Cuyahoga River Flow Today
As of October 22, 2026 at 3:45 AM, the Cuyahoga River is flowing at 292 cfs at Independence Oh, OH — 58% of normal for the date and down 5% in 24 hours. 4 of 5 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 67 to 292 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Cuyahoga River map
See the Cuyahoga River on a live map
Every gauge, dam and paddle run on the river, one tap each:
- Gauges now — which reaches are high or low
- Dams & paddle runs — storage and what’s in range
- Rain — past 24 hrs and the 72-hr forecast, press play
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Cuyahoga 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 Independence Oh, the Cuyahoga River is running 292 cfs — 58% of normal, down 5% since yesterday. Along the river, 4 of 4 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 54% of normal).
Paddlers: 0 of 1 runs on the Cuyahoga River with a live range are in range, 1 too low.
How the Cuyahoga 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
- Hiram Rapids Oh1,096 ft 67 cfs51%
- Old Portage Oh757 ft 115 cfs49%
- Jaite Oh634 ft 212 cfs63%
- Independence Oh585 ft 292 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 Cuyahoga River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (54%).
Cuyahoga River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cuyahoga River At Hiram Rapids Oh OH
Oct 22, 3:15 AM · USGS 04202000 |
67 cfs | 51% | -7% | 1.61 ft | 5.4 ft below | 1,096 ft |
|
Cuyahoga River At Old Portage Oh OH
Oct 22, 3:15 AM · USGS 04206000 |
115 cfs | 49% | -8% | 2.33 ft | 8.2 ft below | 757 ft |
|
Cuyahoga River At Jaite Oh OH
Oct 22, 3:45 AM · USGS 04206425 |
212 cfs | 63% | -7% | 2.25 ft | · | 634 ft |
|
Cuyahoga River At Independence Oh OH
Oct 22, 3:45 AM · USGS 04208000 |
292 cfs | 58% | -5% | 2.72 ft | 14.3 ft below | 585 ft |
|
Cuyahoga River At Ltv Steel Cleveland Oh OH
Last reported Mar 19 · USGS 04208504 |
1,150 cfs | · | · | 22.94 ft | · | 569 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.
Paddle runs on the Cuyahoga River
Each run is checked against its runnable range using the gauge it is keyed to (or the nearest gauge on this river).
| Run | Status | Flow now | Runnable range | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dam At Peninsula To End Of Canal Near Confluence With Chippewa Creek Gauge: Jaite Oh |
Too low | 212 cfs | 300–5,000 cfs | II–III |
Dams & reservoirs on the Cuyahoga River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Cuyahoga River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
Cuyahoga River
The Cuyahoga River is a 100-mile-long river that flows through northeastern Ohio, emptying into Lake Erie. Historically, the river suffered from pollution due to industrial waste, leading to a fire in 1969 that sparked the environmental movement. Since then, significant efforts have been made to clean up the river, including the removal of dams and pollutants. The river's hydrology is impacted by seasonal precipitation and snowmelt. There are several reservoirs along the river, including Lake Rockwell and Lake Milton, which provide drinking water and recreational opportunities such as boating and fishing. The river also supports agriculture, with nearby farms using the river for irrigation. The Cuyahoga River remains an important natural resource in Ohio, with ongoing efforts to protect and preserve its ecosystem.
Fishing near the Cuyahoga River
About the Cuyahoga River
How is the Cuyahoga River flowing right now?
As of October 22, 2026, the Cuyahoga River is flowing at 292 cfs at Independence Oh, OH, about 58% of normal for the date. Across its 5 USGS gauges, current flows range from 67 to 292 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Cuyahoga River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Cuyahoga River is at 54% 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 Cuyahoga River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Hiram Rapids Oh (7.0 ft), Old Portage Oh (10.5 ft), Independence Oh (17.0 ft), . The table shows how far each gauge is below its flood stage right now.
Is the Cuyahoga River runnable for paddling today?
Each run in the paddle table is checked against its runnable range using its gauge's live flow.
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.