North Oconee River at College Street at Athens
Georgia — Water Level & Flood Stage
Located in Clarke County, Georgia on the North Oconee River. Live water level data from USGS gauge 02217770, updated every 15 minutes.
Current Water Level
Gage Height
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Streamflow
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Last Reading
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Flood Stages
Major Flood
23 ft
11,900 cfs
Moderate Flood
20 ft
9,600 cfs
Minor Flood
19 ft
9,100 cfs
Action Stage
10 ft
2,700 cfs
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
What Floods at Each Level
30.6 ft
Solid Waste Department floods just west of College Avenue Bridge.
27.2 ft
Apartments downstream of College Avenue Bridge flood.
25.6 ft
College Avenue Bridge floods.
24.1 ft
This was the record crest of the North Oconee at Athens May 27... 1966. Widespread flooding occurs to roads and homes.
23.7 ft
Intersection of College Avenue and MLK floods.
23.5 ft
Greenway Parking lot starts flooding.
23.2 ft
Significant flooding of MLK begins.
23 ft
Major flooding begins. Extensive damage occurs to homes and mobile homes located in the flood plain of the river. Many roads and highways will be flooded as well as the failure of small dams in the area.
22 ft
Significant flooding expands upstream and downstream from the gage on College Avenue. The North Oconee River Greenway parking lots will be under two feet of water. Portions of North Oconee River Park off Martin Luther King Parkway will be under 4 feet of water. The flood waters will be hitting the North Avenue and East Broad Street bridges with possible erosion. County officials will likely have them closed.
20 ft
Moderate flooding begins. Significant flooding occurs upstream and downstream from the gage on College Avenue. The North Oconee River Greenway parking lots will begin to flood. Portions of North Oconee River Park off Martin Luther King Parkway will be under 4 feet of water. The flood waters will be hitting the East Broad Street bridges with possible erosion. County officials will likely have them closed.
19 ft
Flood stage is reached in the woodlands upstream and downstream from the gage at College Avenue. The water will be up to 9 feet deep on portions of the sidewalks along the North Oconee River Greenway...mainly from College Avenue upstream to the Clarke County line. Portions of the North Oconee River Park off Martin Luther King Parkway will be under 3 feet of water. The flood waters will reach the bottom of the East Broad Street vehicular and pedestrian bridges. County officials may close them.
18 ft
Bankfull conditions expand much further into the woodlands along the river upstream and downstream from the gage at College Avenue. The water will be up to 8 feet deep on portions of the sidewalks along the North Oconee River Greenway...mainly from College Avenue upstream to the Clarke County line. The water will be around three feet deep over several manhole covers of the storm sewer system. Portions of the North Oconee River Park off Martin Luther King Parkway will be under two feet of water.
16 ft
Bankfull conditions expand much further into the woodlands along the river upstream and downstream from the gage at College Avenue. The water will be up to 6 feet deep on portions of the sidewalks along the North Oconee River Greenway...mainly from College Avenue upstream to the Clarke County line. The water will be around one foot deep over several manhole covers of the storm sewer system. Low portions of the North Oconee River Park off of Martin Luther King Parkway will begin to flood.
14 ft
Bankfull conditions expand further into the woodlands along the river upstream and downstream from the gage at College Avenue. The water will be up to 4 feet deep on portions of the sidewalks along the North Oconee River Greenway.
12 ft
Bankfull conditions continue along the river upstream and downstream from the gage at College Avenue. The water is up to two feet deep on portions of the sidewalks along the North Oconee River Greenway...mainly from College Avenue upstream to the Clarke County line.
10 ft
Bankfull conditions occur along the river upstream and downstream from the gage at College Avenue. Water begins to flood low lying areas of the sidewalks along the North Oconee River Greenway...mainly from College Avenue upstream to the Clarke County line.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
7-Day Water Level Chart
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Historic Crests
| Date | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| May 26, 1966 | 19.4 ft | 14,500 cfs |
| May 26, 1966 | 19.4 ft | 14,500 cfs |
| Apr 19, 2019 | 18.9 ft | 8,720 cfs |
| Apr 19, 2019 | 18.9 ft | 8,720 cfs |
| Mar 20, 2003 | 16.86 ft | 6,680 cfs |
About This Gauge
USGS Site
NWS LID
NOCG1
River
North Oconee River
County
Clarke, GA
Coordinates
33.9697°N, 83.3775°W
Get Flood Alerts for North Oconee 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 North Oconee River at College Street at Athens?
The North Oconee River at College Street at Athens gauge is maintained by USGS (site 02217770) 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 North Oconee River at College Street at Athens?
The NWS-defined flood stage for North Oconee River at College Street at Athens is 19 feet. Action stage begins at 10 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 20 feet, and major flooding at 23 feet.
How do I get alerts when North Oconee River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add North Oconee River at College Street at Athens to your watchlist. StormCast will send a push notification to your phone whenever the water level crosses into a new NWS flood category — even when your screen is off.
Where is the North Oconee River at College Street at Athens gauge located?
The gauge is located in Clarke County, Georgia at coordinates 33.9697°N, 83.3775°W. USGS site number: 02217770. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
More Gauges on North Oconee River
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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.