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Cartoogechaye Creek near Franklin

Highest listed crest 15.60 ftFlood stage 12.0 ft25 crests since 1949

The Cartoogechaye Creek near Franklin crested above flood stage 6 times among the 25 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1949 to 2015. The highest, 15.60 ft on June 1, 1949, was minor flooding, 3.60 feet above flood stage.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
15.60 ft
June 1, 1949; 7,000 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
12.0 ft
Major flooding from 18.0 ft
Crests at major
0
6 above flood stage
Most recent flood crest
December 24, 2015
12.09 ft, minor flooding
Location
Macon County
North Carolina

Flood stages

The thresholds the National Weather Service uses for this gauge today, and how many listed crests reached each.

Flood categories, Cartoogechaye Creek near Franklin
Action stage8.019Jan 31, 2013The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)12.06Dec 24, 2015Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage16.00—Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage18.00—Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

25 crests from 1949 to 2015. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Cartoogechaye Creek near Franklin, 1949 to 2015 81012141618ft Flood stage 12.0 ftMajor 18.0 ft Jun 1, 1949: 15.60 ft, minor flooding; 7,000 cubic feet per secondDec 12, 1961: 10.40 ft, action stage; 2,560 cubic feet per secondMar 6, 1963: 9.45 ft, action stage; 1,940 cubic feet per secondMar 12, 1963: 9.05 ft, action stage; 1,780 cubic feet per secondApr 7, 1964: 9.23 ft, action stage; 1,850 cubic feet per secondOct 4, 1964: 12.96 ft, minor flooding; 4,720 cubic feet per secondFeb 13, 1966: 10.99 ft, action stage; 2,980 cubic feet per secondJun 4, 1967: 10.98 ft, action stage; 2,970 cubic feet per secondMay 28, 1973: 12.78 ft, minor flooding; 4,550 cubic feet per secondMar 30, 1975: 10.10 ft, action stage; 2,310 cubic feet per secondMay 15, 1976: 11.35 ft, action stage; 3,270 cubic feet per secondMay 29, 1976: 11.21 ft, action stage; 3,150 cubic feet per secondMar 4, 1979: 10.77 ft, action stage; 2,800 cubic feet per secondFeb 2, 1983: 11.33 ft, action stage; 3,250 cubic feet per secondFeb 16, 1990: 11.51 ft, action stage; 3,410 cubic feet per secondMar 28, 1994: 11.31 ft, action stage; 3,240 cubic feet per secondFeb 16, 1995: 12.59 ft, minor flooding; 3,610 cubic feet per secondOct 5, 1995: 11.72 ft, action stage; 2,970 cubic feet per secondFeb 28, 1997: 8.77 ft, action stage; 1,700 cubic feet per secondJan 8, 1998: 11.19 ft, action stage; 2,630 cubic feet per secondSep 17, 2004: 14.12 ft, minor flooding; 6,440 cubic feet per secondSep 22, 2009: 10.93 ft, action stageNov 11, 2009: 8.34 ft, action stageJan 31, 2013: 11.40 ft, action stage; 2,771 cubic feet per secondDec 24, 2015: 12.09 ft, minor flooding; 3,239 cubic feet per second Highest, 15.60 ft, Jun 1, 1949 1950196019701980199020002010

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Cartoogechaye Creek near Franklin 1940s: 1 1 1950s: 0 1960s: 1 1970s: 1 1980s: 0 1990s: 1 2000s: 1 2010s: 1 1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s
  1. These are the crests the local National Weather Service office lists for the gauge: the highest on record and recent crests. Lesser floods between them may be missing, so counts by decade are a floor.
  2. Categories use today's flood stages. Levees, dams and channel changes since a crest can make old and new stages not directly comparable.

Highest crests

Highest listed crests, Cartoogechaye Creek near Franklin
1Jun 1, 194915.60+3.60Minor7,000
2Sep 17, 200414.12+2.12Minor6,440
3Oct 4, 196412.96+0.96Minor4,720
4May 28, 197312.78+0.78Minor4,550
5Feb 16, 199512.59+0.59Minor3,610
6Dec 24, 201512.09+0.09Minor3,239
7Oct 5, 199511.72−0.28Action2,970
8Feb 16, 199011.51−0.49Action3,410
9Jan 31, 201311.40−0.60Action2,771
10May 15, 197611.35−0.65Action3,270
11Feb 2, 198311.33−0.67Action3,250
12Mar 28, 199411.31−0.69Action3,240
13May 29, 197611.21−0.79Action3,150
14Jan 8, 199811.19−0.81Action2,630
15Feb 13, 196610.99−1.01Action2,980
16Jun 4, 196710.98−1.02Action2,970
17Sep 22, 200910.93−1.07Action—
18Mar 4, 197910.77−1.23Action2,800
19Dec 12, 196110.40−1.60Action2,560
20Mar 30, 197510.10−1.90Action2,310
21Mar 6, 19639.45−2.55Action1,940
22Apr 7, 19649.23−2.77Action1,850
23Mar 12, 19639.05−2.95Action1,780
24Feb 28, 19978.77−3.23Action1,700
25Nov 11, 20098.34−3.66Action—

Other gauges in Macon County

Flood gauges in Macon County
Peaceful Cove Rd (above Cullasaja River RV Park), 6 SE Franklin9.815.52 ft, Sep 27, 20240
IOTLA11.011.35 ft, Dec 24, 20150
Otto17.018.14 ft, Sep 22, 20090
Prentiss15.017.30 ft, Nov 4, 19640

Macon County: every hazard · River floods across the country · North Carolina

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge CARN7, retrieved October 30, 2026. Stages in feet on the gauge's own datum, not elevation. Crests are as the National Weather Service lists them; preliminary values may be revised.