Upper James HUC8 02080201
A 5,729 km² sub-basin of the Mid-Atlantic region in VA, WV. Drought coverage is from the US Drought Monitor (map of 2026-09-01); streamflow classes place each USGS gauge's latest reading against its own day-of-year record.
Health score
64
Moderate
Drought index
129
Moderate
Area in D2+
9.47%
0% exceptional (D4)
Gauges below normal
44%
of 16 reporting
Median flow
90%
p31 of record
Water assets
300
47 springs · 71 wells
USGS gauges (16)
- CATAWBA CREEK NEAR CATAWBA, VA020185001 cfsp4 · much below normal
- JACKSON RIVER NEAR BACOVA, VA0201140018 cfsp9 · much below normal
- CRAIG CREEK AT PARR, VA0201800036 cfsp10 · below normal
- JAMES RIVER AT BUCHANAN, VA02019500497 cfsp11 · below normal
- JOHNS CREEK AT NEW CASTLE, VA0201750011 cfsp20 · below normal
- JAMES RIVER AT LICK RUN, VA02016500398 cfsp20 · below normal
- POTTS CREEK NEAR COVINGTON, VA0201400024 cfsp24 · below normal
- COWPASTURE RIVER NEAR CLIFTON FORGE, VA0201600081 cfsp26 · normal
- JACKSON RIVER BL GATHRIGHT DAM NR HOT SPGS, VA02011800237 cfsp36 · normal
- JACKSON RIVER BL DUNLAP CREEK AT COVINGTON, VA02013100290 cfsp41 · normal
- BACK CREEK NEAR MOUNTAIN GROVE, VA0201150025 cfsp52 · normal
- BULLPASTURE RIVER AT WILLIAMSVILLE, VA0201570048 cfsp63 · normal
- DUNLAP CREEK NEAR COVINGTON, VA0201300027 cfsp64 · normal
- BACK CREEK NEAR SUNRISE, VA0201146014 cfsp70 · normal
- LITTLE BACK CREEK NEAR SUNRISE, VA020114904 cfsp77 · above normal
- BACK CREEK AT SUNRISE, VA0201147025 cfsp80 · above normal
Recent conditions
| Date | DSCI | D2+ % | Gauges low | Flow pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-07 | 129 | 9.47 | 7/16 | p31 |
Top water assets
- 67Cowpasture Riverriver
- 67Shaws Forkriver
- 67Shaws Forkriver
- 67Benson Runriver
- 67Little Back Creek Near Sunrise, Variver
- 67Back Creek Near Sunrise, Variver
- 67Gathright Damreservoir
- 67Bath County P S Lower Reservoir - Lower Damreservoir
- 67Bullpasture Riverriver
- 67Benson Runriver