The Nelson Downriver Canoe and Kayak Race River Levels

Normally the Nelson Downriver Race is held on the lower Tye river. Originally the race was to alternate between the Rockfish and the Tye rivers and, in fact, the 2000 race was held on the Rockfish River. However that plan was abandoned in favor of having the race on the Tye due to the fact that the Tye normally has more water and for the sake of consistency. When the Tye river level is too low to have the race on the normal course the race is moved downstream. The take-out of the normal course becomes the put-in. The race then covers 2 miles on the lower Tye continues through the confluence with the James River and the take-out is set at Wingina about 5 miles downstream for a total of 7 miles.

Note: The table below does not give the actual total flow for the race course as the stream gages are several miles upstream from the race course
Additionally, other rivers and streams (such as the Buffalo River) contribute a significant amount of water but have no stream gages.

River Flow Day of Race

Date	Tye cfs	Piney cfs	Total cfs	Tye cfs/Total cfs
May 13, 2023	100	78	178	.562
May 7, 2022	181	102	283	.640
May 4, 2019	212	105	317	.669
May 5, 2018	195	119	314	.621
May 6, 2017 May 20, 2017	1700 140	800 79	2500 219	race ppd. .639
May 7, 2016 May 28, 2016	390 172	195 130	585 302	race ppd. .570
May 2, 2015	240	164	404	.594
May 3, 2014	495	285	780	race cancelled
May 4, 2013	135	74	209	.646
May 5, 2012	103	66	169	.609
May 7, 2011	230	140	370	.622
May 1, 2010	95	59	3150	(1) James River
May 2, 2009	113	88	201	.562
May 3, 2008	264	187	451	.585
May 5, 2007	144	57	201	.716
May 6, 2006	67	42	2800	(1) James River
April 30, 2005	181	99	280	.646
May 1, 2004	140	70	210	.667
May 3, 2003	111	69	180	.617
May 4, 2002	133	83	216	.616
May 5, 2001	66	38	1755	(1) James River
May 6, 2000	Rockfish	River	106	(2)
May 1, 1999	58	36	94	.617
(1)Average of Bent Creek and Scottsville gages. (2)Gage is several miles upstream in much lower flow.

Historical Average CFS

River/Date	May 1	May 2	May 3	May 4	May 5	May 6	May 7
Tye	186	189	189	195	192	199	198
Piney	115	120	114	123	117	125	115
Total	301	309	303	318	309	324	313

Historical Median CFS

River/Date	May 1	May 2	May 3	May 4	May 5	May 6	May 7
Tye	145	140	139	144	140	143	147
Piney	89	90	91	86	85	83	82
Total	234	230	230	230	225	226	229

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