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SwedenBlackwater River at Hwys 58/258 at Franklin water level
River gauge, Blackwater River, Virginia, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 108 cfs
History
What this means
The Blackwater River at Hwys 58/258 at Franklin is at −1.08 ft, in the normal range.
It is 6.08 ft below the flood stage of 5.00 ft.
The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between −1.39 ft and 1.29 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 10.78 ftOctober 10, 2016
Floating and fishing near Blackwater River at Hwys 58/258 at Franklin
Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.
Flood stage here is 5.00 ft, 6.08 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.
What happens at each level
- 20.00 ft
- River stage sensor operating limit
- 16.00 ft
- Businesses along Main Street and South Street begin to flood.
- 13.00 ft
- Gazebo near the Riverwalk is now flooded.
- 8.00 ft
- Water overflows rip rap on right downstream side of bridge across US 58/258 in vicinity of the gage. Lowlands upstream of bridge now inundated. Roadway entrance to water treatment plant and public boat ramp begin to flood.
- 4.50 ft
- Water covers the docks/pier near the Gazebo.
- 3.50 ft
- Water covers boat ramp docks at public boat ramp.
- 3.00 ft
- Water begins to flow over retaining wall on left downstream side of bridge in vicinity of the gage.
- −1.08 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10.78 ft | October 10, 2016 |
| 2 | 8.89 ft | September 21, 2020 |
| 3 | 8.05 ft | November 14, 2020 |
| 4 | 7.53 ft | February 20, 2021 |
| 5 | 6.39 ft | June 13, 2013 |
| 6 | 6.37 ft | August 19, 2020 |
| 7 | 5.75 ft | February 7, 2016 |
| 8 | 5.50 ft | March 10, 2024 |
| 9 | 5.18 ft | February 27, 2019 |
| 10 | 5.16 ft | August 30, 2012 |
Weather at the gauge
Rain in the last 3 days: 0.31 in. Rain that falls upstream can take hours or days to show up at a river gauge.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Other gauges on the Blackwater River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackwater River near DendronRiver gauge, Blackwater River | 31.84 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 24 mi |
| Blackwater River at Route 620 near ZuniRiver gauge, Blackwater River | 15.13 ft | Below flood stage | +0.01 ft | 17 mi |
| Blackwater River near FranklinRiver gauge, Blackwater River | 0.63 ft | Below flood stage | −0.06 ft | 5.8 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nottoway River near SebrellRiver gauge, Nottoway River | 3.02 ft | Below flood stage | −0.03 ft | 15 mi |
| Potecasi Creek near UnionRiver gauge, Potecasi Creek | 2.77 ft | Normal | −0.01 ft | 22 mi |
| Meherrin River near Bryants CornerRiver gauge, Meherrin River | 52.7 cfs | Very low | −4.9 cfs | 26 mi |
| Ahoskie Creek at AhoskieRiver gauge, Ahoskie Creek | 1.36 ft | Normal | −0.01 ft | 28 mi |
| Nottoway River near Stony CreekRiver gauge, Nottoway River | 2.26 ft | Below flood stage | +0.19 ft | 31 mi |
| Storm Drain at Craneybrook Lane at EdgefieldRiver gauge, Storm Drain | 0.0 cfs | Normal | ±0 | 33 mi |
| Meherrin River at EmporiaRiver gauge, Meherrin River | 2.27 ft | Below flood stage | +0.01 ft | 34 mi |
Questions and answers
What is flood stage for the Blackwater River at Hwys 58/258 at Franklin?
The official flood stage is 5.00 ft. The level is currently 6.08 ft below it.
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 Blackwater River at Hwys 58/258 at Franklin today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 12:15 PM EDT, the water level was −1.08 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Blackwater River at Hwys 58/258 at Franklin rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is the level of Blackwater River at Hwys 58/258 at Franklin normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Blackwater River at Hwys 58/258 at Franklin?
The highest level on record is 10.78 ft on October 10, 2016.
How often is this data updated?
The 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:02050000(Agency page)- Coordinates
36.68043, -76.91829(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 | −1.08 ft | 2026-10-20 16:15 | Provisional |
| Flow | 108 cfs | 2026-10-20 15:15 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Blackwater River at Hwys 58/258 at Franklin (usgs:02050000). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/virginia/blackwater-river-at-hwys-58-258-at-franklin
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