CHARITON RIVER

RIVER LEVELS
February 11, 2025

Winter Weather Advisory
2025-02-12T11:00:00-07:00

* WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 2 and 6 inches. * WHERE...All of northeast and east central Colorado, including the I-25 Urban Corridor. * WHEN...Snow will redevelop late this afternoon and early evening, and continue through Wednesday morning. * IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions will impact the Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning commutes.


TOTAL RIVER DISCHARGE

Total streamflow across the Chariton River was last observed at 374 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 741 acre-ft of water today; about 14% of normal. River levels are low and may signify a drought. Average streamflow for this time of year is 2,630 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2019-05-30 when daily discharge volume was observed at 87,950 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Chariton River Near Prairie Hill reporting a streamflow rate of 262 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the Chariton River Near Moulton with a gauge stage of 19.39 ft. This river is monitored from 6 different streamgauging stations along the Chariton River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 968 ft, the Chariton River Near Chariton.

The Chariton River is a 214-mile long river located in Iowa and Missouri in the United States. Historically, the river was used for transportation of goods and people, and was a major source of water for towns along its banks. The river has been dammed in several places to create reservoirs for flood control and recreation, including the Rathbun Lake, which is the largest lake in Iowa. The Chariton River is also an important source of water for agriculture, with irrigation systems drawing from the river to supply crops. Recreational activities on the river include boating, fishing, camping, and hiking. The hydrology of the river fluctuates seasonally, with high flows occurring in spring and low flows in summer.

Last Updated 2025-02-11
Discharge Volume 741 ACRE-FT
Streamflow 373.5 cfs
-180.5 cfs (-32.58%)
Percent of Normal 14.2%
Maximum 87,950.0 cfs
2019-05-30
Seasonal Avg 2,630 cfs

YEAR OVER YEAR DISCHARGE (CFS)

Streamflow Conditions
Streamgauge Streamflow Gauge Stage 24hr Change (%) % Normal Minimum (cfs) Maximum (cfs) Air Temp Elevation
Chariton River Near Chariton
USGS 06903400
8 cfs 4.81 ft -18.49
Chariton River Near Rathbun
USGS 06903900
12 cfs 2.17 ft -6.25
Chariton River Near Moulton
USGS 06904010
46 cfs 19.39 ft 12.32
Chariton River At Livonia
USGS 06904050
45 cfs 3.43 ft
Chariton River At Novinger
USGS 06904500
100 cfs 0.52 ft -19.62
Chariton River Near Prairie Hill
USGS 06905500
262 cfs 1.92 ft -11.51
History of the River

The Chariton River is a 218-mile-long (351 km) tributary to the Missouri River in southeast Iowa and northeast Missouri. The river forms in southeastern Clarke County, Iowa. It is dammed at 11,000-acre (45 km2) Rathbun Reservoir in Appanoose County, Iowa and then flows 30 miles (48 km) before entering Missouri where it forms the boundary between Putnam and Schuyler counties. It enters the Missouri River in Chariton County near Keytesville. 112 miles (180 km) are in Missouri and 106 miles (171 km) are in Iowa. The river has been called Missouri's "Grand Divide" because streams west of the Chariton flow into the Missouri and streams east of it flow into the Mississippi River.

       

Get Unparalelled Insights

Explore the 3D Map


Weather Forecast