Hackensack River

Last Updated: May 11, 2026

Total streamflow across the Hackensack River was last observed at 58 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 116 acre-ft of water today; about 34% of normal. River levels are low and may signify a drought. Average streamflow for this time of year is 169 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2011-08-29 when daily discharge volume was observed at 14,660 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Hackensack River At Rivervale Nj reporting a streamflow rate of 37.5 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the Hackensack River At West Nyack Ny with a gauge stage of 2.63 ft. This river is monitored from 3 different streamgauging stations along the Hackensack River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 57 ft, the Hackensack River At West Nyack Ny.

The Hackensack River is a 45-mile long waterway that flows through northeastern New Jersey into Newark Bay, separating Bergen and Hudson counties.


15-Day Long Term Forecast


River Details

Last Updated 2026-05-11
Discharge Volume 116 ACRE-FT
Streamflow 58.4 cfs
Past 24 Hours: -3.4 cfs (-5.5%)
Percent of Normal 34.48%
Maximum 14,660.0 cfs
2011-08-29
Seasonal Avg 169 cfs
       
River Streamflow Levels
Streamgauge Streamflow Gauge Stage 24hr Change (%) % Normal Minimum (cfs) Maximum (cfs) Air Temp Elevation
Hackensack River At West Nyack Ny
USGS 01376800
21 cfs 2.63 ft 14.21
Hackensack River At Rivervale Nj
USGS 01377000
38 cfs 1.71 ft -13.79
Hackensack River At New Milford Nj
USGS 01378500
5 cfs 1.41 ft -26.45
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile

The Hackensack River is a river, approximately 45 miles (72 km) long, in the U.S. states of New York and New Jersey, emptying into Newark Bay, a back chamber of New York Harbor. The watershed of the river includes part of the suburban area outside New York City just west of the lower Hudson River, which it roughly parallels, separated from it by the New Jersey Palisades. It also flows through and drains the New Jersey Meadowlands. The lower river, which is navigable as far as the city of Hackensack, is heavily industrialized and forms a commercial extension of Newark Bay. Once believed to be among the most polluted water courses in the United States, it staged a modest revival by the late 2000s.