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River report

Chippewa River Flow Today

As of November 11, 2026 at 2:00 AM, the Chippewa River is flowing at 3,990 cfs at Durand, WI — 58% of normal for the date. 7 of 7 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 135 to 3,990 cfs. ❤ Favorite

USGS gauges
7 7 reporting · upstream → down
Chippewa River At Bishops Bridge Near Winter: 20% of normalChippewa River Near Bruce: 25% of normalChippewa River Near Milan: 258% of normalChippewa River Near Watson: 165% of normalChippewa River At Chippewa Falls: 41% of normalChippewa River Near Mount Pleasant: 43% of normalChippewa River At Durand: 58% of normal
Typical gauge
43% of normal for the date
0%normal200%
Biggest flow now
3,990cfs Durand
Updated
Nov 11, 2:00 AM
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River briefing · Nov 11, 2026

Chippewa River conditions today

Where the river is running versus normal, what’s rising or dropping, and what it means for a trip — built from the live USGS readings below.

At Durand, the Chippewa River is running 3,990 cfs — 58% of normal. Along the river, 5 of 7 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 43% of normal).

Highest against normal: Milan at 258%. Lowest: Bishops Bridge Near Winter at 20%.

Headwaters to mouth

How the Chippewa River compares to normal

Every reporting gauge from the top of the river to the bottom: bar length is today’s flow, colour is percent of normal for the date.

Flow along the river, upstream to downstream

  1. Bishops Bridge Near Winter1,276 ft 214 cfs20%
  2. Bruce1,077 ft 483 cfs25%
  3. Milan975 ft 1,000 cfs258%
  4. Watson941 ft 295 cfs165%
  5. Chippewa Falls807 ft 1,920 cfs41%
  6. Mount Pleasant730 ft 135 cfs43%
  7. Durand695 ft 3,990 cfs58%

Bar length uses a square-root scale so small headwater flows stay visible next to big downstream ones. Colour: <50% 50–90 90–110 110–150 150%+ of normal.

Where every gauge sits

One dot per Chippewa River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (43%).

Typical gauge 43%
0%50%100% · normal150%200%+
Much below normal4Below normal1Near normal0Above normal0Much above normal2

Chippewa River flow report

7 gauges
Streamgage Streamflow % of normal 24h Gage height To flood stage Elevation
Chippewa River At Bishops Bridge Near Winter WI
Nov 11, 2:00 AM · USGS 05356000
214 cfs 20% +0% 4.21 ft · 1,276 ft
Chippewa River Near Bruce WI
Nov 11, 2:00 AM · USGS 05356500
483 cfs 25% -3% 1.68 ft · 1,077 ft
Chippewa River Near Milan MN
Nov 11, 1:45 AM · USGS 05304500
1,000 cfs 258% -7% 3.07 ft · 975 ft
Chippewa River Near Watson MN
Nov 11, 2:00 AM · USGS 05305000
295 cfs 165% -3% 38.10 ft · 941 ft
Chippewa River At Chippewa Falls WI
Nov 11, 2:00 AM · USGS 05365500
1,920 cfs 41% -5% 3.27 ft · 807 ft
Chippewa River Near Mount Pleasant MI
Nov 11, 2:15 AM · USGS 04154000
135 cfs 43% 0% 3.22 ft 4.8 ft below 730 ft
Chippewa River At Durand WI
Nov 11, 2:00 AM · USGS 05369500
3,990 cfs 58% +1% 2.90 ft 10.1 ft below 695 ft

USGS provisional data. Readings are in each gauge’s local time; gauges silent for more than 3 days are marked “Last reported”. Tap any gauge for its hydrograph, forecast and history.

History

Chippewa River streamflow over time

Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.

Maximum streamflow by year

About this river

Chippewa River

The Chippewa River is a 183-mile river that flows through Wisconsin, originating in the glacial lake country of north-central Wisconsin. The river has a rich history, as it was once a vital waterway for the Ojibwe tribe and later served as a transportation route for lumber and agriculture. The river is fed by several tributaries and has several dams and reservoirs, including the Wissota Dam and Reservoir, which was created in the 1910s for hydroelectric power and flood control. The river provides opportunities for fishing, canoeing, and kayaking, and the adjacent land is used for agriculture and forestry. Despite efforts to improve water quality, the river still faces challenges from agricultural and urban runoff.

Around the river

Fishing near the Chippewa River

FAQ

About the Chippewa River

How is the Chippewa River flowing right now?

As of November 11, 2026, the Chippewa River is flowing at 3,990 cfs at Durand, WI, about 58% of normal for the date. Across its 7 USGS gauges, current flows range from 135 to 3,990 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.

Is the Chippewa River running high or low?

The typical gauge on the Chippewa River is at 43% of normal for the date. Above 100% means higher than the historical average for this calendar day; below 100% means lower. The profile above shows which reaches are high or low.

What is flood stage on the Chippewa River?

The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Mount Pleasant (8.0 ft), Durand (13.0 ft). The table shows how far each gauge is below its flood stage right now.

Where does the data come from?

Discharge and gage height are from the USGS National Water Information System; flood stages from the National Weather Service. The history chart sums every monitored gauge on the river.

Can I get alerts for a gauge?

Yes — open any gauge from the table, favorite it in the Snoflo app and set a flow threshold.

More river levels

Rivers in Wisconsin & Minnesota & Michigan

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