge, Mountaintown Creek	2.97 ft	Normal	−0.01 ft	2.7 mi
Cartecay River near EllijayRiver gauge, Cartecay River	1.43 ft	Normal	−0.01 ft	2.8 mi
Fausett Creek near Talking RockRiver gauge, Fausett Creek	1.44 ft	High	±0	8 mi
Carters Lake Tailrace near CartersRiver gauge, Carters Lake Tailrace	690.21 ft	High	−0.03 ft	10 mi
Talking Rock Creek near HintonRiver gauge, Talking Rock Creek	0.81 ft	Low	+0.01 ft	12 mi
Holly Creek near ChatsworthRiver gauge, Holly Creek	1.01 ft	Normal	+0.03 ft	15 mi
Toccoa River near DialRiver gauge, Toccoa River	0.93 ft	Low	−0.01 ft	17 mi
Mill Creek near CrandallRiver gauge, Mill Creek	1.09 ft	Low	−0.01 ft	18 mi

Questions and answers

How does the Coosawattee River near Ellijay compare with last year?

It is 0.04 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 1.43 ft.

What is flood stage for the Coosawattee River near Ellijay?

The official flood stage is 8.00 ft. The level is currently 6.61 ft below it.

What is a normal level for the Coosawattee River near Ellijay in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 1.49 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 1.04 ft and 1.85 ft, based on 27 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 Coosawattee River near Ellijay today?

On Oct 20, 2026, 02:45 PM EDT, the water level was 1.39 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is Coosawattee River near Ellijay rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 0.18 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Coosawattee River near Ellijay normal?

Normal for mid-October. Compared with 27 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:02380500 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 34.67586, -84.50683 (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	1.39 ft	2026-10-20 18:45	Provisional
Flow	199 cfs	2026-10-20 18:45	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Coosawattee River near Ellijay (usgs:02380500). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/georgia/coosawattee-river-near-ellijay

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