Total streamflow across the
Charles River
was last observed at
1,026
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
2,035
acre-ft of water today; about 58%
of normal.
River levels are low and may signify a drought.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
1,756 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2024-01-14 when daily discharge volume was observed at
5,509 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
Charles River At Dover
reporting a streamflow rate of 364 cfs.
However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the
Charles River At Wellesley
with a gauge stage of 3.49 ft.
This river is monitored from 4 different streamgauging stations along the Charles River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 129 ft, the
Charles River At Medway.
The Charles River is a 80-mile long river in Massachusetts that runs from Hopkinton to Boston and empties into the Atlantic Ocean. It has played an important role in the history of Massachusetts, serving as a source of water for early settlers and as a key transportation route for trade. Today, it is also used for recreation, with parks and walking trails lining its banks. The river is managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, which operates several dams and reservoirs along the river, including the Wachusett Reservoir and the Quabbin Reservoir. These reservoirs provide drinking water for Boston and surrounding communities. The river also supports agricultural activities such as cranberry farming, and is home to a variety of fish and wildlife species.
Last Updated | 2024-12-21 |
Discharge Volume | 2,035 ACRE-FT |
Streamflow |
1,026.0 cfs
-59.0 cfs (-5.44%) |
Percent of Normal | 58.42% |
Maximum |
5,509.0 cfs
2024-01-14 |
Seasonal Avg | 1,756 cfs |
Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Charles River At Medway
USGS 01103280 |
100 cfs | 1.42 ft | 0 | |||||
Charles River At Dover
USGS 01103500 |
364 cfs | 1.69 ft | -4.21 | |||||
Charles River At Wellesley
USGS 01104200 |
263 cfs | 3.49 ft | -6.74 | |||||
Charles River At Waltham
USGS 01104500 |
299 cfs | 1.87 ft | -7.43 |
The Charles River (sometimes called the River Charles or simply the Charles) is an 80-mile-long (129 km) long river in eastern Massachusetts. From its source in Hopkinton the river's mouth is northeast of its headwaters, though it follows a highly meandering route, doubling back on itself several times and traveling through 23 cities and towns before reaching the Atlantic Ocean at Boston. The Native-American name for the Charles River was Quinobequin, meaning "meandering".