Pawtuxet River river
River streamflow levels
Daily aggregate streamflow across every monitored gauge along the Pawtuxet River. Use the range buttons to zoom in on a specific period.
Total streamflow
Sum of all monitored streamgauges · daily
Every streamgauge along the Pawtuxet River
All 1 USGS gauges Snoflo tracks for this river, with current flow, stage, recent change, percent of normal, and the gauge's all-time min / max. Click any header to sort. Cells are heatmapped relative to the column min/max -- darker blue = higher.
| Streamgauge▾ | Streamflow (cfs)▾ | Gauge stage (ft)▾ | 24h Δ (%)▾ | % Normal▾ | Min (cfs)▾ | Max (cfs)▾ | Elevation (ft)▾ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Pawtuxet River At Cranston
RI
USGS 01116500
|
144 | 3.88 | -5.7 | 53% | 3 | 4,920 | 13 |
Streamflow elevation profile
Each bubble is one gauge along the river, plotted by current streamflow (x-axis) vs elevation (y-axis), sized by gauge stage. Reading top-to-bottom traces the river from headwaters down to its mouth -- you can see flow accumulate as elevation drops.
Elevation vs streamflow
One point per monitored gauge · bubble size = gauge stage
Pawtuxet River
The Pawtuxet River spans 40 miles through Rhode Island, originating in the Scituate Reservoir and flowing into Narragansett Bay. The river played an important role in the state's early history, serving as a source of power for gristmills and factories during the industrial revolution. Today, it is still utilized for hydroelectric power, with several dams and reservoirs along its length. The most prominent of these is the Pawtuxet Village Dam, which creates a picturesque waterfall in the heart of the village. The river also supports recreational activities such as fishing, kayaking, and hiking along its scenic banks. Additionally, it is a vital source of irrigation for local farmers, providing water for crops and livestock. The Pawtuxet River remains an essential part of the fabric of Rhode Island's natural and cultural heritage.
Recreation along the Pawtuxet River
Fishing access and paddle runs Snoflo tracks within the watershed.
Track the Pawtuxet River in the Snoflo app
Set per-gauge push alerts (e.g. "alert me when flow at the Russian R Nr Healdsburg crosses 5,000 cfs"), and Snoflo's iOS app pushes the moment USGS reports the crossing.
About the Pawtuxet River
Where does the data for the Pawtuxet River come from?
Streamflow and gauge stage data are sourced from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Information System. The aggregate flow shown at the top of the page is computed by Snoflo as the sum of all monitored gauges along the river.
How is "percent of normal" calculated?
Today's aggregate streamflow is compared to the historical average aggregate streamflow on this calendar day across the river's full record. 100% means right on average; values above 100% indicate above-normal flow (wet year); values below indicate below-normal (dry year or drought).
Why are some gauges showing very different flows?
Gauges along a river measure flow at different points: headwater gauges read what's coming off the snowpack or mountain runoff; downstream gauges integrate everything upstream, including tributary inputs. Wide spreads usually mean a tributary is contributing significantly between gauges.
What's the elevation profile chart showing?
Each bubble is one gauge along the river, plotted by streamflow (x-axis) and elevation (y-axis), sized by gauge stage. Reading top-down traces the river from headwaters to mouth -- you can see flow build as elevation drops.
Can I get alerts when a specific gauge crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app on a per-gauge basis. Open any individual streamgauge from the table above and favorite it to set a discharge threshold.