Hiwassee River at Apalachia Powerhouse
River flow & level · TVA Apalachia Dam releases · Tennessee
Latest reading Oct 26, 4:00 PM · streamflow
The Hiwassee River at Apalachia Powerhouse at Hiwassee River at Apalachia Powerhouse is running 2,873 cfs. Flow is up 92% from 24 hours ago.
Whitewater: Hiwassee River
for rafters & kayakersFlow shown here is TVA’s average hourly discharge from Apalachia Dam, which feeds the Reliance section through the Apalachia powerhouse.
Hiwassee (Apalachia Powerhouse to Reliance)
Class II · 5.6 mi
No runnable range shown for this gauge: it runs on scheduled dam releases. Reach details: American Whitewater.
- Sat Oct 31 Before 10 am - min flow only; 10 am - 11 am - one generator; 11 am - 3 pm - two generators
From TVA’s official recreation release calendar (129 release days in 2026). Source: Apalachia Dam (TVA). TVA can change schedules without notice; next-day schedules are posted by about 6 p.m.
66°F water: below 70°F. Dress for a swim, not the air: a wetsuit or drysuit is recommended below 70°F. Reading Oct 26, 3:15 PM · USGS 03556590 Hiwassee River above Reliance.
TVA scheduled 129 Apalachia recreation release days in 2026 (spring through October 31). Source.
Below dams the river can rise suddenly and turn violent when releases start; stay out of tailrace areas and off the river outside scheduled windows unless you know the flow. Ranges are for experienced paddlers at the gauge shown; rapids change after floods, so scout and check for new wood. Wear a PFD, never boat alone, and follow the American Whitewater Safety Code. New to whitewater? Go with a licensed outfitter.
Streamflow
cubic feet per secondReading
Hiwassee River at Apalachia Powerhouse fishing report & conditions
updated Oct 26, 4:13 PM ETWater 66°F, flow rising fast (+92%) — fair fall fishing day (5/10), best window 7:57 AM–8:57 AM (moonset near sunrise).
- Water temp66°Fmeasured Oct 26, 3:15 PM · USGS 03556590 Hiwassee River above Reliance
- Flow2,873 cfsFlow rising fast (+92% in 24 h) — often muddy, unsettled water
Official Tennessee fishing report: Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency — Weekly fishing reports
Best fishing times today
Today is a fair fishing day (solunar + local conditions)
5/10
Full moon · 99% lit · New moon Mon, Nov 9 · Sunrise 7:53 AM · Sunset 6:49 PM
Major fishing times
- Moon overhead12:18 AM–2:18 AM
- Moon underfoot12:45 PM–2:45 PM
Minor fishing times
- Moonset7:57 AM–8:57 AMSunrise
- Moonrise6:26 PM–7:26 PMSunset
Fishing times for the next 7 days
| TodayOct 26 | 5/10Fair | Major 12:18 AM–2:18 AM · 12:45 PM–2:45 PM Minor 7:57 AM–8:57 AM · 6:26 PM–7:26 PM |
|---|---|---|
| TueOct 27 | 4/10Fair | Major 1:14 AM–3:14 AM · 1:43 PM–3:43 PM Minor 9:11 AM–10:11 AM · 7:10 PM–8:10 PM |
| WedOct 28 | 2/10Poor | Major 2:14 AM–4:14 AM · 2:46 PM–4:46 PM Minor 10:25 AM–11:25 AM · 8:04 PM–9:04 PM |
| ThuOct 29 | 4/10Fair | Major 3:18 AM–5:18 AM · 3:51 PM–5:51 PM Minor 11:35 AM–12:35 PM · 9:07 PM–10:07 PM |
| FriOct 30 | 3/10Poor | Major 4:23 AM–6:23 AM · 4:54 PM–6:54 PM Minor 12:35 PM–1:35 PM · 10:17 PM–11:17 PM |
| SatOct 31 | 4/10Fair | Major 5:25 AM–7:25 AM · 5:54 PM–7:54 PM Minor 1:25 PM–2:25 PM · 11:29 PM–12:29 AM |
| SunNov 1 | 4/10Fair | Major 5:23 AM–7:23 AM · 5:50 PM–7:50 PM Minor 1:06 PM–2:06 PM · 11:40 PM–12:40 AM |
How this rating works
Solunar theory says fish feed more when the moon is overhead or underfoot (major periods, about 2 hours) and around moonrise and moonset (minor periods, about 1 hour). On a lake or river there is no tide, so instead of tide changes we score the local conditions anglers watch: the barometric pressure trend, the wind, whether the river is steady, and the water temperature where it is measured.
| Base | every day starts at 1 | 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Sunrise / sunset | a period overlaps sunrise or sunset ±1 h: major +2, minor +1 (max 3) (Moonset × sunrise +1; Moonrise × sunset +1) | 2 |
| Moon phase | within 2 days of a new or full moon +2, within 4 days +1 (today: 0.5 days) | 2 |
| Local conditions | pressure 6 AM→6 PM: falling +2, steady or slowly rising +1, rising fast 0 · daytime wind 4–15 mph +1, over 20 mph (or gusts over 30) −1 · flow within ±15% in 24 h +1, rising over 25% −1 · water 55–75°F +1, below 45°F or above 85°F −1 (0 to 4 in total)
| 0 |
| Today | 5, rounded | 5/10 |
1–3 poor · 4–5 fair · 6–7 good · 8–10 excellent. Pressure and wind are the NOAA National Weather Service hourly forecast for this spot; the level/flow trend is the latest 24 hours of readings on this page; water temperature measured by USGS at USGS 03556590 Hiwassee River above Reliance. Days 2–7 score sun, moon, forecast pressure and forecast wind only (level and water temperature aren’t forecast). Solunar times are a rule of thumb, not a guarantee.
Solunar periods calculated for 35.18, -84.44 (moon times from astronomical equations, Hiwassee River at Apalachia Powerhouse local time).
Last 10 days
| Date | Mean flow (cfs) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Mon Oct 26 (today) | 829 | -29% |
Daily mean of all readings that day; today is the average so far.
Nearby lakes & rivers
- Parksville Lake (Ocoee No. 1)13 mi · Lake827.95 ft24h −0.19 ft
- Ocoee River at Copperhill14 mi · River218 cfsstage 2.46 ft
- Hiwassee Lake15 mi · Lake1,490.78 ft−30.12 ft vs summer pool
- Blue Ridge Lake23 mi · Lake1,671.38 ft−15.52 ft vs summer pool
- Lake Nottely25 mi · Lake1,763.41 ft−13.49 ft vs summer pool
- Watts Bar Lake36 mi · Lake740.64 ft−0.11 ft vs summer pool
Guides
All guides →About this data
- Source
- Tennessee Valley Authority — Apalachia Dam observed data — Apalachia Dam average hourly discharge
- Location
- 35.1806, -84.4435 · Tennessee
- Measures
- Average hourly discharge released from Apalachia Dam through the powerhouse, cfs
- Latest reading
- Oct 26, 4:00 PM local time
- History
- 0 days on file
- Page built
- Oct 26, 2026 4:13 PM ET
Source: Tennessee Valley Authority — Apalachia Dam observed data (official page). Operator data is preliminary and may be revised. Weather: NOAA National Weather Service.