Kansas River Flow Today
As of October 16, 2026 at 2:30 AM, the Kansas River is flowing at 17,400 cfs at Desoto, KS and down 19% in 24 hours. 6 of 6 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 1,580 to 17,400 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Kansas River map
See the Kansas River on a live map
Every gauge, dam and paddle run on the river, one tap each:
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Kansas 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 Desoto, the Kansas River is running 17,400 cfs, down 19% since yesterday. Along the river, 2 of 2 reporting gauges are above normal (the typical gauge is at 629% of normal).
In the last 24 hours the river is dropping at Fort Riley (-20%) and Desoto (-19%).
How the Kansas 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
- Fort Riley1,038 ft 1,580 cfs264%
- Wamego955 ft 14,700 cfs
- Belvue940 ft 15,500 cfs
- Topeka854 ft 15,500 cfs
- Lecompton824 ft 16,500 cfs994%
- Desoto759 ft 17,400 cfs
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 Kansas River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (629%).
Kansas River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Kansas River At Fort Riley KS
Oct 16, 2:30 AM · USGS 06879100 |
1,580 cfs | 264% | -20% | 6.31 ft | 14.7 ft below | 1,038 ft |
|
Kansas River At Wamego KS
Oct 16, 2:30 AM · USGS 06887500 |
14,700 cfs | · | 0% | 9.49 ft | 9.5 ft below | 955 ft |
|
Kansas River Near Belvue KS
Oct 16, 2:30 AM · USGS 06888350 |
15,500 cfs | · | -2% | 15.72 ft | 4.3 ft below | 940 ft |
|
Kansas River At Topeka KS
Oct 16, 2:30 AM · USGS 06889000 |
15,500 cfs | · | -5% | 12.30 ft | 13.7 ft below | 854 ft |
|
Kansas River At Lecompton KS
Oct 16, 2:30 AM · USGS 06891000 |
16,500 cfs | 994% | -18% | 8.38 ft | 8.6 ft below | 824 ft |
|
Kansas River At Desoto KS
Oct 16, 2:30 AM · USGS 06892350 |
17,400 cfs | · | -19% | 10.38 ft | 15.6 ft below | 759 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 Kansas River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Kansas River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
Kansas River
The Kansas River is around 148 miles long and runs through Kansas from Junction City to Kansas City. It was an essential water source for Native Americans and European settlers, facilitating trade and transportation. The river's hydrology has been altered by human activities such as damming and levee construction. Some of the significant reservoirs/dams on the river include the Tuttle Creek Dam, Milford Dam, and Perry Dam. These structures provide flood control, hydroelectric power, and water supply. The river is used for various recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and canoeing. Additionally, agriculture is a major industry on the river, with farmers using the river's water to irrigate crops. The river also plays a significant role in providing water for municipal and industrial uses.
Fishing near the Kansas River
About the Kansas River
How is the Kansas River flowing right now?
As of October 16, 2026, the Kansas River is flowing at 17,400 cfs at Desoto, KS. Across its 6 USGS gauges, current flows range from 1,580 to 17,400 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Kansas River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Kansas River is at 629% 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 Kansas River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Fort Riley (21.0 ft), Wamego (19.0 ft), Belvue (20.0 ft), Topeka (26.0 ft), Lecompton (17.0 ft), Desoto (26.0 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.