Total streamflow across the
Manistee River
was last observed at
3,060
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
6,069
acre-ft of water today; about 62%
of normal.
River levels are low and may signify a drought.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
4,946 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 1,880 cfs.
However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the
Manistee River Near Sherman
with a gauge stage of 12.51 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.
Last Updated | 2025-04-29 |
Discharge Volume | 6,069 ACRE-FT |
Streamflow |
3,060.0 cfs
-1480.0 cfs (-32.6%) |
Percent of Normal | 61.87% |
Maximum |
13,750.0 cfs
2014-04-15 |
Seasonal Avg | 4,946 cfs |
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).