Meramec River River Levels

Last Updated: December 20, 2025

The Meramec River is a 218-mile-long tributary of the Mississippi River that flows through eastern Missouri.


Summary

Total streamflow across the Meramec River was last observed at 2,001 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 3,968 acre-ft of water today; about 46% of normal. River levels are low and may signify a drought. Average streamflow for this time of year is 4,371 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2015-12-30 when daily discharge volume was observed at 227,910 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Meramec River Near Eureka reporting a streamflow rate of 870 cfs. This is also the highest stage along the Meramec River, with a gauge stage of 2.94 ft at this location. This river is monitored from 5 different streamgauging stations along the Meramec River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 877 ft, the Meramec River At Cook Station.

River Details

Last Updated 2025-12-20
Discharge Volume 3,968 ACRE-FT
Streamflow 2,000.7 cfs
-17.0 cfs (-0.84%)
Percent of Normal 45.77%
Maximum 227,910.0 cfs
2015-12-30
Seasonal Avg 4,371 cfs
       
River Streamflow Levels
Streamgauge Streamflow Gauge Stage 24hr Change (%) % Normal Minimum (cfs) Maximum (cfs) Air Temp Elevation
Meramec River At Cook Station
USGS 07010350
33 cfs 2.27 ft 13.47
Meramec River Near Steelville
USGS 07013000
185 cfs 1.61 ft 6.32
Meramec River Near Sullivan
USGS 07014500
356 cfs 2.93 ft 12.68
Meramec River At Pacific
USGS 07017020
557 cfs 1.07 ft 9.4
Meramec River Near Eureka
USGS 07019000
870 cfs 2.94 ft 8.21
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile

The Meramec River (), sometimes spelled Maramec River is one of the longest free-flowing waterways in the U.S. state of Missouri, draining 3,980 square miles (10,300 km2) while wandering 218 miles (351 km) from headwaters near Salem to where it empties into the Mississippi River near St. Louis at Arnold and Oakville. The Meramec watershed covers
six Missouri Ozark Highland counties—Dent, Phelps, Crawford, Franklin, Jefferson, and St. Louis—and portions of eight others—Maries, Gasconade, Iron, Washington, Reynolds, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, and Texas. Between its source and its mouth, it falls 1,025 feet (312 m). Year-round navigability begins above Maramec Spring, just south of St. James. The Meramec's size increases at the confluence of the Dry Fork, and its navigability continues until the river enters the Mississippi at Arnold, Missouri.