BirdTrout

Cheat River Watershed, West Virginia

2,236 miles of mapped stream across 1,422 square miles of drainage in Preston, Tucker, Randolph, Monongalia, Pocahontas counties, in 297 named streams. West Virginia designates 744 of those miles as trout water, on 195 streams. The 5 mainstem gauges with a July record read between 69.2 and 77.2°F in July.

Open in BirdTrout
Map key
Public land — where the bank is open to walk and fish
USGS gauge — live water temperature
Water temperature — the colour of every stream in the basin

50°F and colder is cold, through cold-transitional and cool, to warm above 70°F — the same four bands the app paints. On this map the colour is nothing at all: WV DEP publishes no thermal classification, so every stream on this map draws grey. The gauge dots are the one exception and they read live. Grey is every stream here, for the reason above.

The watershed in numbers

HUC8 05020004 in the USGS Watershed Boundary Dataset. Every figure below adds up the river pages in this basin — same records, one basin at a time.

2,236 mi
of mapped stream
5,593 NHD reaches
1,422 sq mi
drainage area
910,166 acres
69.2–77.2°F
July water temperature at the gauges
5 mainstem gauges, mean 72.7°F
372,596 ac
public land
40.9% of the basin · 20 units

Cold, cool and warm water

West Virginia publishes no thermal class. What WV DEP publishes is a Category B-2 trout water designation under 47 CSR 2 — the state's finding that a stream sustains a year-round trout population, with annually stocked water that does not hold over excluded by the rule. It is a statement about a fishery, not about a July temperature. It covers 0% of this basin's stream miles (0.0 of 2,236); the rest is untyped and is drawn grey on the map above.

WV DEP publishes no thermal classification of any stream in the state, so this page has no cold/cool/warm breakdown and none is inferred from the trout designation. The designation has one affirmative level rather than a ladder — a stream is Category B-2 trout water or it is not listed, and the E/P/TT codes beside it say how much of WV DEP's assessment unit the designation covers rather than how strong it is — so there is nothing in it to rank a cold reach against a cool one. And the carrying rule does not fit here either: 23 gauges give a sensitivity line at R² 0.476, under the 0.50 floor, so nothing is modelled. See docs/wv-thermal-assessment.md. West Virginia water draws grey on the live map; grey means unmeasured.

Every named stream in the basin

All 297 of them, longest first. 158 have a page of their own and are linked; the rest are in the app. The class column is WV DEP's designation of that stream. It is not a temperature: this state publishes none, so every row reads untyped in the thermal column. "Now" is the live USGS reading where a gauge stands in that stream.

Stream Miles Class Now Designation
Shavers Fork 90.9 untyped — Trout waters — part of an assessment unit, Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Cheat River 53.9 untyped — —
Dry Fork 39.7 untyped — Trout waters — part of an assessment unit
Blackwater River 37.8 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Laurel Fork 37.8 untyped — Trout waters — part of an assessment unit, Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Glady Fork 33.3 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Beaver Creek 25.2 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Big Run 24.4 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Mill Run 24.3 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Red Creek 21.8 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Glade Run 18.4 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Horseshoe Run 16.1 untyped — Trout waters — part of an assessment unit
Muddy Creek 16.0 untyped — Trout waters — part of an assessment unit
Gandy Creek 14.8 untyped — Trout waters — part of an assessment unit
Otter Creek 13.1 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Laurel Run 12.9 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Little Sandy Creek 12.7 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Spruce Run 12.3 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Saltlick Creek 12.2 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Red Run 10.6 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Buffalo Creek 9.9 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
East Fork Glady Fork 9.2 untyped — Trout waters — part of an assessment unit, Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Left Fork Clover Run 9.2 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Roaring Creek 9.2 untyped — Trout waters — part of an assessment unit
Wolf Run 8.9 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
North Branch Blackwater River 8.0 untyped — —
Wolf Creek 8.0 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Little Buffalo Creek 7.7 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Lick Run 7.6 untyped — —
Little Blackwater River 7.5 untyped — —
North Fork Blackwater River 7.3 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Elklick Run 7.1 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Stonecoal Run 7.0 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Licking Creek 7.0 untyped — —
Elk Run 6.7 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Pendleton Creek 6.6 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Haddix Run 6.5 untyped — —
West Fork Glady Fork 6.4 untyped — Trout waters — part of an assessment unit, Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Yellow Creek 6.2 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Daugherty Run 6.1 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Hog Run 6.0 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Dry Run 6.0 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
South Fork Red Creek 5.9 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Sand Run 5.8 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Long Run 5.8 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Snyder Run 5.6 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Flag Run 5.6 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
First Fork 5.5 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Right Fork Clover Run 5.4 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Pringle Run 5.2 untyped — —
Leadmine Run 5.1 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Rattlesnake Run 5.0 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Roaring Run 4.9 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Barnes Run 4.8 untyped — —
Morgan Run 4.8 untyped — —
Horsecamp Run 4.7 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Cherry Run 4.6 untyped — —
Left Fork Red Creek 4.5 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Black Fork 4.5 untyped — —
Bear Run 4.5 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Minear Run 4.4 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Second Fork 4.3 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Bucklick Run 4.3 untyped — —
Little Black Fork 4.2 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Indian Run 4.2 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Church Creek 4.1 untyped — —
Black Run 4.0 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Hile Run 4.0 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Right Fork Bull Run 3.9 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Buffalo Run 3.9 untyped — —
Fishing Hawk Creek 3.8 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Taylor Run 3.8 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Mike Run 3.8 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Clifton Run 3.7 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Sugarcamp Run 3.7 untyped — —
North Branch Wolf Run 3.6 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Little Wolf Creek 3.6 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Panther Run 3.6 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Stalnaker Run 3.5 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Pleasant Run 3.5 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Daniels Creek 3.4 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
South Branch Wolf Run 3.4 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Heather Run 3.4 untyped — —
Elsey Run 3.4 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Devils Run 3.3 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Lambert Run 3.3 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
South Branch Haddix Run 3.3 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Beaverdam Run 3.3 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Fickey Run 3.3 untyped — Trout waters — part of an assessment unit
Upper Pond Lick 3.2 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Crab Orchard Run 3.2 untyped — —
Five Lick Run 3.1 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Clay Lick Run 3.1 untyped — —
Left Fork Bull Run 3.1 untyped — —
Webster Run 3.1 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Shays Run 3.0 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Maxwell Run 3.0 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Bearwallow Run 3.0 untyped — —
Tub Run 2.9 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Coal Run 2.8 untyped — Trout waters — part of an assessment unit, Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Grants Branch 2.8 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
North Fork Red Run 2.8 untyped — —
Kinsinger Run 2.8 untyped — —
Mountain Run 2.8 untyped — —
Joes Run 2.8 untyped — —
Fish Hatchery Run 2.7 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Crouch Run 2.7 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Johns Run 2.7 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Stinking Run 2.7 untyped — Trout waters — part of an assessment unit
Yoakum Run 2.6 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Moore Run 2.6 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Upper Jonathan Run 2.6 untyped — —
Dority Run 2.6 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Ragtavern Run 2.6 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Club Run 2.5 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Fall Run 2.5 untyped — Trout waters — part of an assessment unit
Yokum Run 2.5 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Upper Two Spring Run 2.5 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Narrow Ridge 2.5 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Tory Camp Run 2.5 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Stump Run 2.5 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Madison Run 2.5 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
McCray Creek 2.4 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Whitmeadow Run 2.4 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Rose Run 2.4 untyped — —
Little Laurel Run 2.4 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Alder Run 2.4 untyped — —
Shavers Lick Run 2.4 untyped — Trout waters — part of an assessment unit
Aarons Run 2.3 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Lower Two Spring Run 2.3 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Gandy Run 2.3 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Camp Five Run 2.3 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Flat Run 2.2 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Warner Run 2.2 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Fisher Spring Run 2.2 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Twelvemile Run 2.2 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Martin Creek 2.2 untyped — —
White Run 2.1 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Hawkins Run 2.1 untyped — —
Engine Run 2.1 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Adamson Run 2.1 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Possession Camp Run 2.1 untyped — —
Valley Fork 2.1 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Little Mill Run 2.1 untyped — —
Piney Run 2.1 untyped — —
Spring Run 2.0 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Lindy Run 2.0 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
McGee Run 2.0 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Blister Run 2.0 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Bickle Run 2.0 untyped — Trout waters — part of an assessment unit
Slabcamp Run 2.0 untyped — —
Flatrock Run 2.0 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Stamping Ground Run 2.0 untyped — —
Jump Rock Run 2.0 untyped — —
Laurel Lick Run 1.9 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Jobs Run 1.9 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Bennett Run 1.9 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Condon Run 1.9 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Left Branch Mill Run 1.9 untyped — —
Jonathan Run 1.9 untyped — —
Louse Camp Run 1.9 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Irish Run 1.9 untyped — —
Sugarcomb Run 1.9 untyped — —
Little Lick Run 1.9 untyped — —
Flannigan Run 1.8 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Low Gap Run 1.8 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Five Lick Creek 1.8 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
East Branch Weimer Run 1.8 untyped — —
Middle Run 1.8 untyped — —
Rocky Run 1.8 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Canoe Run 1.8 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Nail Run 1.8 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Swallow Rock Run 1.8 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Pond Creek 1.8 untyped — —
Lick Drain 1.8 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Tanner Run 1.8 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Birchroot Run 1.8 untyped — —
Pheasant Run 1.8 untyped — —
Sypolt Run 1.8 untyped — —
Panther Camp Run 1.7 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Freeland Run 1.7 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Collett Gap Run 1.7 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Stonelick Run 1.7 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Collins Run 1.7 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
South Fork Red Run 1.7 untyped — —
Nichols Lane Run 1.6 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Suter Run 1.6 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Walker Run 1.6 untyped — Trout waters — part of an assessment unit
Mud Lick Run 1.6 untyped — —
Clover Run 1.6 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Ashpole Run 1.6 untyped — —
Two Spring Run 1.5 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Summerfield Run 1.5 untyped — Trout waters — part of an assessment unit
Beaver Pond Run 1.5 untyped — Trout waters — part of an assessment unit
Mud Run 1.5 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Drift Run 1.5 untyped — —
Buckhorn Run 1.5 untyped — —
Chaffey Run 1.4 untyped — —
Wamsley Run 1.4 untyped — —
Boar Run 1.4 untyped — —
Mullenax Run 1.4 untyped — —
Waybright Run 1.4 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Bill White Run 1.4 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Little Tory Camp Run 1.4 untyped — Trout waters — part of an assessment unit
Harper Run 1.4 untyped — —
Ford Run 1.4 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Dog Run 1.4 untyped — —
Little Bucklick Run 1.4 untyped — —
Frazier Creek 1.3 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Gap Run 1.3 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Spruce Lick Run 1.3 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Spicelick Run 1.3 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Goodwin Run 1.3 untyped — —
Little Stonecoal Run 1.3 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Tingler Run 1.3 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Lynn Run 1.3 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Thunderstruck Run 1.3 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Brannons Run 1.3 untyped — —
Stave Run 1.3 untyped — —
Keyser Run 1.3 untyped — —
Halfway Run 1.2 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Louk Run 1.2 untyped — —
Baker Camp Run 1.2 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Hickory Lick Run 1.2 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Flat Rock Run 1.2 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Odey Run 1.2 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Johns Camp Run 1.2 untyped — Trout waters — part of an assessment unit
Rich Bottom Run 1.2 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Wilson Run 1.2 untyped — Trout waters — part of an assessment unit
Panther Fork 1.2 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Hunting Camp Run 1.2 untyped — —
Devers Run 1.2 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Job Run 1.2 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Crawford Run 1.2 untyped — —
Turkey Run 1.2 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Bonifield Run 1.2 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Tobes Run 1.2 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Hickory Bearpen Run 1.2 untyped — —
Three Spring Run 1.1 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Woodford Run 1.1 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Brushy Creek 1.1 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Slide Run 1.1 untyped — —
Lower Pond Lick 1.1 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Hawk Run 1.1 untyped — —
Bee Run 1.1 untyped — Trout waters — part of an assessment unit
Stoney Run 1.1 untyped — —
Lime Hollow Run 1.1 untyped — —
Johnson Run 1.1 untyped — —
Bridge Run 1.1 untyped — —
Wildcat Run 1.1 untyped — —
Cabbage Run 1.1 untyped — —
West Branch Weimer Run 1.0 untyped — —
Oats Run 1.0 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Elza Run 1.0 untyped — —
Burnt Ridge Run 1.0 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Big Spring Run 1.0 untyped — —
Muddy Run 1.0 untyped — —
Buck Run 0.9 untyped — Trout waters — part of an assessment unit
Red Roaring Run 0.9 untyped — Trout waters — part of an assessment unit
Deer Lick 0.9 untyped — Trout waters — part of an assessment unit
Rock Camp Run 0.9 untyped — —
Shingle Tree Run 0.9 untyped — —
South Branch 0.9 untyped — —
Falls Run 0.9 untyped — Trout waters — part of an assessment unit
Right Fork Flatrock Creek 0.9 untyped — —
Left Fork Flatrock Creek 0.9 untyped — —
Coopers Run 0.9 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Suck Lick Run 0.9 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Long Hollow Run 0.9 untyped — —
Bingham Run 0.9 untyped — —
Jacobs Run 0.9 untyped — —
Scott Run 0.9 untyped — —
Reservoir Run 0.8 untyped — —
Clower Run 0.8 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Cave Run 0.8 untyped — Trout waters — part of an assessment unit
Walnut Hollow Run 0.8 untyped — —
Devils Dump Run 0.8 untyped — —
Ash Lick 0.7 untyped — —
Finley Run 0.7 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Bonelick Branch 0.7 untyped — Trout waters — part of an assessment unit
Brights Run 0.7 untyped — —
Fools Run 0.7 untyped — —
Nans Branch 0.7 untyped — —
Carr Run 0.7 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Black Lick Run 0.7 untyped — —
Tray Run 0.7 untyped — —
Birch Lick 0.6 untyped — —
Western Run 0.6 untyped — Trout waters — part of an assessment unit
Choke Trap Run 0.6 untyped — —
Taylor Elza Run 0.6 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Rams Hollow Run 0.6 untyped — —
Sailor Run 0.6 untyped — —
Waterfall Run 0.5 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Guysbarger Run 0.5 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Stillhouse Run 0.5 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Flatbrush Run 0.4 untyped — —
Bull Run 0.4 untyped — —

Public land in the watershed

372,596 acres in 20 units, which is 40.9% of the 910,166 acres the basin covers. Private inholdings carried in the same source file are excluded, here and on the map.

Managing agency Acres Share Units
US Forest Service 346,227 93% 8
US Fish and Wildlife Service 16,920 5% 1
WVDNR 9,449 3% 4
WV Division of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Section and US Forest Service 0 0% 6
WV Division of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Section 0 0% 1

The biggest named blocks of it, each with its own page — the streams on that ground, what is open to hunt on it, and where the access sites are.

Best time to fish

The hatch calendar for the Virginia mountains, across the state line — no insect records in this dataset are filed under West Virginia, or this basin's centre falls on the far side of the border, so these are the nearest ones — the same regions the app's hatch panel uses. It is a regional record, not a survey of this watershed: nobody has counted insects basin by basin. Year-round records (midges, scuds, sculpins) are left out; they are true every month and they are not what a calendar is for.

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Nothing seasonal on the water.

56 insects are recorded from the Virginia mountains, across the state line. Each links to its own page, with the flies that imitate it.

Neighbouring watersheds

The subbasins that share a boundary with this one and carry coldwater streams.