Summary
Total streamflow across the
Kaskaskia River
was last observed at
5,302
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
10,516
acre-ft of water today; about 37%
of normal.
River levels are low and may signify a drought.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
14,435 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2015-12-30 when daily discharge volume was observed at
129,500 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
Kaskaskia River At Carlyle
reporting a streamflow rate of 1,090 cfs.
However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the
Kaskaskia River At New Athens
with a gauge stage of 68.86 ft.
This river is monitored from 8 different streamgauging stations along the Kaskaskia River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 650 ft, the
Kaskaskia River At Chesterville.
River Details
| Last Updated | 2025-12-26 |
| Discharge Volume | 10,516 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
5,302.0 cfs
+1392.1 cfs (+35.6%) |
| Percent of Normal | 36.73% |
| Maximum |
129,500.0 cfs
2015-12-30 |
| Seasonal Avg | 14,435 cfs |
River Streamflow Levels
| Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Kaskaskia River At Chesterville
USGS 05590950 |
436 cfs | 34.15 ft | -9.36 | |||||
|
Kaskaskia River At Cooks Mills
USGS 05591200 |
20 cfs | 1.65 ft | -8.68 | |||||
|
Kaskaskia River At Shelbyville
USGS 05592000 |
898 cfs | 9.1 ft | 22.18 | |||||
|
Kaskaskia River Near Cowden
USGS 05592100 |
693 cfs | 5.32 ft | 11.24 | |||||
|
Kaskaskia River At Vandalia
USGS 05592500 |
599 cfs | 5.22 ft | 242.29 | |||||
|
Kaskaskia River At Carlyle
USGS 05593000 |
1090 cfs | 9.2 ft | 23.72 | |||||
|
Kaskaskia River At New Athens
USGS 05595000 |
972 cfs | 68.86 ft | 76.41 | |||||
|
Kaskaskia River Near Venedy Station
USGS 05594100 |
1030 cfs | 5 ft | 11.59 |
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile
The Kaskaskia River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately 325 miles (523 km) long, in central and southern Illinois in the United States. The second largest river system within Illinois, it drains a rural area of farms, as well as rolling hills along river bottoms of hardwood forests in its lower reaches. The lower reaches of the river have been canalized to allow barge traffic.
"Cascasquia" is an alternative, supposedly more French, spelling of "Kaskaskia" that is sometimes encountered. It was named after a clan of the Illiniwek encountered by the early French Jesuits and other settlers. "Okaw River" was an alternative name for the Kaskaskia that persists in place names along the river, including Okawville, and in a major tributary, the West Okaw River.