CANNONBALL RIVER

RIVER LEVELS
December 23, 2024
46.43, -100.59


TOTAL RIVER DISCHARGE

Total streamflow across the Cannonball River was last observed at 35 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 69 acre-ft of water today; about 42% of normal. River levels are low and may signify a drought. Average streamflow for this time of year is 83 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2019-03-29 when daily discharge volume was observed at 26,030 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Cannonball River At Breien reporting a streamflow rate of 23.9 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the Cannonball River At Regent with a gauge stage of 5.2 ft. This river is monitored from 3 different streamgauging stations along the Cannonball River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 2,436 ft, the Cannonball River At Regent.

The Cannonball River is a 126-mile-long tributary of the Missouri River, flowing through North Dakota. The river is named after the cannonball concretions found along its banks. The river has played an important role in Native American history, serving as a primary water source for the Standing Rock Indian Reservation. The river is also home to several reservoirs and dams, including the Heart Butte Dam and the Cannon Ball-Mandan Canal. These structures provide hydroelectric power, irrigation, and flood control to nearby agricultural lands. The Cannonball River also offers recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and camping. However, the river gained national attention during the 2016 Dakota Access Pipeline protests, where protesters argued that the pipeline would harm the river and the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's water supply.

Last Updated 2024-11-20
Discharge Volume 69 ACRE-FT
Streamflow 34.78 cfs
-3.78 cfs (-9.8%)
Percent of Normal 41.74%
Maximum 26,030.0 cfs
2019-03-29
Seasonal Avg 83 cfs

YEAR OVER YEAR DISCHARGE (CFS)

Streamflow Conditions
Streamgauge Streamflow Gauge Stage 24hr Change (%) % Normal Minimum (cfs) Maximum (cfs) Air Temp Elevation
Cannonball River At Regent
USGS 06350000
2 cfs 5.2 ft -25.99
Cannonball River Nr Raleigh
USGS 06351200
9 cfs 2.36 ft -3.92
Cannonball River At Breien
USGS 06354000
24 cfs 2.44 ft -10.15
History of the River

The Cannonball River (Lakota: Íŋyaŋwakağapi Wakpá) is a tributary of the Missouri River, approximately 135 mi (217 km) long, in southwestern North Dakota in the United States.It rises in the Little Missouri National Grassland, in the badlands north of Amidon in northern Slope County. It flows ESE past New England, Mott, and Burt. It is joined by Cedar Creek approximately 15 mi (24 km) southwest of Shields and flows northeast, past Shields, forming the northern border of Sioux County and the Standing Rock Indian Reservation. It joins the Missouri in Lake Oahe near Cannon Ball. The cannonball concretions found in the vicinity of this river are the source of its name.

       

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