Summary
Total streamflow across the
Manistee River
was last observed at
1,569
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
3,112
acre-ft of water today; about 42%
of normal.
River levels are low and may signify a drought.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
3,747 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2014-04-15 when daily discharge volume was observed at
13,750 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
Manistee River Near Wellston
reporting a streamflow rate of 985 cfs.
However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the
Manistee River Near Sherman
with a gauge stage of 11.99 ft.
This river is monitored from 3 different streamgauging stations along the Manistee River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 820 ft, the
Manistee River Near Sherman.
River Details
| Last Updated | 2025-12-15 |
| Discharge Volume | 3,112 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
1,569.0 cfs
-843.0 cfs (-34.95%) |
| Percent of Normal | 41.87% |
| Maximum |
13,750.0 cfs
2014-04-15 |
| Seasonal Avg | 3,747 cfs |
River Streamflow Levels
| Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Manistee River Near Sherman
USGS 04124000 |
868 cfs | 11.99 ft | 8.5 | |||||
|
Manistee River Near Mesick
USGS 04124200 |
584 cfs | 2.82 ft | -39.29 | |||||
|
Manistee River Near Wellston
USGS 04125550 |
985 cfs | 8.28 ft | -32.07 |
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile
The Manistee River in the U.S. state of Michigan, runs 190 miles (310 km) through the northwestern Lower Peninsula; it now passes through the contemporary villages of Sharon, Smithville, and Mesick, entering Lake Michigan at Manistee. It is considered, like the nearby Au Sable River, to be one of the best trout fisheries east of the Rockies.
The river rises in the sand hills in southeastern Antrim County, on the border with Otsego County, about 6 miles (10 km) southeast of the town of Alba. These deep glacial sands provide it with a remarkably stable flow of clean cold water year round, making it a popular river for fishing as well as canoeing. Over the course of its length, it drops in elevation from around 1,250 to 579 feet (381 to 176 m), with an average stream gradient of about 2.9 feet per mile (55 cm/km).