CHEHALIS RIVER

RIVER LEVELS
December 25, 2024


TOTAL RIVER DISCHARGE

Total streamflow across the Chehalis River was last observed at 18,780 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 37,250 acre-ft of water today; about 97% of normal. Average streamflow for this time of year is 19,298 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2022-01-08 when daily discharge volume was observed at 112,610 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Chehalis River At Porter reporting a streamflow rate of 8,560 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the Chehalis River Near Doty with a gauge stage of 309.11 ft. This river is monitored from 4 different streamgauging stations along the Chehalis River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 324 ft, the Chehalis River Near Doty.

The Chehalis River is a 126-mile long river that flows through western Washington State. It has two main tributaries, the East Fork Chehalis and the West Fork Chehalis. The river was an important resource for Native American tribes such as the Chehalis and Chinook for centuries before European settlers arrived. Today, the Chehalis River is used for a variety of recreational activities such as fishing, kayaking, and camping. It is also used for agricultural purposes, with farms and pastureland located along its banks. The river is home to several reservoirs and dams, including the Mossyrock and Mayfield Dams, which provide hydroelectric power and flood control for surrounding communities. Despite these measures, the Chehalis River is prone to flooding during heavy rain events.

Last Updated 2024-12-25
Discharge Volume 37,250 ACRE-FT
Streamflow 18,780.0 cfs
-1930.0 cfs (-9.32%)
Percent of Normal 97.32%
Maximum 112,610.0 cfs
2022-01-08
Seasonal Avg 19,298 cfs

YEAR OVER YEAR DISCHARGE (CFS)

Streamflow Conditions
Streamgauge Streamflow Gauge Stage 24hr Change (%) % Normal Minimum (cfs) Maximum (cfs) Air Temp Elevation
Chehalis River Near Doty
USGS 12020000
1130 cfs 309.11 ft -21.53
Chehalis River Near Adna
USGS 12021800
2960 cfs 197.53 ft -10.03
Chehalis River Near Grand Mound
USGS 12027500
6130 cfs 134.81 ft -10.25
Chehalis River At Porter
USGS 12031000
8560 cfs 40.3 ft -6.45
History of the River

The Chehalis River ( shə-HAY-lis)
is a river in Washington in the United States. It originates in several forks in southwestern Washington, flows east, then north, then west, in a large curve, before emptying into Grays Harbor, an estuary of the Pacific Ocean.
It was once much larger during the Ice Age when the tongue of the glacial ice sheet covering the Puget Sound terminated near Olympia and glacial runoff formed a large torrest of meltwater. This carved a large oversized valley that is much larger than the current river could have produced. The river's mouth was out near current Westport until rising sea levels at the end of the ice age flooded the broad Chehalis Valley to for a ria, known today as Grays Harbor.

       

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