Major Flood
21 ft
Current Water Level
Gage Height
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Streamflow
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Last Reading
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FLOOD STAGES
Know the flood categories.
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
Moderate Flood
16 ft
Minor Flood
13 ft
Action Stage
11 ft
What Floods at Each Level
21 ft
Major flooding occurs. Highway 9 goes underwater in low areas in south Dawson County and Nicholson and Old Federal Roads are closed in northwest Forsyth County to residents.
16 ft
Moderate flood begins in south Dawson county and continues in northwest Forsyth county. Widespread flooding of pasture land and horse stables occur. Old Federal and Nicholson Roads are closed in northwest Forsyth county.
14 ft
Moderate flooding begins in northwest Forsyth county. Old Federal Road begins to flood and Nicholson Road is closed off to residents. Minor flooding continues in south Dawson county.
13 ft
Flood Stage is reached and minor flooding begins in south Dawson county. Minor flooding continues on Nicholson Road in northwest Forsyth county. The water will be around one foot deep on the road.
12 ft
Minor flooding of Nicholson Road in northwest Forsyth county begins.
11 ft
Bankfull is reached on the river in south Dawson county. Some minor flooding begins in pasture lands of northwest Forsyth county and water approaches low areas of Nicholson Road.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
Low-Water Impacts
100 cfs
Minimum flow suggested to paddle the 18.2 mile stretch of the Etowah River from Highway 136 to Kelly Bridge Rd.
102 cfs
Paddled the Dawson Forest section and found a few low-water spots and slower current than usual, but still very runnable despite very low water level.
115 cfs
Canoed from the bridge on US 19 west of Dahlonega to the bridge on GA 136. Low water level made the 12-mile trip last nine hours. Especially shallow and difficult around Castleberry Bridge.
200 cfs
Minimum flow required to paddle the 65.4 miles from GA 136 to the Knox Bridge boat ramp on Lake Allatoona. 6.5 day excursion. Class I.
250 cfs
Good flow for paddling the 6.0 miles from Highway 9 to Castleberry Road (above Dawsonville). River difficulty: Trained beginner (Class I-II)
260 cfs
Nice level for paddling the 2.56 miles from Highway 52 to Highway 9 (above Dawsonville). River difficulty: Beginner (Class I)
300 cfs
Minimum flow required to paddle the 27.9 mile upper section of the Etowah River from Hightower Church Road to GA 136 above Dawsonville. Three day trip. Class I to II.
800 cfs
Bankfull capacity (the amount of water a river can carry without overflowing its banks) at Dawsonville.
What happens as water levels drop, per the National Weather Service.
7-Day Water Level Chart
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Historic Crests
| Date | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 6, 1946 | 16.2 ft | 6,100 cfs |
| Jan 15, 1954 | 16.03 ft | 5,950 cfs |
| May 19, 2013 | 15.9 ft | 4,251 cfs |
About This Gauge
Get Flood Alerts for Etowah River
StormCast monitors this gauge and sends a push notification to your phone when the water level crosses into a new flood category — even at 3 AM.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current water level of Etowah River at GA 9 near Dawsonville?
The Etowah River at GA 9 near Dawsonville gauge is maintained by USGS (site 02389150) and reports water levels every 15 minutes. Visit this page to see the latest reading updated live, or download StormCast to get push alerts when levels rise.
What is flood stage for Etowah River at GA 9 near Dawsonville?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Etowah River at GA 9 near Dawsonville is 13 feet. Action stage begins at 11 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 16 feet, and major flooding at 21 feet.
How do I get alerts when Etowah River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Etowah River at GA 9 near Dawsonville to your watchlist. StormCast will send a push notification to your phone whenever the water level crosses into a new NWS flood category.
Where is the Etowah River at GA 9 near Dawsonville gauge located?
The gauge is located in Dawson County, Georgia at coordinates 34.3581°N, 84.1133°W. USGS site number: 02389150. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
More Gauges on Etowah River
Etowah River at Kelly Bridge Road near Matt
Etowah River at Canton
Etowah River at GA 61 near Cartersville
Etowah River at Allatoona Lake near Cartersville
Etowah River at Coosa Valley Fairgrounds at Rome
Etowah River at Allatoona Dam above Cartersville
Etowah River near Kingston
Etowah River at GA 136 near Landrum
On This River
More Resources
Source & Notes
Data provided by: US Geological Survey, Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey, Observations courtesy of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Automated gauge readings are now available, courtesy of the USGS.
- River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 48 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time.