Ottawa River River Levels

Last Updated: January 1, 2026

The Ottawa River is a 1,271 km long river that runs through Ontario and Quebec, with a drainage basin of 146,300 km².


Summary

Total streamflow across the Ottawa River was last observed at 119 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 236 acre-ft of water today; about 17% of normal. River levels are low and may signify a drought. Average streamflow for this time of year is 722 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2024-04-03 when daily discharge volume was observed at 9,810 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Ottawa River Near Kalida Oh reporting a streamflow rate of 57.8 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the Ottawa River At Lima Oh with a gauge stage of 11.31 ft. This river is monitored from 3 different streamgauging stations along the Ottawa River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 841 ft, the Ottawa River At Lima Oh.

River Details

Last Updated 2026-01-01
Discharge Volume 236 ACRE-FT
Streamflow 119.2 cfs
-23.2 cfs (-16.29%)
Percent of Normal 16.5%
Maximum 9,810.0 cfs
2024-04-03
Seasonal Avg 722 cfs
       
River Streamflow Levels
Streamgauge Streamflow Gauge Stage 24hr Change (%) % Normal Minimum (cfs) Maximum (cfs) Air Temp Elevation
Ottawa River At Lima Oh
USGS 04187100
23 cfs 11.31 ft -17.33
Ottawa River Near Kalida Oh
USGS 04188100
58 cfs 4.33 ft -32
Ottawa River At University Of Toledo Toledo Oh
USGS 04177000
39 cfs 3.16 ft 29.63
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile

The Ottawa River (French: Rivière des Outaouais, Algonquin: Kitchissippi) is a river in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. It is named in honour of the Algonquin word 'to trade', as it was the major trade route of Eastern Canada at the time. For most of its length, it defines the border between these two provinces. It is a major tributary of the St. Lawrence River and the longest river in Quebec.