Safe Wade — Dam & River Safety

SafeWade helps fly fishermen, kayakers, and river enthusiasts stay safe around hydroelectric dams by translating complex dam generation data into a simple, color-coded status — green means safe to wade, red means generating. Covering 180+ dams across the United States, Safe Wade pulls real-time data from SWPA, TVA, USACE, and the Bureau of Reclamation so you always know what's happening upstream before you step in the water. KEY FEATURES • Simple Safe-to-Wade Status — Green/red indicators show whether a dam is generating or releasing water, so you know if it's safe to wade. • Real-Time Dam Release Schedules — Hourly generation schedules for SWPA and TVA dams, plus current release data (CFS) for Reclamation and USGS-monitored dams. • Live River Gauge Conditions — USGS, NOAA/NWPS, and USACE gauge readings show water level, discharge, temperature, and rising/falling trends at downstream access points. • Downstream Water Arrival Times — Know when released water will reach your fishing spot. Safe Wade calibrates travel times using historical gauge data so you can plan your day. • 180+ Dams Nationwide — From Bull Shoals and Table Rock in Arkansas to Norris and Fontana in Tennessee, Glen Canyon in Arizona, Flaming Gorge in Utah, and beyond. • Save Your Favorite Dams — Bookmark the dams you fish most for quick access every time you open the app. • Interactive Map — See all monitored dams on a topographic map with color-coded status pins. • Weather Conditions — Current temperature and precipitation for every dam location. • Dark Mode — System-aware dark mode for early morning and late evening fishing trips. WHO IT'S FOR Safe Wade is built for fly fishermen who fish tailwaters below hydroelectric dams — but it's equally useful for kayakers, paddlers, photographers, and anyone who needs to know when dam releases will change river conditions. DATA SOURCES SafeWade aggregates publicly available data from: • Southwestern Power Administration (SWPA) • Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) • US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE / CWMS) • Bureau of Reclamation (RISE) • USGS National Water Information System • NOAA National Water Prediction Service (NWPS) Safe Wade — know before you wade.