Kankakee River Flow Today
As of October 3, 2026 at 1:45 AM, the Kankakee River is flowing at 3,800 cfs near Wilmington, IL — 339% of normal for the date and up 31% in 24 hours. 6 of 6 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 837 to 3,800 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Kankakee River map
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Kankakee River conditions today
Where the river is running versus normal, what’s rising or dropping, and what it means for a trip — built from the live USGS readings below.
At Wilmington, the Kankakee River is running 3,800 cfs — 339% of normal, up 31% since yesterday. Along the river, 6 of 6 reporting gauges are above normal (the typical gauge is at 264% of normal).
In the last 24 hours the river is rising at Wilmington (+31%) and Davis (+26%).
Highest against normal: Wilmington at 339%. Lowest: Shelby at 239%.
How the Kankakee River compares to normal
Every reporting gauge from the top of the river to the bottom: bar length is today’s flow, colour is percent of normal for the date.
Flow along the river, upstream to downstream
- Davis682 ft 837 cfs254%
- Dunns Bridge667 ft 1,690 cfs263%
- Kouts654 ft 1,780 cfs266%
- Shelby647 ft 2,210 cfs239%
- Momence610 ft 2,580 cfs269%
- Wilmington511 ft 3,800 cfs339%
Bar length uses a square-root scale so small headwater flows stay visible next to big downstream ones. Colour: <50% 50–90 90–110 110–150 150%+ of normal.
Where every gauge sits
One dot per Kankakee River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (264%).
Kankakee River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Kankakee River At Davis IN
Oct 3, 3:00 AM · USGS 05515500 |
837 cfs | 254% | +26% | 7.61 ft | 2.4 ft below | 682 ft |
|
Kankakee River At Dunns Bridge IN
Oct 3, 3:00 AM · USGS 05517500 |
1,690 cfs | 263% | +18% | 5.94 ft | 4.1 ft below | 667 ft |
|
Kankakee River Near Kouts IN
Oct 3, 3:00 AM · USGS 05517530 |
1,780 cfs | 266% | +16% | 6.78 ft | 4.2 ft below | 654 ft |
|
Kankakee River At Shelby IN
Oct 3, 3:45 AM · USGS 05518000 |
2,210 cfs | 239% | +11% | 7.23 ft | 3.3 ft below | 647 ft |
|
Kankakee River At Momence IL
Oct 3, 12:45 AM · USGS 05520500 |
2,580 cfs | 269% | +12% | 2.64 ft | 2.4 ft below | 610 ft |
|
Kankakee River Near Wilmington IL
Oct 3, 1:45 AM · USGS 05527500 |
3,800 cfs | 339% | +31% | 2.01 ft | 4.5 ft below | 511 ft |
USGS provisional data. Readings are in each gauge’s local time; gauges silent for more than 3 days are marked “Last reported”. Tap any gauge for its hydrograph, forecast and history.
Dams & reservoirs on the Kankakee River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Kankakee River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
Kankakee River
The Kankakee River is a 133-mile river that flows through Indiana and Illinois. It was historically used for transportation and provided a source of water for agriculture. The river has a diverse ecosystem, with over 200 species of fish, including several endangered species. The river's hydrology has been altered by the construction of several reservoirs and dams, including the Kankakee River State Park Dam and the Wilmington Dam. These dams have been built for flood control, hydroelectric power, and recreation. The river is a popular destination for boating, fishing, and camping. The river and its surrounding wetlands also provide important habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife. Agriculturally, the river is used as a source of irrigation for corn, soybeans, and other crops.
Fishing near the Kankakee River
About the Kankakee River
How is the Kankakee River flowing right now?
As of October 3, 2026, the Kankakee River is flowing at 3,800 cfs near Wilmington, IL, about 339% of normal for the date. Across its 6 USGS gauges, current flows range from 837 to 3,800 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Kankakee River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Kankakee River is at 264% of normal for the date. Above 100% means higher than the historical average for this calendar day; below 100% means lower. The profile above shows which reaches are high or low.
What is flood stage on the Kankakee River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Davis (10.0 ft), Dunns Bridge (10.0 ft), Kouts (11.0 ft), Shelby (10.5 ft), Momence (5.0 ft), Wilmington (6.5 ft). The table shows how far each gauge is below its flood stage right now.
Where does the data come from?
Discharge and gage height are from the USGS National Water Information System; flood stages from the National Weather Service. The history chart sums every monitored gauge on the river.
Can I get alerts for a gauge?
Yes — open any gauge from the table, favorite it in the Snoflo app and set a flow threshold.