CHARLES RIVER

RIVER LEVELS
February 10, 2025

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

* WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 2 and 6 inches. * WHERE...Portions of east central, north central, and northeast Colorado including the Denver metro. * WHEN...From 2 PM Tuesday to 11 AM MST Wednesday. * 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 Charles River was last observed at 150 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 298 acre-ft of water today; about 13% of normal. River levels are low and may signify a drought. Average streamflow for this time of year is 1,171 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 Medway reporting a streamflow rate of 242 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the Charles River At Wellesley with a gauge stage of 3.01 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 2025-02-10
Discharge Volume 298 ACRE-FT
Streamflow 150.0 cfs
0.0 cfs (0.0%)
Percent of Normal 12.81%
Maximum 5,509.0 cfs
2024-01-14
Seasonal Avg 1,171 cfs

YEAR OVER YEAR DISCHARGE (CFS)

Streamflow Conditions
Streamgauge Streamflow Gauge Stage 24hr Change (%) % Normal Minimum (cfs) Maximum (cfs) Air Temp Elevation
Charles River At Medway
USGS 01103280
242 cfs 1.12 ft -11.03
Charles River At Dover
USGS 01103500
150 cfs 1.09 ft 0
Charles River At Wellesley
USGS 01104200
84 cfs 3.01 ft -3.46
Charles River At Waltham
USGS 01104500
98 cfs 1.18 ft -5.96
History of the River

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".

       

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