Manistee River river
Total streamflow across the Manistee River was last observed at 4,880 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 9,679 acre-ft of water today; about 109% of normal. Average streamflow for this time of year is 4,459 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2026-04-17 when daily discharge volume was observed at 19,350 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Manistee River Near Wellston reporting a streamflow rate of 2,120 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the Manistee River Near Sherman with a gauge stage of 13.04 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 streamflow levels
Daily aggregate streamflow across every monitored gauge along the Manistee River. Use the range buttons to zoom in on a specific period.
Total streamflow
Sum of all monitored streamgauges · daily
Every streamgauge along the Manistee River
All 3 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)▾ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Manistee River Near Sherman
MI
USGS 04124000
|
1,310 | 13.04 | -3.7 | 112% | 725 | 6,210 | 820 |
|
Manistee River Near Mesick
MI
USGS 04124200
|
1,450 | 4.17 | -0.7 | 109% | 584 | 6,480 | 754 |
|
Manistee River Near Wellston
MI
USGS 04125550
|
2,120 | 9.02 | -1.9 | 110% | 688 | 9,300 | 621 |
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
Manistee River
The Manistee River is a 190-mile-long river in Michigan that flows through the northern part of the state. It has a rich history, having been used by Native Americans for hunting, fishing, and transportation. The river has also been used for logging and the transportation of timber during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The Manistee River is fed by numerous tributaries and flows into Lake Michigan. It is known for its clear water, which is ideal for fishing and water-based recreational activities. The river passes through several reservoirs and dams, including the Tippy Dam, Hodenpyl Dam, and the Manistee River Backwaters. These dams provide hydroelectric power and are also used for flood control.
The Manistee River is a popular destination for recreational activities, including fishing, kayaking, and camping. The area surrounding the river is also used for agriculture, with many farmers growing crops and raising livestock in the fertile land nearby. Overall, the Manistee River remains an important resource for the state of Michigan and the people who live there.
Recreation along the Manistee River
Fishing access and paddle runs Snoflo tracks within the watershed.
Track the Manistee 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 Manistee River
Where does the data for the Manistee 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.