Summary
Total streamflow across the
Sandusky River
was last observed at
275
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
546
acre-ft of water today; about 21%
of normal.
River levels are low and may signify a drought.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
1,288 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2013-12-23 when daily discharge volume was observed at
36,000 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
Sandusky River Near Fremont Oh
reporting a streamflow rate of 111 cfs.
However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the
Sandusky River At Tiffin Oh
with a gauge stage of 1.52 ft.
This river is monitored from 4 different streamgauging stations along the Sandusky River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 957 ft, the
Sandusky River Near Bucyrus Oh.
River Details
| Last Updated | 2025-12-04 |
| Discharge Volume | 546 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
275.4 cfs
-50.5 cfs (-15.5%) |
| Percent of Normal | 21.38% |
| Maximum |
36,000.0 cfs
2013-12-23 |
| Seasonal Avg | 1,288 cfs |
River Streamflow Levels
| Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sandusky River Near Bucyrus Oh
USGS 04196000 |
14 cfs | 0.93 ft | -52.92 | |||||
|
Sandusky River Near Upper Sandusky Oh
USGS 04196500 |
43 cfs | 1.51 ft | -26.12 | |||||
|
Sandusky River At Tiffin Oh
USGS 04197137 |
108 cfs | 1.52 ft | -7.69 | |||||
|
Sandusky River Near Fremont Oh
USGS 04198000 |
111 cfs | 1.1 ft | -9.02 |
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile
The Sandusky River (Wyandot: saandusti; Shawnee: Potakihiipi ) is a tributary to Lake Erie in north-central Ohio in the United States. It is about 133 miles (214 km) long and flows into Lake Erie at the southwest side of Sandusky Bay.
The Sandusky River, like the Maumee River to the west, is home to the annual walleye run in the spring, specifically March–April. The river also receives a run of white bass around the same time in the spring. The numbers of walleye that return to spawn upstream are not as great as those that return to the Maumee River. The Ballville Dam, built on the Sandusky River in Fremont, Ohio, blocked migration for walleye and other fish. As fish can swim farther upstream in the Maumee, they have access to more spawning areas and have developed a larger population than in the Sandusky River.
Opponents of the dam projected that its removal would improve access for walleye and other migratory fish to areas upstream and lead to an increase in their population, as has happened on other rivers where dams have been removed. The Ballville Dam was no longer used for power generation or navigation improvements. The city of Fremont undertook a study to explore the options of tearing it down or repairing it. A 2014 study found that removal would have little adverse effect on city conditions and would strongly improve the fisheries. In 2016 voters approved taking down the dam. (Note: The Balville dam was demolished in July 2018).
The river's name derives from the Wyandot words saandusti, meaning "water (within water-pools)" or from andusti, meaning "cold water". It was transliterated in various spellings by French and English colonists.