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Duck River gauges
Readings are every 15 minutes from the U.S. Geological Survey, shown hourly for the last seven days. The page checks USGS again each time it opens.
Duck River below Manchester
USGS gauge 03596000
Latest reading 12:00 AM CDT, Thu, Oct 1
Flow
12 cfs
Steady over 24 hours
7-day range 11 to 17 cfs
Gauge height
-0.12 ft
Steady over 24 hours
7-day range -0.14 to -0.06 ft
Duck River at Shelbyville
USGS gauge 03597860
Latest reading 11:30 PM CDT, Wed, Sep 30
Flow
184 cfs
Down 13 cfs in 24 hours
7-day range 172 to 201 cfs
Gauge height
10.18 ft
Down 0.06 ft in 24 hours
7-day range 10.12 to 10.26 ft
Duck River near Shelbyville
USGS gauge 03598000
Latest reading 11:30 PM CDT, Wed, Sep 30
Flow
175 cfs
Steady over 24 hours
7-day range 167 to 189 cfs
Gauge height
2.63 ft
Steady over 24 hours
7-day range 2.60 to 2.69 ft
Duck River at Halls Mill Bridge
USGS gauge 03598185
Latest reading 11:45 PM CDT, Wed, Sep 30
Flow
187 cfs
Steady over 24 hours
7-day range 176 to 196 cfs
Gauge height
3.95 ft
Steady over 24 hours
7-day range 3.91 to 3.98 ft
Duck River above Milltown
USGS gauge 03599240
Latest reading 11:45 PM CDT, Wed, Sep 30
Flow
183 cfs
Steady over 24 hours
7-day range 164 to 183 cfs
Gauge height
10.94 ft
Steady over 24 hours
7-day range 10.89 to 10.94 ft
Duck River at mile 156 near Pottsville
USGS gauge 03599419
Latest reading 12:00 AM CDT, Thu, Oct 1
Flow
159 cfs
Steady over 24 hours
7-day range 150 to 163 cfs
Gauge height
5.27 ft
Steady over 24 hours
7-day range 5.24 to 5.28 ft
Duck River at Columbia
USGS gauge 03599500
Latest reading 11:00 PM CDT, Wed, Sep 30
Flow
138 cfs
Steady over 24 hours
7-day range 136 to 149 cfs
Gauge height
1.33 ft
Steady over 24 hours
7-day range 1.32 to 1.38 ft
Duck River near Shady Grove
USGS gauge 03601600
Latest reading 11:30 PM CDT, Wed, Sep 30
Flow
186 cfs
Down 7 cfs in 24 hours
7-day range 177 to 221 cfs
Gauge height
6.87 ft
Steady over 24 hours
7-day range 6.83 to 7.01 ft
Duck River at Highway 100 at Centerville
USGS gauge 03601990
Latest reading 12:00 AM CDT, Thu, Oct 1
Flow
306 cfs
Steady over 24 hours
7-day range 306 to 368 cfs
Gauge height
2.71 ft
Steady over 24 hours
7-day range 2.71 to 2.88 ft
Duck River above Hurricane Mills
USGS gauge 03603000
Latest reading 12:00 AM CDT, Thu, Oct 1
Flow
415 cfs
Steady over 24 hours
7-day range 415 to 490 cfs
Gauge height
0.43 ft
Steady over 24 hours
7-day range 0.43 to 0.57 ft
Float trips
Floating and paddling the Duck River
A long, gentle Class I river. The stretch from Iron Bridge Road (river mile 136.4) up to the Maury–Marshall county line (river mile 173.7) is a state scenic river, and TWRA counts 30 free public access sites on the river.
Cheeks Bend: Leftwich Bridge to Howard Bridge
Through Yanahli Wildlife Management Area (Higher Pursuits).
No published flow range was found for the Duck. The gauges on this page show how it compares with its week.
Put-ins and take-outs
Before you launch
- Do not run Lillard Mill Dam, just upstream of Milltown.
Sources: Higher Pursuits access list
Bigger purchases
Gear compared for floating the Duck River
The electronics, motors, boats and batteries that cost real money, compared side by side with the Tennessee water each one suits. Affiliate links.
Dam releases
Dams on the Duck River
Part of the Duck River is controlled by releases from Normandy Dam. When generators are running, the river below the dam rises quickly. The generation schedule for each dam is on its lake page.
USGS readings from the Duck River, refreshed each time the page opens.
Eating what you catch
Duck River fish consumption advisory
TDEC’s fish consumption advisory for Duck River, from its August 2026 list of posted waters.
From Cold Bramch (River mile 11.5) to Interstate 40 (River mile 31.8)
Mercury, PCB
Precautionary advisory for black bass (largemouth, smallmouth and spotted) for mercury. Precautionary advisory for Catfish for PCB..*Precautionary means: Children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers should not consume the fish species named. All other persons should limit consumption of the named species to one meal per month.
Weather
Duck River weather and wind forecast
Thu, Oct 1 night
63°F
Partly Cloudy
Wind SSE 0 to 5 mph
0% chance of rain
Thu, Oct 1
94°F
Sunny
Wind S 5 to 10 mph
0% chance of rain
Thu, Oct 1 night
68°F
Partly Cloudy
Wind S 5 mph
4% chance of rain
Fri, Oct 2
90°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Wind SW 5 mph
59% chance of rain
Fri, Oct 2 night
65°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Areas Of Fog
Wind E 0 to 5 mph
62% chance of rain
Sat, Oct 3
80°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Wind ENE 0 to 5 mph
71% chance of rain
National Weather Service forecast, updated 6:51 PM, Wed, Sep 30.
Sun and moon, Thu, Oct 8
USGS readings from the Duck River, refreshed each time the page opens.
Go fishing
Where to get on the Duck River
Other rivers
More Middle Tennessee rivers
Common questions
Duck River level and paddling questions
Where are the Duck River gauges?
USGS runs 10 gauges used on this page: Duck River below Manchester; Duck River at Shelbyville; Duck River near Shelbyville; Duck River at Halls Mill Bridge; Duck River above Milltown; Duck River at mile 156 near Pottsville; Duck River at Columbia; Duck River near Shady Grove; Duck River at Highway 100 at Centerville; Duck River above Hurricane Mills.
What does cfs mean on the Duck River?
Cubic feet per second: the volume of water passing the gauge each second. It is the best single number for how big the river is running. Gauge height is the water surface against a fixed point at that gauge and only compares with readings from the same gauge.
How often do the Duck River readings update?
USGS gauges record every 15 minutes and usually report within an hour. This page checks USGS each time it opens and shows the time of the latest reading.
Why does the Duck River rise and fall during the day?
Dam releases. When the dam upstream generates, the water below it rises within minutes and drops again when generation stops. The dam’s schedule is linked on this page.
Can you float the Duck River?
A long, gentle Class I river. The stretch from Iron Bridge Road (river mile 136.4) up to the Maury–Marshall county line (river mile 173.7) is a state scenic river, and TWRA counts 30 free public access sites on the river. Sections on this page: Cheeks Bend: Leftwich Bridge to Howard Bridge (5.5 miles).
What is a good level to paddle the Duck River?
No published flow range was found for the Duck. The gauges on this page show how it compares with its week.
Where can you put in on the Duck River?
Access points listed on this page: Howard Bridge, Iron Bridge, Williamsport, Centerville River Park, Hurricane Mills. Each one links to driving directions.
How long does it take to float the Duck River?
Cheeks Bend: Leftwich Bridge to Howard Bridge: 3–5 hours.
What should you know before paddling the Duck River?
Do not run Lillard Mill Dam, just upstream of Milltown.
Do you need a life jacket to kayak the Duck River?
Yes. Tennessee requires a wearable life jacket for each person in a canoe or kayak, and anyone under 13 has to wear one while underway. Canoes and kayaks without a motor do not need to be registered.
River readings come from the U.S. Geological Survey and are provisional, as USGS publishes them. Forecasts come from the National Weather Service. Sunrise, sunset and moon phase are calculated for the location. Tennessee Fishing Spots is not affiliated with USGS or NWS.
Keep going
More the Duck River water, and who fishes it
Every guide and charter on this site is listed by the water they run, so you can call the captain direct. Licences, limits and the state record list are one click away too.