KENNEBEC RIVER

RIVER LEVELS
December 21, 2024
45.56, -69.75


TOTAL RIVER DISCHARGE

Total streamflow across the Kennebec River was last observed at 19,030 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 37,746 acre-ft of water today; about 79% of normal. Average streamflow for this time of year is 24,124 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2023-12-20 when daily discharge volume was observed at 195,000 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Kennebec River At North Sidney reporting a streamflow rate of 13,800 cfs. This is also the highest stage along the Kennebec River, with a gauge stage of 8.82 ft at this location. This river is monitored from 3 different streamgauging stations along the Kennebec River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 581 ft, the Kennebec River At The Forks.

The Kennebec River is a 170-mile-long river in Maine, flowing from Moosehead Lake to the Atlantic Ocean. It was historically significant for its role in the logging industry and the development of hydroelectric power. The river is home to several reservoirs, including the Wyman Dam and the Indian Pond Dam, that are used for hydroelectric power generation. The most significant dam on the river is the 1,275-foot-long Edwards Dam, which was removed in 1999 to restore the river's natural ecology. The Kennebec River is also popular for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and whitewater rafting. It is a major source of water for agriculture in the region, providing irrigation for crops such as potatoes, corn, and blueberries.

Last Updated 2024-12-21
Discharge Volume 37,746 ACRE-FT
Streamflow 19,030.0 cfs
+1210.0 cfs (+6.79%)
Percent of Normal 78.89%
Maximum 195,000.0 cfs
2023-12-20
Seasonal Avg 24,124 cfs

YEAR OVER YEAR DISCHARGE (CFS)

Streamflow Conditions
Streamgauge Streamflow Gauge Stage 24hr Change (%) % Normal Minimum (cfs) Maximum (cfs) Air Temp Elevation
Kennebec River At The Forks
USGS 01042500
1110 cfs 2.62 ft -5.13
Kennebec River At Bingham
USGS 01046500
4120 cfs 8.18 ft -0.72
Kennebec River At North Sidney
USGS 01049265
13800 cfs 8.82 ft 10.4
History of the River

The Kennebec River is a 170-mile-long (270 km) river within the U.S. state of Maine.
It rises in Moosehead Lake in west-central Maine. The East and West Outlets join at Indian Pond and the river then flows southward from Harris Station Dam, the largest hydroelectric dam in the state. It is joined at The Forks by the Dead River, also called the West Branch, then continues south past the cities of Madison, Skowhegan, Waterville, and the state capital Augusta. At Richmond, it flows into Merrymeeting Bay, a 16-mile-long (26 km) freshwater tidal bay into which also flow the Androscoggin River and five smaller rivers. The Kennebec then runs past the shipbuilding center of Bath, then to the Gulf of Maine in the Atlantic Ocean. Due to the open, rapidless waters of the Southern Kennebec, Ocean tides and saltwater fish species such as the endangered Atlantic Sturgeon often affect the river's ecology as far north as Waterville, a small city located over 35 miles inland. Tributaries of the Kennebec include the Carrabassett River, Sandy River, and Sebasticook River.
Segments of the East Coast Greenway run along the Kennebec.

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