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Water Level Guide
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Current Water Levels | ||
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Water Level Guideline for Safe Blueways FUN | |||||
Blackwater Real-Time Gauge Level in Feet | 1.5-2.0 | 2.0-2.6 | 2.6-3.5 | 3.6-4.0 | 4.0 + |
Upper Pigg River (Waid Park to Lynch Park) (Hours to float*) | Minimum Level – will need to portage in spots (5 hours) | Gentle float – may scrape in spots – ledge floatable – ideal fishing level (4 hours) | Ideal Floating Level for all abilities – ledges provide challenge (3.0 hours) | Good flow for moderately skilled paddlers – may encounter strainers – ledges wash out (2.5 hours) | Fast float with most rapids washed out – strainers are the main concern (2.0 hours) |
Upper Blackwater (Brubaker Park to Blue Bend Road) | Unfloatable (5+ hours) | Minimum Level – few portages (4.0 hours) | Ideal Floating Level – may encounter some floating debris – ideal fishing level (3.5 hours) | Moderate skill required due to strainers and debris – sharp turns around strainers – boat control skills needed (3.0 hours) | Solid boat control skills needed due to braided channels and difficult take-out access (2.0 hours) |
Middle Blackwater (US 220 Wayside to Farm View Road Ford) See note on dam hazard below. | Minimum Level – most rock gardens unfloatable (5+ hours) | Gentle Float – rock gardens floatable – only a few drags – rapids remain at Class I. Ideal fishing level (4 hours) | Good flow for moderately experienced paddlers. Dam portage may be tricky. One rock garden goes to Class II (3.5 hours) | Ideal flow for experience paddlers – multiple rapids rise to Class II. (3 hours) | Level only appropriate for skilled paddlers with solid boat control skills. Most rapids wash out and the dam becomes difficult to portage above 5.5 feet. (2.5 hours) |
Lower Blackwater (Farm View Road Ford to Smith Mountain Lake) | Moderate Level (3 hours) | Moderate float – Class I (2.5 hours) | Ideal floating level – Class I – Ideal fishing level (2.0 hours) | Moderate boat control skills needed – debris becomes a concern (1.30 hours) | Must have solid boat control skills – most rapids washed out – watch for floating debris and strainers (1 hr. 30 min.) |
Upper Blackwater Sub-Float (Grassy Hill Road to Blue Bend Road) | Minimum Level – will portage in spots (1.5 hours) | Good level – no portages (1.0 hours) | Fun, fast float –watch for strainers on bends (50 min.) | Fast, moderate float – all rapids washed out (45 minutes) | River washes out – difficult take-out access (Blue Bend Road floods out at 5 feet) (30 minutes) |
* - estimated float times are based on the time it takes a fully loaded canoe to complete the course with consistent paddling. These are estimates only as time on the river can be affected by the water level, abilities of the paddlers, type of boats, and time taken for fishing and extended breaks.
Blackwater River Dams
Two dams on the Blackwater River require paddlers’ attention. The first is the Rocky Mount Water Withdrawal Plant that is approximately 1 mile above US 220. This six-foot dam is unrunnable and portage is on river left. This is a difficult, although short (100 feet) portage and care is required as the riverbanks are steep.
The second dam is in private ownership is about three miles downstream of US 220. This seven foot, unrunnable dam, has safe portage on river right. Be alert for whirlpools near the upstream face of the dam during high water flows. The land is in private ownership. Please portage quickly and do not drag your boats on the lawn, as this is someone’s backyard. The portage is approximately 150 feet in length. The private landowner works well with paddlers and this will last only as long as paddlers show appropriate respect for private property.
If you lack the physical ability to safely portage these dams, we recommend that you enjoy Franklin County’s other blueway sections on the upper Blackwater and Pigg Rivers.