Cuyahoga River

Last Updated: May 10, 2026

Total streamflow across the Cuyahoga River was last observed at 5,928 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 11,758 acre-ft of water today; about 141% of normal. River levels are high. Average streamflow for this time of year is 4,209 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2022-02-18 when daily discharge volume was observed at 34,687 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Cuyahoga River At Jaite Oh reporting a streamflow rate of 2,100 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the Cuyahoga River At Ltv Steel Cleveland Oh with a gauge stage of 22.94 ft. This river is monitored from 5 different streamgauging stations along the Cuyahoga River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 1,096 ft, the Cuyahoga River At Hiram Rapids Oh.

The Cuyahoga River is a 100-mile-long river that flows through northeastern Ohio, emptying into Lake Erie.


15-Day Long Term Forecast


River Details

Last Updated 2026-05-09
Discharge Volume 11,758 ACRE-FT
Streamflow 5,928.0 cfs
Past 24 Hours: +583.0 cfs (+10.91%)
Percent of Normal 140.86%
Maximum 34,687.0 cfs
2022-02-18
Seasonal Avg 4,209 cfs
       
River Streamflow Levels
Streamgauge Streamflow Gauge Stage 24hr Change (%) % Normal Minimum (cfs) Maximum (cfs) Air Temp Elevation
Cuyahoga River At Hiram Rapids Oh
USGS 04202000
618 cfs 3.17 ft 7.48
Cuyahoga River At Old Portage Oh
USGS 04206000
1260 cfs 5.64 ft 20
Cuyahoga River At Jaite Oh
USGS 04206425
2100 cfs 6.26 ft 39.07
Cuyahoga River At Independence Oh
USGS 04208000
1950 cfs 6.16 ft -11.76
Cuyahoga River At Ltv Steel Cleveland Oh
USGS 04208504
1150 cfs 22.94 ft -19.58
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile

The Cuyahoga River ( KY-ə-HOG-ə, or KY-ə-HOH-gə) is a river in the United States, located in Northeast Ohio, that runs through the city of Cleveland and feeds into Lake Erie. As Cleveland emerged as a major center for manufacturing, the river became heavily affected by industrial pollution, so much so that it "caught fire" at least 13 times, most famously on June 22, 1969, helping to spur the American environmental movement. Since then, the river has been extensively cleaned up through the efforts of Cleveland's city government and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA). In 2019, the American Rivers conservation association named the Cuyahoga "River of the Year" in honor of "50 years of environmental resurgence."