There are many websites and tools available to the general public that allow you to view water flow data from installed and maintained flow sensors by the United States Geologic Services. I had a class assignment to explore document and summarize what is known from past droughts and floods. Here is some of the information I gathered specifically about the Laurel Fork watershed.
Photo by Chris Tysor
The Laurel Fork watershed around Willis, VA in Floyd County is primarily monitored by the USGS Station 03167200 (Laurel Fork at Route 638 near Laurel Fork, VA). From a hydrological standpoint, this stream system feeds directly into the New River Basin (Hydrologic Unit Code HUC 05050001). The watershed drains across the rugged Blue Ridge plateau, alternating between farm pasturelands and deep, forested ravines.
Stream gauge maintained by the USGS: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/USGS-03167200/#dataTypeId=measurements-00060-0&period=P1Y
Field measurements
1 data types available - data from 1982-07-21 to 1985-09-12
Field measurements are physically measured values collected during a visit to the monitoring location.
Learn about Field measurements
Data type: Graphed, Discharge, cubic feet per second
Data date range: 1982-07-21 - 1985-09-12
USGS states on the website that this map data from the Laurel Fork stream gauge is not a continuous reporting sensor and the data has to be physically measured during a visit to the location. There was no data to show continuous flood or drought data, or any data from the past 10 years.
Due to the lack of data here, I chose to instead view the water data from the active monitoring station north of my studying location, indicated by a blue pin on the map above (Burkes Fork).
This is a 7 day continuous data graph for the Burkes Fork near Dugspur, VA.
Here is a 1 year continuous data chart. There were periods of icing and equipment malfunction that prevented data from being recorded during those times.
December 15-18, 2025, December 31, 2025, January 15-17, 2026, January 19, 2026, January 23-24, 2026 were all interrupted due to ice.
January 25 - February 12, 2026 the equipment malfunctioned and did not provide data.
August 2, 2026 6.17ft was the highest water level recorded in the past year.
A Google Search (Gemini) for "Why was the water level so high at Burkes Fork continuous water monitoring station in Dugspur, VA on August 2, 2026?" provided some interesting information!
The water level at the Burkes Fork continuous water monitoring station was so high due to severe flash flooding triggered by torrential overnight rainfall. Between Saturday night, August 1, and Sunday morning, August 2, 2026, a series of powerful slow-moving storms hit Carroll County and neighboring Patrick County (both in close proximity to Floyd County where the Laurel Fork stream is located), dumping several inches of localized rain across the river basins. In surrounding areas like Ararat, totals exceeded 6 " of rainfall in less than 24 hours. Because the ground was already heavily saturated, this immense volume of water immediately converted into rapid runoff. The excess water surged into localized streams and tributaries—such as Burkes Fork and Big Reed Island Creek (both part of the Laurel Fork Watershed)—causing them to burst past their banks. The severe regional flooding resulted in:
- Widespread Infrastructure Closures: The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) was forced to shut down multiple roads and bridges throughout Carroll County due to severe washouts and high water standing feet above the roadways.
- Downstream Surge Warnings: The volume of rushing water and debris was so significant that emergency management officials issued urgent caution notices for downstream areas tracking toward the New River.
- Compounded Flooding Concerns: The intense runoff was further complicated by structural complications upstream, including a reported breach of a golf course dam at the nearby Olde Mill Golf Club, which nearby neighbors noted worsened the unprecedented speed and height of the rising waters.
The annual average (median) gauge height at the Burkes Fork monitoring station at Bolt Mill Road near Dugspur, VA is typically between 1.7 and 1.9 feet!
Another website that provides the most recent observational data for this location is called GaugeStage, pulling in stream information from Virginia DEQ. Here is the link for this specific location: https://gaugestage.com/api/gauge/FBFV2/202609241300
At 1343 24 September 2026, the last observed measure showed 2.15 ft.
News stories about this flooding event: https://cardinalnews.org/2026/08/18/a-carroll-county-neighborhood-flooded-after-a-big-rain-some-residents-blame-a-nearby-golf-course-dam/
https://www.wdbj7.com/2026/08/02/emergency-crews-warn-rising-water-levels-carroll-county/
Another Gemini search (25 September 2026, Gemini) for the most "relevant drought data for the Laurel Fork Watershed in Floyd County, VA" provided information that is summarized below.
Floyd County, Virginia is currently experiencing a notable precipitation deficit, making 2026 the 24th driest year to date over the past 132 years.
Current Drought Metrics & Impacts According to the latest data from the U.S. Drought Monitor and Drought.gov's Floyd County Conditions:
- Population Affected: Over 1,748 residents in Floyd County are currently living in actively designated drought zones—representing a sharp 1062% increase compared to previous baseline months.
- Precipitation Deficit: The county has recorded a decrease of 4.28 inches of rainfall below the historical normal average for the January to August time period.
Graphic https://www.deq.virginia.gov/water/water-quantity/drought
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