Chippewa River Flow Today
As of October 22, 2026 at 2:45 AM, the Chippewa River is flowing at 3,140 cfs at Durand, WI — 52% of normal for the date. 7 of 7 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 97 to 3,140 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Chippewa River map
See the Chippewa River on a live map
Every gauge, dam and paddle run on the river, one tap each:
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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 3,140 cfs — 52% of normal. Along the river, 7 of 7 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 46% of normal).
In the last 24 hours the river is dropping at Chippewa Falls (-11%).
Highest against normal: Mount Pleasant at 74%. Lowest: Bruce at 21%.
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
- Bishops Bridge Near Winter1,276 ft 211 cfs23%
- Bruce1,077 ft 382 cfs21%
- Milan975 ft 176 cfs46%
- Watson941 ft 97 cfs49%
- Chippewa Falls807 ft 1,260 cfs37%
- Mount Pleasant730 ft 244 cfs74%
- Durand695 ft 3,140 cfs52%
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 (46%).
Chippewa River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Chippewa River At Bishops Bridge Near Winter WI
Oct 22, 2:00 AM · USGS 05356000 |
211 cfs | 23% | 0% | 4.20 ft | · | 1,276 ft |
|
Chippewa River Near Bruce WI
Oct 22, 2:00 AM · USGS 05356500 |
382 cfs | 21% | 0% | 1.52 ft | · | 1,077 ft |
|
Chippewa River Near Milan MN
Oct 22, 2:45 AM · USGS 05304500 |
176 cfs | 46% | -3% | 1.40 ft | · | 975 ft |
|
Chippewa River Near Watson MN
Oct 22, 2:00 AM · USGS 05305000 |
97 cfs | 49% | -3% | 36.89 ft | · | 941 ft |
|
Chippewa River At Chippewa Falls WI
Oct 22, 2:00 AM · USGS 05365500 |
1,260 cfs | 37% | -11% | 2.68 ft | · | 807 ft |
|
Chippewa River Near Mount Pleasant MI
Oct 22, 2:15 AM · USGS 04154000 |
244 cfs | 74% | -1% | 3.59 ft | 4.4 ft below | 730 ft |
|
Chippewa River At Durand WI
Oct 22, 2:45 AM · USGS 05369500 |
3,140 cfs | 52% | +1% | 2.46 ft | 10.5 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.
Dams & reservoirs on the Chippewa River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Chippewa River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
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.
Fishing near the Chippewa River
About the Chippewa River
How is the Chippewa River flowing right now?
As of October 22, 2026, the Chippewa River is flowing at 3,140 cfs at Durand, WI, about 52% of normal for the date. Across its 7 USGS gauges, current flows range from 97 to 3,140 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 46% 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.