Summary
Total streamflow across the
James River
was last observed at
8,859
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
17,572
acre-ft of water today; about 29%
of normal.
River levels are low and may signify a drought.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
30,579 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2025-02-17 when daily discharge volume was observed at
438,949 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
James River At Cartersville
reporting a streamflow rate of 1,920 cfs.
However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the
James River At Nd-Sd State Line
with a gauge stage of 88.49 ft.
This river is monitored from 25 different streamgauging stations along the James River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 1,464 ft, the
James River Nr Grace City.
River Details
| Last Updated | 2025-12-04 |
| Discharge Volume | 17,572 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
8,859.2 cfs
+798.4 cfs (+9.9%) |
| Percent of Normal | 28.97% |
| Maximum |
438,948.7 cfs
2025-02-17 |
| Seasonal Avg | 30,579 cfs |
River Streamflow Levels
| Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
James River Nr Grace City
USGS 06468170 |
46 cfs | 4.86 ft | -15.65 | |||||
|
James River Above Arrowwood Lake Nr Kensal
USGS 06468250 |
56 cfs | 2.14 ft | 3.72 | |||||
|
James River At Jamestown
USGS 06470000 |
205 cfs | 4.64 ft | 2.5 | |||||
|
James River At Lamoure
USGS 06470500 |
217 cfs | 8.04 ft | 10.71 | |||||
|
James River At Nd-Sd State Line
USGS 06470878 |
194 cfs | 88.49 ft | -17.8 | |||||
|
James R At Columbia Sd
USGS 06471000 |
268 cfs | 3.71 ft | 5.93 | |||||
|
James R Near Stratford Sd
USGS 06472000 |
409 cfs | 9.35 ft | -1.45 | |||||
|
James R At Ashton Sd
USGS 06473000 |
418 cfs | 6.04 ft | -2.11 | |||||
|
James R Near Redfield Sd
USGS 06475000 |
468 cfs | 3.84 ft | -23.03 | |||||
|
James R At Huron Sd
USGS 06476000 |
548 cfs | 9.47 ft | 0 | |||||
|
James R Near Forestburg Sd
USGS 06477000 |
560 cfs | 6.6 ft | -2.78 | |||||
|
James R Near Mitchell Sd
USGS 06478000 |
659 cfs | 12.12 ft | -2.23 | |||||
|
James R Near Scotland Sd
USGS 06478500 |
706 cfs | 5.02 ft | 1 | |||||
|
James River Nr Yankton Sd
USGS 06478513 |
752 cfs | 2.29 ft | -1.57 | |||||
|
James River Near Springfield
USGS 07050700 |
27 cfs | 4.62 ft | -8.72 | |||||
|
James River Near Boaz
USGS 07052250 |
108 cfs | 2.66 ft | -25.52 | |||||
|
James River At Lick Run
USGS 02016500 |
539 cfs | 2.16 ft | 10.91 | |||||
|
James River At Galena
USGS 07052500 |
199 cfs | 4.35 ft | -7.01 | |||||
|
James River At Buchanan
USGS 02019500 |
595 cfs | 2.36 ft | 15.31 | |||||
|
James River At Holcomb Rock
USGS 02025500 |
860 cfs | 4.27 ft | 7.63 | |||||
|
James River At Bent Creek
USGS 02026000 |
1340 cfs | 3.16 ft | 15.52 | |||||
|
James River At Scottsville
USGS 02029000 |
1490 cfs | 3.15 ft | 9.56 | |||||
|
James River At Cartersville
USGS 02035000 |
1920 cfs | 1.46 ft | 10.98 | |||||
|
James River And Kanawha Canal Near Richmond
USGS 02037000 |
131 cfs | 6.76 ft | 0 | |||||
|
James River Near Richmond
USGS 02037500 |
1650 cfs | 3.9 ft | 10.74 |
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile
The James River is a river in the U.S. state of Virginia that begins in the Appalachian Mountains and flows 348 miles (560 km) to Chesapeake Bay. The river length extends to 444 miles (715 km) if one includes the Jackson River, the longer of its two source tributaries. It is the longest river in Virginia and the 12th longest river in the United States that remains entirely within a single state. Jamestown and Williamsburg, Virginia’s first colonial capitals, and Richmond, Virginia's current capital, lie on the James River.