Escanaba River Flow Today
As of October 7, 2026 at 1:45 AM, the Escanaba River is flowing at 293 cfs at Cornell, MI — 77% of normal for the date and up 12% in 24 hours. ❤ Favorite
Escanaba River map
See the Escanaba 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
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Escanaba 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 Cornell, the Escanaba River is running 293 cfs — 77% of normal, up 12% since yesterday. Along the river, 1 of 1 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 77% of normal).
In the last 24 hours the river is rising at Cornell (+12%).
How the Escanaba 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
- Cornell735 ft 293 cfs77%
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 Escanaba River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (77%).
Escanaba River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Escanaba River At Cornell MI
Oct 7, 1:45 AM · USGS 04059000 |
293 cfs | 77% | +12% | 1.40 ft | 8.6 ft below | 735 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 Escanaba River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Escanaba River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river (this total last updated earlier; the live gauge readings above are current).
Escanaba River
The Escanaba River is a 96-mile-long river that flows through Michigan's Upper Peninsula, with its mouth at Little Bay de Noc in Lake Michigan. The river was named after the Native American word "Eshkonabang" which means "flat rock river." The upper section of the river is known for its wild and scenic beauty, while the lower section is heavily industrialized, with several hydroelectric dams and reservoirs. The largest dam on the river is the 190-foot-high Michigamme Reservoir Dam, which creates the Michigamme Reservoir. The Escanaba River is an important source of hydroelectric power and water for agriculture in the area. It is also a popular destination for fishing, kayaking, and boating, with several public access points and campgrounds along the river.
Fishing near the Escanaba River
About the Escanaba River
How is the Escanaba River flowing right now?
As of October 7, 2026, the Escanaba River is flowing at 293 cfs at Cornell, MI, about 77% of normal for the date. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Escanaba River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Escanaba River is at 77% 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 Escanaba River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Cornell (10.0 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.