TOTAL DISCHARGE (CFS)
SUMMARY
| Last Updated | 2024-10-25 |
| Discharge Volume | 7,855 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
3,960.0 cfs
-5210.0 cfs (-56.82%) |
| Percent of Normal | 35.33% |
| Maximum |
237,000.0 cfs
2019-02-25 |
| Seasonal Avg | 11,208 cfs |
Total streamflow across the
Kanawha River
was last observed at
3,960
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
7,855
acre-ft of water today; about 35%
of normal.
River levels are low and may signify a drought.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
11,208 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2019-02-25 when daily discharge volume was observed at
237,000 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
Kanawha River At Kanawha Falls
reporting a streamflow rate of 9,030 cfs.
However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the
Kanawha River At Charleston
with a gauge stage of 18.21 ft.
This river is monitored from 2 different streamgauging stations along the Kanawha River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 622 ft, the
Kanawha River At Kanawha Falls.
The Kanawha River is a tributary of the Ohio River, running 97 miles through West Virginia. It was a significant transportation route during the 19th century, used for the shipment of coal, salt, and other goods. The river is formed by the confluence of the New and Gauley Rivers at Kanawha Falls, and it flows through several reservoirs, including the Sutton Lake, Summersville Lake, and Kanawha River Lake. These reservoirs were created by dams that were built for flood control, hydroelectric power, and recreation. The river is also used for agricultural irrigation, and its water quality is monitored by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection. The Kanawha River is renowned for its recreational activities, such as boating, fishing, and camping, and it is home to several species of fish, including bass, catfish, and walleye.
YEAR OVER YEAR DISCHARGE (CFS)
Streamflow Conditions
| Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Kanawha River At Kanawha Falls
USGS 03193000 |
9030 cfs | 4.98 ft | -2.27 | |||||
|
Kanawha River At Charleston
USGS 03198000 |
3680 cfs | 18.21 ft | -28.68 |
History of the River
The Kanawha River ( kə-NAW-ə) is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately 97 mi (156 km) long, in the U.S. state of West Virginia. The largest inland waterway in West Virginia, its valley has been a significant industrial region of the state since early in the 19th century.
It is formed at the town of Gauley Bridge in northwestern Fayette County, approximately 35 mi (56 km) SE of Charleston, by the confluence of the New and Gauley rivers. It flows generally northwest, in a winding course on the unglaciated Allegheny Plateau, through Fayette, Kanawha, Putnam, and Mason counties, past the cities of Charleston and St. Albans, and numerous smaller communities. It joins the Ohio at Point Pleasant.
Paleo-Indians, the earliest indigenous peoples, lived in the valley and the heights by 10,000 BC as evidenced by archaeological artifacts such as Clovis points. A succession of prehistoric cultures developed, with the Adena culture beginning the construction of numerous skilled earthwork mounds and enclosures more than 2000 years ago. Some of the villages of the Fort Ancient culture survived into the times of European contact.
The area was a place of competition among historical American Indian nations. Invading from their base in present-day New York, the Iroquois drove out or conquered Fort Ancient culture peoples, as well as such tribes as the Huron and Conoy. By right of conquest, the Iroquois, Lenape (Delaware), and Shawnee reserved the area as a hunting ground. They resisted European-American settlement during the colonial years.
The river valley contains significant deposits of coal and natural gas. In colonial times, the wildly fluctuating level of the river prevented its use for transportation. The removal of boulders and snags on the lower river in the 1840s allowed navigation, which was extended upriver after the construction of locks and dams starting in 1875. The river is now navigable to Deepwater, an unincorporated community about 20 miles (32 km) upriver from Charleston. A thriving chemical industry along its banks provides a significant part of the local economy.
