Licking River river
Total streamflow across the Licking River was last observed at 92,326 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 183,126 acre-ft of water today; about 530% of normal. River levels are high. Average streamflow for this time of year is 17,405 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2025-04-07 when daily discharge volume was observed at 154,549 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Licking River At Catawba reporting a streamflow rate of 42,700 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the Licking River At Mckinneysburg with a gauge stage of 31.37 ft. This river is monitored from 5 different streamgauging stations along the Licking River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 864 ft, the Licking River Below Mason Fork Nr Salyersville.
River streamflow levels
Daily aggregate streamflow across every monitored gauge along the Licking River. Use the range buttons to zoom in on a specific period.
Total streamflow
Sum of all monitored streamgauges · daily
Every streamgauge along the Licking River
All 5 USGS gauges Snoflo tracks for this river, with current flow, stage, recent change, percent of normal, and the gauge's all-time min / max. Click any header to sort. Cells are heatmapped relative to the column min/max -- darker blue = higher.
| Streamgauge▾ | Streamflow (cfs)▾ | Gauge stage (ft)▾ | 24h Δ (%)▾ | % Normal▾ | Min (cfs)▾ | Max (cfs)▾ | Elevation (ft)▾ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Licking River Below Mason Fork Nr Salyersville
KY
USGS 03248300
|
106 | 5.88 | 118.1 | 221% | 4 | 4,950 | 864 |
|
Licking River Near Newark Oh
OH
USGS 03146500
|
8,220 | 10.80 | 31.9 | 1868% | 54 | 18,300 | 782 |
|
Licking River At Blue Lick Springs
KY
USGS 03250500
|
12,700 | 22.96 | 124.4 | 947% | 44 | 31,100 | 613 |
|
Licking River At Catawba
KY
USGS 03253500
|
42,700 | 28.87 | 116.8 | 1462% | 65 | 75,100 | 583 |
|
Licking River At Mckinneysburg
KY
USGS 03251500
|
28,600 | 31.37 | 105.8 | 1282% | 63 | 42,900 | 574 |
Maximum streamflow discharge by year
The single highest aggregate discharge recorded each year. Spotting the multi-year trend reveals droughts vs. wet cycles long before the headline daily flow does.
Annual peak discharge
From the river's full record · one point per water year
Streamflow elevation profile
Each bubble is one gauge along the river, plotted by current streamflow (x-axis) vs elevation (y-axis), sized by gauge stage. Reading top-to-bottom traces the river from headwaters down to its mouth -- you can see flow accumulate as elevation drops.
Elevation vs streamflow
One point per monitored gauge · bubble size = gauge stage
Licking River
The Licking River is a 303-mile-long river that runs through Kentucky and Ohio, USA. The river has a rich history, dating back to the pre-colonial era, when it was used as a major trade route for Native Americans. The Licking River also played a significant role in the development of the region's agriculture and industry. The river is home to several dams and reservoirs, including the William H. Harsha Lake and the Cave Run Lake, which provide drinking water, flood control, and hydroelectric power. The Licking River supports a wide range of recreational activities, including fishing, boating, and camping. Additionally, it is an important source of irrigation water for many farms in the area, and supports the growth of crops such as corn and soybeans. Despite its importance, the Licking River faces several challenges, including pollution and habitat destruction, which threaten its long-term health and vitality.
Recreation along the Licking River
Fishing access and paddle runs Snoflo tracks within the watershed.
Track the Licking River in the Snoflo app
Set per-gauge push alerts (e.g. "alert me when flow at the Russian R Nr Healdsburg crosses 5,000 cfs"), and Snoflo's iOS app pushes the moment USGS reports the crossing.
About the Licking River
Where does the data for the Licking River come from?
Streamflow and gauge stage data are sourced from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Information System. The aggregate flow shown at the top of the page is computed by Snoflo as the sum of all monitored gauges along the river.
How is "percent of normal" calculated?
Today's aggregate streamflow is compared to the historical average aggregate streamflow on this calendar day across the river's full record. 100% means right on average; values above 100% indicate above-normal flow (wet year); values below indicate below-normal (dry year or drought).
Why are some gauges showing very different flows?
Gauges along a river measure flow at different points: headwater gauges read what's coming off the snowpack or mountain runoff; downstream gauges integrate everything upstream, including tributary inputs. Wide spreads usually mean a tributary is contributing significantly between gauges.
What's the elevation profile chart showing?
Each bubble is one gauge along the river, plotted by streamflow (x-axis) and elevation (y-axis), sized by gauge stage. Reading top-down traces the river from headwaters to mouth -- you can see flow build as elevation drops.
Can I get alerts when a specific gauge crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app on a per-gauge basis. Open any individual streamgauge from the table above and favorite it to set a discharge threshold.