TOTAL DISCHARGE (CFS)
SUMMARY
| Last Updated | 2024-11-20 |
| Discharge Volume | 8,501 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
4,286.0 cfs
-212.0 cfs (-4.71%) |
| Percent of Normal | 36.57% |
| Maximum |
195,000.0 cfs
2023-12-20 |
| Seasonal Avg | 11,720 cfs |
Total streamflow across the
Kennebec River
was last observed at
4,286
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
8,501
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
11,720 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 2,050 cfs.
However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the
Kennebec River At Bingham
with a gauge stage of 7.34 ft.
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.
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 |
1690 cfs | 3.07 ft | 1.64 | |||||
|
Kennebec River At Bingham
USGS 01046500 |
1600 cfs | 7.34 ft | 0 | |||||
|
Kennebec River At North Sidney
USGS 01049265 |
2050 cfs | 5.21 ft | -9.32 |
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.
