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HURON RIVER

River Levels • Streamflow • Hydrology

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Total streamflow across the Huron River was last observed at 542 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 1,075 acre-ft of water today; about 42% of normal. River levels are low and may signify a drought. Average streamflow for this time of year is 1,280 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2013-07-11 when daily discharge volume was observed at 17,563 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Huron River At Ann Arbor reporting a streamflow rate of 399 cfs. This is also the highest stage along the Huron River, with a gauge stage of 12.59 ft at this location. This river is monitored from 4 different streamgauging stations along the Huron River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 883 ft, the Huron River At Milford.

The Huron River is a 130-mile-long river in southeastern Michigan. It was named after the Huron tribe who once inhabited the area. The river flows through several cities, including Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Flat Rock. The Huron River's hydrology is primarily influenced by rainfall and snowmelt, with its flow regulated by three dams: Barton, Argo, and Geddes. The river serves as a source of drinking water for several communities and provides recreational opportunities for fishing, boating, and swimming. The Huron River also supports agriculture, with several farms located along its banks, producing crops such as soybeans, corn, and wheat. The river has a rich history, with Native Americans using it as a transportation and trading route and later serving as a source of power for mills and factories.

November 21, 2024

Last Updated	2024-11-20
Discharge Volume	1,075 ACRE-FT
Streamflow	542.0 cfs -14.0 cfs (-2.52%)
Percent of Normal	42.34%
Maximum	17,563.0 cfs 2013-07-11
Seasonal Avg	1,280 cfs

History of the River

The Huron River is a 130-mile-long (210 km) river in southeastern Michigan, rising out of the Huron Swamp in Springfield Township in northern Oakland County and flowing into Lake Erie on the boundary between Wayne County and Monroe County. In addition to thirteen parks, game areas, and recreation areas, the river passes through the cities of Dexter, Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Belleville, Flat Rock and Rockwood.
The Huron River is a typical Southeast Michigan stream; mud banks, slow stream flow and a low gradient define this river. It runs through the following counties, in order from the headwaters to its mouth: Oakland, Livingston, Washtenaw, Wayne, and Monroe. There are 24 major tributaries totaling about 370 miles (600 km) in addition to the mainstream. The Huron River watershed drains 908 square miles (2,350 km2). It is the only state-designated Country-Scenic Natural River in southeast Michigan. This includes 27.5 miles (44.3 km) of the mainstream, plus an additional 10.5 miles (16.9 km) of three tributaries.
The river was named after the Huron band of Native Americans who lived in the area. In Native languages, it was called cos-scut-e-nong sebee or Giwitatigweiasibi. It was part of a Native American trade route.
The river has many dams, 19 on the main stream and at least 96 in the entire system. Most dams are only a few feet high, built to slightly increase and maintain water levels in existing lakes to provide drought protection and flood control, a use that is now environmentally controversial. However, at least a dozen dams were built for mill or hydroelectric power and several formed large new lakes behind them. Some of these on the Huron River mainstream are Kent Lake, Barton Pond, Argo Pond, Ford Lake, Belleville Lake, and Flat Rock Pond.
The Huron River flows through numerous parks and is a prime canoeing river with a generally slow current and only a few minor rapids or obstructions, except for the short Delhi rapids which is runnable by experienced canoeists and kayakers except during low water.
The river is heavily fished by sportsmen for rock bass, sunfish, bluegill, black crappie, white bass, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, catfish, trout, muskie, and below Belleville Dam, Coho salmon, Chinook salmon, and Steelhead. Suckers and carp are also common fish in the river.
In 2009, faculty and students from the University of Michigan produced "Mapping the River," a multimedia presentation combining dance, poetry, music, and projected images which explored the role of the Huron in communities along it.