TOTAL RIVER DISCHARGE
Total streamflow across the
Kalamazoo River
was last observed at
2,867
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
5,687
acre-ft of water today; about 70%
of normal.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
4,081 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 1,270 cfs.
This is also the highest stage along the Kalamazoo River, with a gauge stage of
10.62 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.
The Kalamazoo River is a 166-mile-long river in Michigan, USA. The river has a rich history dating back to indigenous cultures, and later, it became a crucial transportation route for fur traders and settlers. Today, the river is primarily used for recreation, including fishing, boating, and hiking. The hydrology of the river is affected by several reservoirs and dams, including the Morrow Lake Dam and the Ceresco Dam. These dams were built for flood control and energy production, but they have also had negative impacts on the river's ecosystem, including disrupting fish migration patterns. Agriculture is also a significant use of land in the Kalamazoo River watershed, with crops such as corn and soybeans being grown in the area.
| Last Updated | 2024-12-25 |
| Discharge Volume | 5,687 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
2,867.0 cfs
-219.0 cfs (-7.1%) |
| Percent of Normal | 70.26% |
| Maximum |
23,430.0 cfs
2018-02-23 |
| Seasonal Avg | 4,081 cfs |
YEAR OVER YEAR DISCHARGE (CFS)
Streamflow Conditions
| Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Kalamazoo River At Marshall
USGS 04103500 |
291 cfs | 4.4 ft | -1.02 | |||||
|
Kalamazoo River Near Battle Creek
USGS 04105500 |
493 cfs | 3.11 ft | -1.2 | |||||
|
Kalamazoo River At Comstock
USGS 04106000 |
813 cfs | 4.35 ft | 0 | |||||
|
Kalamazoo River At New Richmond
USGS 04108660 |
1270 cfs | 10.62 ft | -14.19 |
History of the River
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.