Raritan River River Levels

Total streamflow across the Raritan River was last observed at 473 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 938 acre-ft of water today; about 19% of normal. River levels are low and may signify a drought. Average streamflow for this time of year is 2,478 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2021-09-02 when daily discharge volume was observed at 108,800 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Raritan River At Manville Nj reporting a streamflow rate of 473 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the Raritan River Below Calco Dam At Bound Brook Nj with a gauge stage of 16.4 ft. This river is monitored from 2 different streamgauging stations along the Raritan River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 43 ft, the Raritan River At Manville Nj.

It has a long history, dating back to the Lenape Native Americans who used the river for transportation and fishing. Today, the river is used for a variety of purposes including agricultural irrigation, drinking water supply, and recreation. The river is fed by several small tributaries, and it is dammed in several places to create reservoirs for water supply. Some of the major reservoirs on the Raritan include the Round Valley Reservoir and the Spruce Run Reservoir. The river is popular for fishing, kayaking, and boating, and it is an important habitat for several species of fish and wildlife.