Etowah River at GA 9 near Dawsonville

The past week

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.

Highest crests on record

When the water runs low

• 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.

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