Summary
Total streamflow across the
Cedar River
was last observed at
11,547
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
22,903
acre-ft of water today; about 61%
of normal.
River levels are low and may signify a drought.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
18,874 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2016-09-25 when daily discharge volume was observed at
294,406 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
Cedar River At Cedar Rapids
reporting a streamflow rate of 2,470 cfs.
However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the
Cedar River At Cedar Falls
with a gauge stage of 78.70 ft.
This river is monitored from 15 different streamgauging stations along the Cedar River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 1,911 ft, the
Cedar River Below Bear Creek Near Cedar Falls.
River Details
| Last Updated | 2025-12-04 |
| Discharge Volume | 22,903 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
11,546.7 cfs
+1120.6 cfs (+10.75%) |
| Percent of Normal | 61.18% |
| Maximum |
294,406.0 cfs
2016-09-25 |
| Seasonal Avg | 18,874 cfs |
River Streamflow Levels
| Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cedar River Below Bear Creek Near Cedar Falls
USGS 12114500 |
83 cfs | 1.85 ft | -11.17 | |||||
|
Cedar River Near Cedar Falls
USGS 12115000 |
157 cfs | 3.33 ft | -9.25 | |||||
|
Cedar River Near Austin
USGS 05457000 |
110 cfs | 2.97 ft | -8.33 | |||||
|
Cedar River At Charles City
USGS 05457700 |
450 cfs | 2.6 ft | 14.5 | |||||
|
Cedar River At Powerplant At Cedar Falls
USGS 12116400 |
91 cfs | 31.96 ft | -4.99 | |||||
|
Cedar River At Cedar Falls
USGS 12116500 |
216 cfs | 6.06 ft | 0 | |||||
|
Cedar River At Waverly
USGS 05458300 |
436 cfs | 5.06 ft | -26.23 | |||||
|
Cedar River At Janesville
USGS 05458500 |
711 cfs | 1.68 ft | 28.11 | |||||
|
Cedar River At Cedar Falls
USGS 05463050 |
1880 cfs | 78.70 ft | 8.67 | |||||
|
Cedar River At Waterloo
USGS 05464000 |
2090 cfs | 5.99 ft | 8.85 | |||||
|
Cedar River At Cedar Rapids
USGS 05464500 |
2470 cfs | 3.98 ft | 70.34 | |||||
|
Cedar River Near Conesville
USGS 05465000 |
1690 cfs | 5.52 ft | -12.44 | |||||
|
Cedar River Near Landsburg
USGS 12117500 |
447 cfs | 1.54 ft | -3.25 | |||||
|
Cedar River Below Diversion Near Landsburg
USGS 12117600 |
365 cfs | 3.42 ft | 1.11 | |||||
|
Cedar River At Renton
USGS 12119000 |
442 cfs | 8.37 ft | 2.31 |
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile
The Cedar River is a 338-mile-long (544 km) river in Minnesota and Iowa. It is a tributary of the Iowa River, which flows to the Mississippi River. The Cedar River takes its name from the red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) trees growing there, and was originally called the Red Cedar River by the Meskwaki. The first Mississippi steamboat reached Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1844, and during the next decade, the Red Cedar (as it was still called) was an important commercial waterway. The surrounding region is known officially as the Cedar River Valley, though it is more commonly referred to simply as the Cedar Valley.