BirdTrout

Gauley River Watershed, West Virginia

2,392 miles of mapped stream across 1,421 square miles of drainage in Nicholas, Greenbrier, Webster, Fayette, Pocahontas counties, in 342 named streams. West Virginia designates 583 of those miles as trout water, on 142 streams. The 1 mainstem gauge with a July record read 70.3°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 05050005 in the USGS Watershed Boundary Dataset. Every figure below adds up the river pages in this basin — same records, one basin at a time.

2,392 mi
of mapped stream
5,736 NHD reaches
1,421 sq mi
drainage area
909,217 acres
70.3°F
July water temperature at the gauges
1 mainstem gauge, mean 70.3°F
239,729 ac
public land
26.4% of the basin · 9 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 2,392); 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 342 of them, longest first. 127 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
Gauley River 90.8 untyped — Trout tailwater, Trout waters — part of an assessment unit, Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Meadow River 65.3 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Laurel Creek 37.2 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Williams River 35.1 untyped — Trout waters — part of an assessment unit
Hominy Creek 26.2 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Cranberry River 25.2 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Meadow Creek 19.8 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
North Fork Cherry River 18.1 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Little Laurel Creek 17.2 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
South Fork Cherry River 17.1 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Little Clear Creek 15.4 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Anglins Creek 14.7 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Big Clear Creek 13.8 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Muddlety Creek 12.8 untyped — —
Big Laurel Creek 12.7 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
McMillion Creek 12.4 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Deer Creek 12.4 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Cherry River 11.6 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Big Run 11.1 untyped — Trout waters — part of an assessment unit, Trout waters — whole assessment unit
South Fork Cranberry River 10.6 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Middle Fork Williams River 10.4 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Panther Creek 10.3 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Mill Branch 9.2 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Dogway Fork 8.8 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Brackens Creek 8.1 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Brushy Meadow Creek 7.6 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Mill Creek 7.4 untyped — —
Rich Creek 7.4 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Bear Run 7.3 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Jims Creek 7.2 untyped — —
Glade Creek 7.1 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Otter Creek 6.9 untyped — —
North Fork Cranberry River 6.5 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Strouds Creek 6.5 untyped — —
Mouse Fork 6.3 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Youngs Creek 6.3 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Big Ditch Run 6.2 untyped — —
Taylor Run 6.1 untyped — —
Collison Creek 6.1 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Tea Creek 6.0 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Hedricks Creek 6.0 untyped — —
Brushy Fork 6.0 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Cold Knob Fork 5.9 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Job Knob Branch 5.9 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Grassy Creek 5.8 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
South Fork Big Clear Creek 5.7 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Morris Fork 5.5 untyped — —
Brown Creek 5.5 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Arrowwood Creek 5.5 untyped — —
Dogwood Creek 5.5 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Rocky Run 5.4 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Buffalo Creek 5.3 untyped — —
Beaver Creek 5.2 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Methodist Branch 5.2 untyped — —
North Fork Gauley River 5.1 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Persinger Creek 5.0 untyped — —
Jims Branch 5.0 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Little Elk Creek 5.0 untyped — —
Turkey Creek 4.9 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Barrenshe Run 4.8 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Laurel Branch 4.8 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Little Fork 4.7 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Sugar Creek 4.6 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Jerry Fork 4.6 untyped — —
Holcomb Run 4.4 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Line Laurel Creek 4.4 untyped — —
Haynes Branch 4.4 untyped — —
McKee Creek 4.4 untyped — —
Miller Mill Run 4.3 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Rader Run 4.3 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Beechy Run 4.2 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Rockcamp Run 4.1 untyped — —
Burdette Creek 4.1 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Clear Fork 4.1 untyped — —
Lick Branch 4.0 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Beech Run 3.8 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Patterson Creek 3.8 untyped — —
Red Run 3.7 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Sugarcamp Run 3.6 untyped — —
Sugargrove Creek 3.6 untyped — —
Enoch Branch 3.5 untyped — —
Becky Run 3.5 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Improvement Branch 3.5 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Surbaugh Creek 3.5 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Toms Branch 3.4 untyped — —
Right Fork Tea Creek 3.3 untyped — —
Callahan Branch 3.3 untyped — —
North Fork Big Clear Creek 3.3 untyped — —
Jackeman Run 3.2 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Hunters Run 3.2 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Sam Creek 3.2 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Day Run 3.1 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Middle Branch Hominy Creek 3.1 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Toms Creek 3.1 untyped — —
Elevenmile Fork 3.1 untyped — —
Road Fork 3.1 untyped — —
Little Glade Creek 3.1 untyped — —
Spring Run 3.0 untyped — —
Right Fork Turkey Creek 3.0 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Lick Run 3.0 untyped — —
Middle Branch Laurel Creek 3.0 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Staton Branch 3.0 untyped — —
South Fork Gauley River 2.9 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Hughes Run 2.9 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Middle Fork Gauley River 2.9 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Pack Fork 2.9 untyped — —
Manning Branch 2.9 untyped — —
Morris Creek 2.9 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Price Fork 2.9 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Friel Run 2.8 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Price Glade Run 2.8 untyped — —
Spruce Run 2.8 untyped — —
Fallrock Branch 2.8 untyped — —
Craig Run 2.7 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Straight Creek 2.7 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Smoot Branch 2.7 untyped — —
Bridge Fork 2.7 untyped — —
Rough Run 2.6 untyped — —
Hogcamp Run 2.6 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Chestnut Camp Run 2.6 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Eagle Branch 2.6 untyped — —
Smokehouse Branch 2.6 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Old Field Branch 2.6 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
North Prong Miller Creek 2.6 untyped — —
Miller Creek 2.6 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Little Creek 2.6 untyped — —
Sand Branch 2.6 untyped — —
White Oak Fork 2.5 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Cherry Run 2.5 untyped — —
Curtin Run 2.5 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Roaring Creek 2.5 untyped — —
Skelt Run 2.5 untyped — —
Elijah Branch 2.5 untyped — —
Crooked Run 2.5 untyped — —
Big Creek 2.5 untyped — —
Kelly Fork 2.5 untyped — —
Williams Camp Run 2.4 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Desert Branch 2.4 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Coal Siding Run 2.4 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Laurel Fork 2.4 untyped — —
Scrabble Creek 2.4 untyped — —
Kens Creek 2.3 untyped — —
Lick Creek 2.3 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Sawyer Run 2.3 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Tumbling Rock Run 2.3 untyped — —
Foxtree Run 2.3 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Upper Glade Run 2.3 untyped — —
Coats Run 2.3 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Peaser Branch 2.3 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Hughey Branch 2.3 untyped — —
Birchlog Run 2.2 untyped — —
Bee Run 2.2 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Sugar Branch 2.2 untyped — —
Odell Spring Branch 2.2 untyped — —
Back Creek 2.2 untyped — —
Cranes Nest Run 2.2 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Salmon Run 2.2 untyped — —
Mountain Lick Run 2.1 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Jonathan Run 2.1 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Aldrich Branch 2.1 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Sandy Run 2.1 untyped — —
Adkins Rockhouse Branch 2.1 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Little Glade Run 2.1 untyped — —
Coon Creek 2.1 untyped — —
Road Run 2.1 untyped — —
Beaverdam Run 2.0 untyped — —
Little Bannock Shoals Run 2.0 untyped — Trout waters — part of an assessment unit
Elklick Run 2.0 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Chestnut Lick Run 2.0 untyped — —
Riley Branch 2.0 untyped — —
Kuhn Branch 2.0 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Stony Run 2.0 untyped — —
Kern Branch 2.0 untyped — —
Downy Run 1.9 untyped — —
Mill Run 1.9 untyped — Trout waters — part of an assessment unit
Charles Creek 1.9 untyped — —
Little Barrenshe Run 1.9 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Queer Branch 1.9 untyped — —
Hinkle Branch 1.9 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Coal Fork 1.9 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Little Rocky Run 1.9 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Buckheart Run 1.9 untyped — —
Kates Creek 1.9 untyped — —
Piney Creek 1.9 untyped — —
Dorsey Branch 1.9 untyped — —
Spring Creek 1.9 untyped — —
Falls Run 1.9 untyped — —
Left Fork Big Creek 1.9 untyped — —
McClintock Run 1.8 untyped — —
Rocklick Run 1.8 untyped — Trout waters — part of an assessment unit
Upper Bannock Shoals Run 1.8 untyped — Trout waters — part of an assessment unit
Laurel Run 1.8 untyped — Trout waters — part of an assessment unit
Spice Run 1.8 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Harris Siding Run 1.8 untyped — —
Left Branch North Fork Cherry River 1.8 untyped — —
Shiras Run 1.8 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Baber Branch 1.8 untyped — —
Joe Knob Branch 1.8 untyped — —
Long Branch 1.8 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Harris Fork 1.8 untyped — —
Black Mountain Run 1.7 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Slabcamp Branch 1.7 untyped — —
Glade Run 1.7 untyped — —
Brush Fence Run 1.7 untyped — Trout waters — part of an assessment unit
Price Run 1.7 untyped — —
Dilly Fork 1.7 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Holcomb Creek 1.7 untyped — —
Joes Branch 1.7 untyped — —
Little Lick Run 1.7 untyped — —
Johnson Branch 1.7 untyped — —
Groves Spring Branch 1.7 untyped — —
Collison Branch 1.7 untyped — —
Tucker Fork 1.7 untyped — —
Laurelly Branch 1.6 untyped — —
Johnson Run 1.6 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Houselog Run 1.6 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Buckeye Branch 1.6 untyped — —
Spencer Run 1.6 untyped — —
Windy Run 1.6 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Murphy Branch 1.6 untyped — —
Seng Camp Run 1.6 untyped — —
Nettle Run 1.6 untyped — —
Little Beechy Run 1.5 untyped — —
Left Fork North Fork Cranberry River 1.5 untyped — —
Cold Run 1.5 untyped — —
Panther Run 1.5 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Rough Fork 1.5 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Nixon Branch 1.5 untyped — —
Bowen Run 1.5 untyped — —
Bryant Run 1.5 untyped — —
Lower Spruce Run 1.5 untyped — —
Back Fork 1.5 untyped — —
Rockcamp Branch 1.5 untyped — —
Little Branch 1.4 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Upper Twin Branch 1.4 untyped — —
Baughman Run 1.4 untyped — —
Joe Run 1.4 untyped — —
Mud Fork 1.4 untyped — —
Mill Fork 1.4 untyped — —
Grassy Run 1.4 untyped — —
Turkey Run 1.4 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Butcher Branch 1.4 untyped — —
Maple Branch 1.4 untyped — —
North Run 1.4 untyped — —
Geho Run 1.4 untyped — —
Hell for Certain Branch 1.3 untyped — —
Bannock Shoals Run 1.3 untyped — —
Lost Run 1.3 untyped — —
Cashcamp Run 1.3 untyped — —
Little Bee Run 1.3 untyped — —
Bishop Rockhouse Branch 1.3 untyped — —
Barn Run 1.3 untyped — —
Gibson Run 1.3 untyped — —
Hacking Run 1.3 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Blizzard Run 1.3 untyped — —
Low Place Branch 1.3 untyped — —
Briery Creek 1.3 untyped — —
Trent Branch 1.3 untyped — —
Adkins Lick Creek 1.3 untyped — —
Hunting Run 1.2 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Hanging Rock Branch 1.2 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Crawford Branch 1.2 untyped — —
Lincamp Branch 1.2 untyped — —
Rabbit Run 1.2 untyped — —
Armstrong Run 1.2 untyped — —
Carpenter Run 1.2 untyped — —
Hamrick Run 1.2 untyped — —
Beech Lick Run 1.2 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Staff Branch 1.2 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Wallace Branch 1.2 untyped — —
Stickler Run 1.2 untyped — —
Brock Run 1.2 untyped — —
Coal Run 1.1 untyped — —
Red Lick Run 1.1 untyped — Trout waters — part of an assessment unit
Norton Run 1.1 untyped — —
Lower Twin Branch 1.1 untyped — —
Baldwin Branch 1.1 untyped — —
Beaver Run 1.1 untyped — —
Little Laurel Run 1.1 untyped — —
Briery Run 1.1 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Jackson Run 1.1 untyped — —
Packlets Creek 1.1 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Cutlip Branch 1.1 untyped — —
Copeland Branch 1.1 untyped — —
Currycamp Fork 1.1 untyped — —
Bridge Creek 1.0 untyped — Trout waters — part of an assessment unit
Elbow Run 1.0 untyped — Trout waters — part of an assessment unit
Hateful Run 1.0 untyped — —
Music Run 1.0 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Little Laurel Branch 1.0 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Little Rough Run 1.0 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Big Lick Run 1.0 untyped — —
Little Hacking Run 1.0 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Little Blizzard Run 1.0 untyped — —
Blue Knob Branch 1.0 untyped — —
Rupe Hinton Branch 1.0 untyped — —
Linn Branch 1.0 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Piney Branch 1.0 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Bruffman Branch 1.0 untyped — —
Puddy Run 1.0 untyped — —
Conn Run 1.0 untyped — —
Schoolhouse Branch 1.0 untyped — —
North Branch Middle Fork Williams River 0.9 untyped — —
Big Swag Run 0.9 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Tenmile Branch 0.9 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Deacon Run 0.9 untyped — —
Fallen Timber Run 0.9 untyped — —
Bumblebee Run 0.9 untyped — —
Crookshanks Branch 0.9 untyped — —
Left Fork Scrabble Creek 0.9 untyped — —
Little Lick Branch 0.8 untyped — —
Little Elbow Run 0.8 untyped — —
Note Branch 0.8 untyped — —
Hill Creek 0.8 untyped — —
Stony Branch 0.8 untyped — —
Nancy Branch 0.8 untyped — —
Sugarcamp Branch 0.8 untyped — —
North Cove Run 0.7 untyped — Trout waters — part of an assessment unit
Little Red Run 0.7 untyped — —
Little Run 0.7 untyped — —
Billy Branch 0.7 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Kree Run 0.7 untyped — —
Laurel Lick Run 0.7 untyped — —
Big Glady Run 0.7 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Sewell Creek 0.7 untyped — —
Buck Run 0.7 untyped — —
Slick Rock Run 0.6 untyped — —
Sheets Gordon Run 0.6 untyped — —
Little Glady Run 0.6 untyped — —
Epling Run 0.6 untyped — —
Mitchell Run 0.6 untyped — —
Camp 29 Run 0.5 untyped — Trout waters — whole assessment unit
Coon Run 0.5 untyped — —
Norton Branch 0.5 untyped — —
Lowry Branch 0.5 untyped — —
Slade Branch 0.4 untyped — —
Hammond Run 0.4 untyped — —
Bull Run 0.4 untyped — —
Tedrow Branch 0.4 untyped — —
Slide Branch 0.1 untyped — —
Big Beaver Creek 0.1 untyped — —
Twentymile Creek 0.0 untyped — —

Public land in the watershed

239,729 acres in 9 units, which is 26.4% of the 909,217 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 234,648 98% 3
National Park Service 5,081 2% 1
WV Division of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Section and US Forest Service 0 0% 2
WV Division of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Section 0 0% 3

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.