Upper Tar HUC8 03020101
A 3,379 km² sub-basin of the South Atlantic-Gulf region in NC. Drought coverage is from the US Drought Monitor (map of 2026-10-13); streamflow classes place each USGS gauge's latest reading against its own day-of-year record.
Health score
45
Stressed
Drought index
257
Severe
Area in D2+
55.36%
0% exceptional (D4)
Gauges below normal
80%
of 5 reporting
Median flow
42%
p9 of record
Water assets
1,293
0 springs · 500 wells
USGS gauges (5)
- TAR RIVER AT NC 97 AT ROCKY MOUNT, NC0208258551 cfsp7 · much below normal
- TAR RIVER AT NC-581 NEAR SPRING HOPE, NC0208194243 cfsp8 · much below normal
- TAR R AT US 401 AT LOUISBURG, NC0208174721 cfsp9 · much below normal
- TAR RIVER BELOW DAM NEAR LANGLEY CROSSROADS, NC020825041071 cfsp19 · below normal
- TAR RIVER NEAR TAR RIVER, NC020815003 cfsp34 · normal
Recent conditions
| Date | DSCI | D2+ % | Gauges low | Flow pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-19 | 257 | 55.36 | 4/5 | p9 |
| 2026-10-18 | 257 | 55.36 | 5/5 | p10 |
| 2026-10-17 | 257 | 55.36 | 4/5 | p9 |
| 2026-10-16 | 257 | 55.36 | 5/5 | p10 |
| 2026-10-15 | 257 | 55.36 | 1/5 | p26 |
| 2026-10-14 | 257 | 55.36 | 2/5 | p25 |
| 2026-10-13 | 257 | 55.36 | 2/5 | p25 |
| 2026-10-12 | 257 | 55.36 | 3/5 | p21 |
| 2026-10-11 | 257 | 55.36 | 4/5 | p11 |
| 2026-10-10 | 257 | 55.36 | 5/5 | p10 |
| 2026-10-09 | 257 | 55.36 | 4/5 | p14 |
| 2026-10-08 | 257 | 55.28 | 4/5 | p14 |
| 2026-10-07 | 257 | 55.28 | 3/5 | p16 |
| 2026-10-06 | 257 | 55.28 | 3/5 | p19 |
Top water assets
- 65Barbee Lake Damreservoir
- 65Tar River Near Tar River, Ncriver
- 65Tar River Below Dam Near Langley Crossroads, Ncriver
- 65Jeffries Lake Damreservoir
- 65Rocky Mount Millpond Damreservoir
- 65Ricks Lake Damreservoir
- 65Tar River At Nc-581 Near Spring Hope, Ncriver
- 65Harris Lake Dam #2reservoir
- 65Frazier Lake Damreservoir
- 65Franklinton Reservoir Damreservoir