USGS Water-Year Summary 2024
03196800 ELK RIVER AT CLAY, WV
LOCATION - Lat 38°27'38", long 81°05'16" referenced to North American Datum of 1927, Clay County, WV, Hydrologic Unit 05050007, on upstream side, right bank of County Route 28 bridge in the town of Clay, 1.0 mi downstream from Buffalo Creek, 2.2 mi downstream from Lower Two Run Creek, and at mile 52.4.
DRAINAGE AREA - 992 mi².
REVISIONS HISTORY - WDR WV-82-1: Drainage area.
SURFACE-WATER RECORDS
PERIOD OF RECORD - October 1915 to September 1958 (annual maximum gage height, furnished by the National Weather Service), October 1958 to September 1978 (daily discharge and annual maxima), October 1978 to September 1993 (daily mean gage height and annual maxima), October 1993 to September 1994 (annual maximum gage height), October 1994 to September 1998 (annual maxima), October 2002 to September 2008 (annual maximum gage height), October 2008 to September 2012 (annual maximum and minimum gage height), October 2012 to September 2014 (daily mean gage height), October 2014 to September 2017 (daily discharge
and annual maxima), October 2017 to present (annual maxima).
GAGE - Water-stage recorder with satellite telemeter. Datum of gage is 677.23 ft above NAVD 88. Previously reported as 677.88 ft above NGVD29. Prior to October 2003 at site 0.1 mi upstream at datum 0.42 ft lower. Prior to Mar. 27, 1959, nonrecording gage.
EXTREMES OUTSIDE PERIOD OF RECORD - Flood of Mar. 14, 1918, reached a stage of 32.4 ft, from reports of National Weather Service.
EXTREMES FOR PERIOD OF RECORD - Maximum discharge, 63,100 ft³/s, June 23, 2016, gage height, 30.30 ft.
AVERAGE DISCHARGE FOR PERIOD OF RECORD - 20 years (water years 1959-78), 1,926 ft³/s, 26.31 in/yr, unadjusted.