Maple River

Total streamflow across the Maple River was last observed at 775 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 1,538 acre-ft of water today; about 27% of normal. River levels are low and may signify a drought. Average streamflow for this time of year is 2,824 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2019-03-14 when daily discharge volume was observed at 18,300 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Maple River At Mapleton reporting a streamflow rate of 297 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the Maple River Bl Mapleton with a gauge stage of 9.41 ft. This river is monitored from 7 different streamgauging stations along the Maple River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 1,371 ft, the Maple R At Nd-Sd State Line.

Its name comes from the abundance of sugar maple trees that used to grow along its banks. In the early 1900s, the Maple River was used for transportation and irrigation by local farmers. Today, the river is primarily used for recreation, including fishing, canoeing, and kayaking. The Maple River has several reservoirs throughout its length, including the Carpenter, Lake Juanita, and Baldhill reservoirs. The Carpenter Dam was built in 1928 and is used to regulate water levels and generate hydroelectric power. The Baldhill Dam was built in 1950 and is used for flood control. The Maple River is also used for irrigation, with several irrigation canals diverting water for agricultural use.