MERRIMACK RIVER

RIVER LEVELS
December 21, 2024
42.70, -71.43


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.

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