Nisqually River Flow Today
As of October 23, 2026 at 1:00 AM, the Nisqually River is flowing at 729 cfs at La Grande, WA — 68% of normal for the date and down 2% in 24 hours. 4 of 4 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 37 to 729 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Nisqually River map
See the Nisqually River on a live map
Every gauge, dam and paddle run on the river, one tap each:
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Nisqually River conditions today
Where the river is running versus normal, what’s rising or dropping, and what it means for a trip — built from the live USGS readings below.
At La Grande, the Nisqually River is running 729 cfs — 68% of normal, down 2% since yesterday. Along the river, 3 of 4 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 78% of normal).
In the last 24 hours the river is dropping at National (-20%) and Mckenna (-11%).
Highest against normal: La Grande Dam at 100%. Lowest: National at 52%.
How the Nisqually River compares to normal
Every reporting gauge from the top of the river to the bottom: bar length is today’s flow, colour is percent of normal for the date.
Flow along the river, upstream to downstream
- National1,436 ft 196 cfs52%
- La Grande Dam910 ft 37 cfs100%
- La Grande488 ft 729 cfs68%
- Mckenna293 ft 655 cfs89%
Bar length uses a square-root scale so small headwater flows stay visible next to big downstream ones. Colour: <50% 50–90 90–110 110–150 150%+ of normal.
Where every gauge sits
One dot per Nisqually River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (78%).
Nisqually River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Nisqually River Near National WA
Oct 23, 1:00 AM · USGS 12082500 |
196 cfs | 52% | -20% | 4.19 ft | 3.8 ft below | 1,436 ft |
|
Nisqually River At La Grande Dam WA
Oct 23, 12:30 AM · USGS 12086000 |
37 cfs | 100% | 0% | 0.21 ft | · | 910 ft |
|
Nisqually River At La Grande WA
Oct 23, 1:00 AM · USGS 12086500 |
729 cfs | 68% | -2% | 4.24 ft | · | 488 ft |
|
Nisqually River At Mckenna WA
Oct 23, 1:00 AM · USGS 12089500 |
655 cfs | 89% | -11% | 1.40 ft | 8.6 ft below | 293 ft |
USGS provisional data. Readings are in each gauge’s local time; gauges silent for more than 3 days are marked “Last reported”. Tap any gauge for its hydrograph, forecast and history.
Dams & reservoirs on the Nisqually River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Nisqually River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
Nisqually River
The Nisqually River runs 78 miles from the Nisqually Glacier on Mount Rainier to southern Puget Sound. The river was historically home to the Nisqually tribe, and was an important source of food and transportation. Today, the river and its watershed are managed by the Nisqually Indian Tribe, Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, and local governments. The hydrology of the river is influenced by seasonal snowmelt and precipitation. There are two major reservoirs on the river, Alder Dam and LaGrande Dam, which are used for hydroelectric power generation and water supply. The river is also used for recreational activities such as fishing, kayaking, and rafting. Agricultural uses include pastureland and crops such as berries and vegetables. Efforts to restore and protect the river and its habitats are ongoing.
About the Nisqually River
How is the Nisqually River flowing right now?
As of October 23, 2026, the Nisqually River is flowing at 729 cfs at La Grande, WA, about 68% of normal for the date. Across its 4 USGS gauges, current flows range from 37 to 729 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Nisqually River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Nisqually River is at 78% of normal for the date. Above 100% means higher than the historical average for this calendar day; below 100% means lower. The profile above shows which reaches are high or low.
What is flood stage on the Nisqually River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for National (8.0 ft), Mckenna (10.0 ft). The table shows how far each gauge is below its flood stage right now.
Where does the data come from?
Discharge and gage height are from the USGS National Water Information System; flood stages from the National Weather Service. The history chart sums every monitored gauge on the river.
Can I get alerts for a gauge?
Yes — open any gauge from the table, favorite it in the Snoflo app and set a flow threshold.