American River Flow Today
As of October 10, 2026 at 1:00 AM, the American River is flowing at 1,840 cfs at the American River A Fair Oaks Ca gauge, CA — 124% of normal for the date and up 2% in 24 hours. 2 of 2 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 33 to 1,840 cfs. ❤ Favorite
American River map
See the American River on a live map
Every gauge, dam and paddle run on the river, one tap each:
- Gauges now — which reaches are high or low
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American River conditions today
Where the river is running versus normal, what’s rising or dropping, and what it means for a trip — built from the live USGS readings below.
At American River A Fair Oaks Ca, the American River is running 1,840 cfs — 124% of normal, up 2% since yesterday. Along the river, 1 of 2 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 100% of normal).
Paddlers: 0 of 3 runs on the American River with a live range are in range, 3 too low.
How the American River compares to normal
Every reporting gauge from the top of the river to the bottom: bar length is today’s flow, colour is percent of normal for the date.
Flow along the river, upstream to downstream
- Nile2,789 ft 33 cfs76%
- American River A Fair Oaks Ca79 ft 1,840 cfs124%
Bar length uses a square-root scale so small headwater flows stay visible next to big downstream ones. Colour: <50% 50–90 90–110 110–150 150%+ of normal.
Where every gauge sits
One dot per American River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (100%).
American River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
American River Near Nile WA
Oct 10, 12:30 AM · USGS 12488500 |
33 cfs | 76% | -2% | 71.85 ft | 2,789 ft |
|
American River A Fair Oaks Ca CA
Oct 10, 1:00 AM · USGS 11446500 |
1,840 cfs | 124% | +2% | 6.58 ft | 79 ft |
USGS provisional data. Readings are in each gauge’s local time; gauges silent for more than 3 days are marked “Last reported”. Tap any gauge for its hydrograph, forecast and history.
Paddle runs on the American River
Each run is checked against its runnable range using the gauge it is keyed to (or the nearest gauge on this river).
| Run | Status | Flow now | Runnable range | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Confluence With Ranier Fork To Confluence With Bumping River Gauge: Nile |
Too low | 33 cfs | 500–900 cfs | IV |
| Headwaters At American Lake To Confluence With Ranier Fork Gauge: Nile |
Too low | 33 cfs | 300–600 cfs | III–IV |
| Private Land Boundary To Head Of Lake Cle Elum Reservoir Gauge: Nile |
Too low | 33 cfs | 500–900 cfs | III–IV |
American River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
American River
The American River is a major waterway in California, running for approximately 120 miles from the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the Sacramento River. The river has a rich history, having played an important role in the Gold Rush of the mid-1800s. Today, the American River is a major source of irrigation water for the Sacramento Valley, and serves as a recreational destination for activities such as fishing, boating, and hiking. Several hydroelectric dams and reservoirs have been built along the river, including the Folsom Dam and Reservoir, which helps to regulate water flow in the Sacramento River. The American River is also home to several species of fish, including Chinook salmon and steelhead trout.
About the American River
How is the American River flowing right now?
As of October 10, 2026, the American River is flowing at 1,840 cfs, CA, about 124% of normal for the date. Across its 2 USGS gauges, current flows range from 33 to 1,840 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the American River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the American River is at 100% of normal for the date. Above 100% means higher than the historical average for this calendar day; below 100% means lower. The profile above shows which reaches are high or low.
Is the American River runnable for paddling today?
Each run in the paddle table is checked against its runnable range using its gauge's live flow.
Where does the data come from?
Discharge and gage height are from the USGS National Water Information System; flood stages from the National Weather Service. The history chart sums every monitored gauge on the river.
Can I get alerts for a gauge?
Yes — open any gauge from the table, favorite it in the Snoflo app and set a flow threshold.