Neuse River Near Clayton, Nc: river conditions

USGS gauge 02087500 · near Clayton, NC

NWS forecast for this spot

Numbers are provisional real-time data. We don't rate rivers as safe or unsafe. Check local conditions, posted signs and official advisories (NWS warnings, park and dam-release notices) before you launch.

Kayak types for this river

We don't have verified river-class or character data for this stretch, so this is based only on USGS flow. Typical flow is about 426 cfs (median of daily medians, USGS daily statistics 1983–2026). In spring the 90th-percentile flow reaches about 7.9× that, so boats made for calm water (recreational sit-inside, inflatable, foldable, tandem) aren't suited at typical high spring flows; sit-on-top, fishing and touring kayaks handle moving water better (REI kayak guide).

• Sit-on-top: Feelfree Nomad (max 330 lb)
• Fishing: Jackson Coosa X (max 425 lb)
• Touring: Feelfree Aventura 110 LT (max 330 lb)

Check today's conditions for your kayak
Flow, wind, water temperature, flood stage and NWS alerts

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Documented hazards near this gauge

Dams on this river within 5 miles of the gauge, from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Inventory of Dams (updated 2026-10-23):

• Union Carbide Lake Dam (NID NC01513, 29 ft high, 1.1 mi from the gauge) · Map
• Smith Lake Dam #2 (NID NC01515, 30 ft high, 1.5 mi from the gauge) · Map
• Delmer Flowers Dam (NID NC03252, 25 ft high, 2.0 mi from the gauge) · Map
• Mooneyham Dam (NID NC03222, 22 ft high, 2.4 mi from the gauge) · Map
• Earp Lake Dam (NID NC00959, 38 ft high, 2.8 mi from the gauge) · Map
• Flowers Pond Dam #2 (NID NC03221, 20 ft high, 3.1 mi from the gauge) · Map
• Flowers Dam (NID NC03220, 20 ft high, 3.5 mi from the gauge) · Map

Tip: Portage around dams. Low-head dams can form a recirculating current at the base that is hard to see from upstream and hard to escape; rescuers should throw a line from shore rather than approach by boat (Ohio DNR; Indiana DNR).

When flow is high: above the 90th percentile for the date or near NWS flood stage, expect more floating debris and strainers (downed trees that let water through but trap people and boats). Steer well clear of them (PA Fish and Boat Commission). Today's check flags this.

Wildlife

Verified presence within 25 km since 2000, from openly licensed (CC0 or CC BY) GBIF occurrence records (2026-10-26):

• Cottonmouth (water moccasin) (2 records). Don't touch or handle snakes; watch where you step and reach on banks and logs. If bitten, get emergency care. Source: CDC/NIOSH, Venomous snakes.

Occurrence data: GBIF.org, records licensed CC0 or CC BY 4.0; attribution to the original datasets is listed on each GBIF record.

Water quality

We don't yet have harmful algal bloom (HAB) advisories for this spot. Check the North Carolina HAB or beach advisory program before contact with the water, and keep pets out of discolored or scummy water (EPA harmful algal blooms).

Cold water

North Carolina paddling rules
Registration, permits, life jackets and AIS stickers

Float time estimator
How long a stretch of river might take

Cold water and life jacket guide
From NWS and Coast Guard guidance

Data: USGS (provisional, real-time; percentiles from USGS daily statistics 1983–2026) · Forecast: NOAA/NWS.