Little Cedar River Flow Today
As of October 16, 2026 at 1:45 AM, the Little Cedar River is flowing at 210 cfs near Ionia, IA — 242% of normal for the date and up 37% in 24 hours. ❤ Favorite
Little Cedar River map
See the Little Cedar River on a live map
Every gauge, dam and paddle run on the river, one tap each:
- Gauges now — which reaches are high or low
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Little Cedar 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 Ionia, the Little Cedar River is running 210 cfs — 242% of normal, up 37% since yesterday. Along the river, 1 of 1 reporting gauges are above normal (the typical gauge is at 242% of normal).
In the last 24 hours the river is rising at Ionia (+37%).
How the Little Cedar 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
- Ionia1,000 ft 210 cfs242%
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 Little Cedar River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (242%).
Little Cedar River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Little Cedar River Near Ionia IA
Oct 16, 1:45 AM · USGS 05458000 |
210 cfs | 242% | +37% | 4.22 ft | 5.8 ft below | 1,000 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 Little Cedar River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Little Cedar River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river (this total last updated earlier; the live gauge readings above are current).
Little Cedar River
The Little Cedar River is a 61-mile-long waterway that flows through northern Iowa. The river was used by Native American tribes as a source of food and water. During the 19th century, the river was used to power mills and factories. Today, the Little Cedar River is primarily used for recreational activities such as fishing and boating. The river is home to several species of fish, including catfish, northern pike, and walleye. There are several reservoirs on the Little Cedar River, including the Mitchell Dam, which was built in 1961 to provide flood control and irrigation to the surrounding agricultural areas. The river also serves as a source of water for nearby towns and cities.
Fishing near the Little Cedar River
About the Little Cedar River
How is the Little Cedar River flowing right now?
As of October 16, 2026, the Little Cedar River is flowing at 210 cfs near Ionia, IA, about 242% of normal for the date. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Little Cedar River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Little Cedar River is at 242% 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 Little Cedar River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Ionia (10.0 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.