SAUK RIVER

RIVER LEVELS
December 21, 2024
41.92, -84.91


TOTAL RIVER DISCHARGE

Total streamflow across the Sauk River was last observed at 14,340 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 28,443 acre-ft of water today; about 241% of normal. River levels are high. Average streamflow for this time of year is 5,955 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2021-11-15 when daily discharge volume was observed at 75,153 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Sauk River Near Sauk reporting a streamflow rate of 11,200 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the Sauk River At Darrington with a gauge stage of 8.24 ft. This river is monitored from 4 different streamgauging stations along the Sauk River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 1,024 ft, the Sauk River Near St. Cloud.

The Sauk River is located in western Washington and begins in the Cascade Mountains and flows into the Skagit River. The river is approximately 45 miles long and has a rich history dating back to the indigenous Snohomish and Sauk-Suiattle tribes. Hydrologically, the river is known for its high water flow and frequent flooding. The river has several dams and reservoirs, including the Culmback Dam and Reservoir, which is used for flood control and hydroelectric power generation. The river is popular for recreational activities such as fishing, kayaking, and hiking. The Sauk River also plays a significant role in agriculture, providing irrigation water for local farms and orchards.

Last Updated 2024-12-19
Discharge Volume 28,443 ACRE-FT
Streamflow 14,340.0 cfs
+8150.0 cfs (+131.66%)
Percent of Normal 240.82%
Maximum 75,153.0 cfs
2021-11-15
Seasonal Avg 5,955 cfs

YEAR OVER YEAR DISCHARGE (CFS)

Streamflow Conditions
Streamgauge Streamflow Gauge Stage 24hr Change (%) % Normal Minimum (cfs) Maximum (cfs) Air Temp Elevation
Sauk River Near St. Cloud
USGS 05270500
345 cfs 1.27 ft 12.01
Sauk River Ab Whitechuck River Near Darrington
USGS 12186000
3140 cfs 4.99 ft 130.88
Sauk River At Darrington
USGS 12187500
5220 cfs 8.24 ft
Sauk River Near Sauk
USGS 12189500
11200 cfs 7.28 ft 131.88
History of the River

The Sauk River is a 122-mile-long (196 km) tributary of the Mississippi River in central Minnesota in the United States. It drains small lakes in Stearns County. In the Ojibwe language it is called Ozaagi-ziibi, meaning "River of the Sauks".It issues from Lake Osakis on the Todd County line and flows east through Guernsey Lake, Little Sauk Lake and Juergens Lake, then south through Sauk Lake and past Sauk Centre, southeast past Melrose and Richmond, then northeast through Cedar Island Lake and Zumwalde Lake, past Cold Spring and Waite Park to the Mississippi River 2 miles (3 km) north of St. Cloud.
The rapids that occur south of the river's mouth on the Mississippi River lent their name to the nearby city of Sauk Rapids.

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