Kaskaskia River Flow Today
As of October 16, 2026 at 1:00 AM, the Kaskaskia River is flowing at 588 cfs at New Athens, IL — 88% of normal for the date. 7 of 8 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 19 to 588 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Kaskaskia River map
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Kaskaskia 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 New Athens, the Kaskaskia River is running 588 cfs — 88% of normal. Along the river, 5 of 7 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 82% of normal).
Highest against normal: Shelbyville at 164%. Lowest: Vandalia at 51%.
How the Kaskaskia 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
- Cooks Mills641 ft 19 cfs82%
- Shelbyville568 ft 67 cfs164%
- Cowden553 ft 64 cfs121%
- Vandalia537 ft 85 cfs51%
- Carlyle413 ft 79 cfs72%
- New Athens403 ft 588 cfs88%
- Venedy Station395 ft 139 cfs58%
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 Kaskaskia River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (82%).
Kaskaskia River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Kaskaskia River At Chesterville IL
Last reported Apr 11 · USGS 05590950 |
436 cfs | · | · | 34.15 ft | · | 650 ft |
|
Kaskaskia River At Cooks Mills IL
Oct 16, 1:30 AM · USGS 05591200 |
19 cfs | 82% | -3% | 1.51 ft | · | 641 ft |
|
Kaskaskia River At Shelbyville IL
Oct 16, 1:30 AM · USGS 05592000 |
67 cfs | 164% | -2% | 6.42 ft | 542.6 ft below | 568 ft |
|
Kaskaskia River Near Cowden IL
Oct 16, 1:30 AM · USGS 05592100 |
64 cfs | 121% | 0% | 2.37 ft | · | 553 ft |
|
Kaskaskia River At Vandalia IL
Oct 16, 1:30 AM · USGS 05592500 |
85 cfs | 51% | +2% | 2.97 ft | 15.0 ft below | 537 ft |
|
Kaskaskia River At Carlyle IL
Oct 16, 1:30 AM · USGS 05593000 |
79 cfs | 72% | -6% | 5.70 ft | · | 413 ft |
|
Kaskaskia River At New Athens IL
Oct 16, 1:00 AM · USGS 05595000 |
588 cfs | 88% | 0% | 68.63 ft | 10.4 ft below | 403 ft |
|
Kaskaskia River Near Venedy Station IL
Oct 16, 1:15 AM · USGS 05594100 |
139 cfs | 58% | +5% | 1.14 ft | · | 395 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 Kaskaskia River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Kaskaskia River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
Kaskaskia River
The Kaskaskia River flows for a length of 325 miles through central and southern Illinois before joining the Mississippi River. The river is known for its role in early French exploration and settlement in the area. It has a drainage area of 5,746 square miles and is heavily utilized for agricultural purposes. The Kaskaskia River is also home to several reservoirs and dams, including Carlyle Lake, which is the largest man-made lake in Illinois with a surface area of 26,000 acres. The lake is utilized for recreational activities such as boating, fishing, and camping. The river also provides water for municipal, industrial, and agricultural use. The Kaskaskia River has played a significant role in the history and development of Illinois and remains an important natural resource for the state.
About the Kaskaskia River
How is the Kaskaskia River flowing right now?
As of October 16, 2026, the Kaskaskia River is flowing at 588 cfs at New Athens, IL, about 88% of normal for the date. Across its 8 USGS gauges, current flows range from 19 to 588 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Kaskaskia River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Kaskaskia River is at 82% 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 Kaskaskia River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Shelbyville (549.0 ft), Vandalia (18.0 ft), New Athens (79.0 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.