Saco River river
Total streamflow across the Saco River was last observed at 5,270 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 10,453 acre-ft of water today; about 108% of normal. Average streamflow for this time of year is 4,886 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2011-08-29 when daily discharge volume was observed at 56,600 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Saco River At Cornish reporting a streamflow rate of 4,110 cfs. This is also the highest stage along the Saco River, with a gauge stage of 5.28 ft at this location. This river is monitored from 2 different streamgauging stations along the Saco River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 486 ft, the Saco River Near Conway.
River streamflow levels
Daily aggregate streamflow across every monitored gauge along the Saco River. Use the range buttons to zoom in on a specific period.
Total streamflow
Sum of all monitored streamgauges · daily
Every streamgauge along the Saco River
All 2 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)▾ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Saco River Near Conway
NH
USGS 01064500
|
1,160 | 3.97 | 17.9 | 108% | 84 | 56,600 | 486 |
|
Saco River At Cornish
ME
USGS 01066000
|
4,110 | 5.28 | -4.2 | 122% | 234 | 20,700 | 320 |
Maximum streamflow discharge by year
The single highest aggregate discharge recorded each year. Spotting the multi-year trend reveals droughts vs. wet cycles long before the headline daily flow does.
Annual peak discharge
From the river's full record · one point per water year
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
Saco River
The Saco River is a 136-mile long river that flows through New Hampshire and Maine. The river was historically used by Native Americans for fishing and transportation. Today, it is primarily used for recreational activities such as kayaking, fishing, and tubing. The river is known for its clear water and scenic views. The hydrology of the Saco River is heavily influenced by three major reservoirs: the Lovewell Pond, the Ossipee Lake, and the Sebago Lake. These reservoirs help regulate the water flow of the river and provide water for agricultural uses. The river is also home to several hydroelectric dams, including the Hiram Dam and the Saco Dam, which provide electricity to the surrounding areas. The Saco River is an important natural resource for both the local community and visitors to the area.
Track the Saco 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 Saco River
Where does the data for the Saco 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.