Cottonwood River Flow Today
As of October 9, 2026 at 2:00 AM, the Cottonwood River is flowing at 946 cfs near Plymouth, KS — 965% of normal for the date and down 22% in 24 hours. 3 of 3 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 44 to 946 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Cottonwood River map
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Every gauge, dam and paddle run on the river, one tap each:
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Cottonwood 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 Plymouth, the Cottonwood River is running 946 cfs — 965% of normal, down 22% since yesterday. Along the river, 2 of 3 reporting gauges are above normal (the typical gauge is at 900% of normal).
In the last 24 hours the river is dropping at Florence (-36%) and Plymouth (-22%).
Highest against normal: Plymouth at 965%. Lowest: New Ulm at 35%.
How the Cottonwood 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
- Florence1,238 ft 467 cfs900%
- Plymouth1,128 ft 946 cfs965%
- New Ulm800 ft 44 cfs35%
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 Cottonwood River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (900%).
Cottonwood River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cottonwood River Near Florence KS
Oct 9, 2:15 AM · USGS 07180400 |
467 cfs | 900% | -36% | 4.11 ft | 17.9 ft below | 1,238 ft |
|
Cottonwood River Near Plymouth KS
Oct 9, 2:00 AM · USGS 07182250 |
946 cfs | 965% | -22% | 6.46 ft | 25.5 ft below | 1,128 ft |
|
Cottonwood River Near New Ulm MN
Oct 9, 2:00 AM · USGS 05317000 |
44 cfs | 35% | -2% | 3.30 ft | 7.7 ft below | 800 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 Cottonwood River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Cottonwood River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
Cottonwood River
The Cottonwood River is a 152-mile-long river in eastern Kansas, USA. It has been used by Native Americans for hundreds of years for hunting and fishing. The river flows through several counties and its basin is home to many small towns. The river's hydrology is influenced by rainfall and the presence of reservoirs and dams, such as the John Redmond Reservoir, Marion Reservoir, and Chase County Lake. These dams provide flood control, irrigation, and recreational opportunities for fishing, boating, and camping. The Cottonwood River is also an important source of water for agricultural uses such as crop irrigation and livestock watering. Despite occasional flooding, the river remains an important resource for the communities it serves.
Fishing near the Cottonwood River
About the Cottonwood River
How is the Cottonwood River flowing right now?
As of October 9, 2026, the Cottonwood River is flowing at 946 cfs near Plymouth, KS, about 965% of normal for the date. Across its 3 USGS gauges, current flows range from 44 to 946 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Cottonwood River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Cottonwood River is at 900% 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 Cottonwood River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Florence (22.0 ft), Plymouth (32.0 ft), New Ulm (11.0 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.