Summary
Total streamflow across the
Kalamazoo River
was last observed at
2,823
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
5,599
acre-ft of water today; about 65%
of normal.
River levels are low and may signify a drought.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
4,363 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2018-02-23 when daily discharge volume was observed at
23,430 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
Kalamazoo River At New Richmond
reporting a streamflow rate of 1,550 cfs.
This is also the highest stage along the Kalamazoo River, with a gauge stage of
10.82 ft at this location.
This river is monitored from 4 different streamgauging stations along the Kalamazoo River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 882 ft, the
Kalamazoo River At Marshall.
River Details
| Last Updated | 2025-12-04 |
| Discharge Volume | 5,599 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
2,823.0 cfs
+516.0 cfs (+22.37%) |
| Percent of Normal | 64.71% |
| Maximum |
23,430.0 cfs
2018-02-23 |
| Seasonal Avg | 4,363 cfs |
River Streamflow Levels
| Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Kalamazoo River At Marshall
USGS 04103500 |
211 cfs | 4.12 ft | -2.76 | |||||
|
Kalamazoo River Near Battle Creek
USGS 04105500 |
380 cfs | 2.95 ft | 0 | |||||
|
Kalamazoo River At Comstock
USGS 04106000 |
682 cfs | 4.18 ft | 1.79 | |||||
|
Kalamazoo River At New Richmond
USGS 04108660 |
1550 cfs | 10.82 ft | 49.04 |
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile
The Kalamazoo River is a river in the U.S. state of Michigan. The river is 130 miles (210 km) long from the junction of its North and South branches to its mouth at Lake Michigan, with a total length extending to 178 miles (286 km) when one includes the South Branch. The river's watershed drains an area of approximately 2,020 square miles (5,200 km2) and drains portions of eight counties in southwest Michigan: Allegan, Barry, Eaton, Van Buren, Kalamazoo, Calhoun, Jackson, Hillsdale, Kent and Ottawa. The river has a median flow of 1,863 cubic feet per second (52.8 m3/s) at New Richmond, upstream from its mouth at Saugatuck.
The North and South Branches of the Kalamazoo River originate within a few miles of each other. The South Branch begins near North Adams in Moscow Township in northeastern Hillsdale County and flows north and west through Homer before joining the North Branch at the forks of the Kalamazoo in Albion. The North Branch begins near Farewell and Pine Hills lakes in southern Jackson County and flows north and west through Concord before reaching Albion in Calhoun County. It then flows through Kalamazoo and Allegan counties.
After Albion, the Kalamazoo flows mostly westward through Marshall, Battle Creek, Augusta, Galesburg, Comstock, and Kalamazoo. From Kalamazoo, the river flows mostly north until just before it reaches Plainwell and then flows northwest through Otsego, Allegan, Saugatuck and then into Lake Michigan.
Some of the larger tributaries of the Kalamazoo are Rice Creek, Wilder Creek, Wabascon Creek, Battle Creek River, Augusta Creek, Portage Creek, Gun River, Swan Creek, and Rabbit River.