TOTAL RIVER DISCHARGE
Total streamflow across the
Merrimack River
was last observed at
18,080
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
35,861
acre-ft of water today; about 73%
of normal.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
24,615 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2023-12-20 when daily discharge volume was observed at
88,890 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
Merrimack River Bl Concord River At Lowell
reporting a streamflow rate of 8,900 cfs.
This is also the highest stage along the Merrimack River, with a gauge stage of
44.39 ft at this location.
This river is monitored from 3 different streamgauging stations along the Merrimack River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 269 ft, the
Merrimack River At Franklin Junction.
The Merrimack River is a 117-mile long river that runs through New Hampshire and Massachusetts. It was named by the Native Americans and played a significant role in the growth and development of the region. The river has a watershed area of 4,700 square miles and is fed by several tributaries, including the Pemigewasset and Souhegan Rivers. The Merrimack River has been an important source of hydroelectric power, with several reservoirs and dams built along its length. The largest of these is the Franklin Falls Dam, which creates a 2,500-acre reservoir. The Merrimack River offers various recreational opportunities, including boating, fishing, and hiking, while also serving as a vital resource for agriculture and industry.
| Last Updated | 2024-12-21 |
| Discharge Volume | 35,861 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
18,080.0 cfs
-1810.0 cfs (-9.1%) |
| Percent of Normal | 73.45% |
| Maximum |
88,890.0 cfs
2023-12-20 |
| Seasonal Avg | 24,615 cfs |
YEAR OVER YEAR DISCHARGE (CFS)
Streamflow Conditions
| Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Merrimack River At Franklin Junction
USGS 01081500 |
2690 cfs | 5.93 ft | -20.65 | |||||
|
Merrimack R Nr Goffs Falls
USGS 01092000 |
6490 cfs | 5.56 ft | -4.84 | |||||
|
Merrimack River Bl Concord River At Lowell
USGS 01100000 |
8900 cfs | 44.39 ft | -8.06 |
History of the River
The Merrimack River (or Merrimac River, an occasional earlier spelling) is a 117-mile-long (188 km) river in the northeastern United States. It rises at the confluence of the Pemigewasset and Winnipesaukee rivers in Franklin, New Hampshire, flows southward into Massachusetts, and then flows northeast until it empties into the Gulf of Maine at Newburyport. From Pawtucket Falls in Lowell, Massachusetts, onward, the Massachusetts–New Hampshire border is roughly calculated as the line three miles north of the river.
The Merrimack is an important regional focus in both New Hampshire and Massachusetts. The central-southern part of New Hampshire and most of northeast Massachusetts is known as the Merrimack Valley.
Several U.S. naval ships have been named USS Merrimack and USS Merrimac in honor of this river. The river is perhaps best known for the early American literary classic A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers by Henry David Thoreau.