Total streamflow across the
Chehalis River
was last observed at
4,870
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
9,660
acre-ft of water today; about 36%
of normal.
River levels are low and may signify a drought.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
13,357 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 2,390 cfs.
However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the
Chehalis River Near Doty
with a gauge stage of 307.25 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 | 2025-02-09 |
Discharge Volume | 9,660 ACRE-FT |
Streamflow |
4,870.0 cfs
None cfs (None%) |
Percent of Normal | 36.46% |
Maximum |
112,610.0 cfs
2022-01-08 |
Seasonal Avg | 13,357 cfs |
Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chehalis River Near Doty
USGS 12020000 |
245 cfs | 307.25 ft | 3.25 | |||||
Chehalis River Near Adna
USGS 12021800 |
785 cfs | 194.48 ft | 4.04 | |||||
Chehalis River Near Grand Mound
USGS 12027500 |
1450 cfs | 131.27 ft | -3.29 | |||||
Chehalis River At Porter
USGS 12031000 |
2390 cfs | 34.11 ft | -6.44 |
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.