Sturgeon River Flow Today
As of October 4, 2026 at 2:30 AM, the Sturgeon River is flowing at 207 cfs at Wolverine, MI — 105% of normal for the date. 4 of 4 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 10 to 207 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Sturgeon River map
See the Sturgeon River on a live map
Every gauge, dam and paddle run on the river, one tap each:
- Gauges now — which reaches are high or low
- Dams & paddle runs — storage and what’s in range
- Rain — past 24 hrs and the 72-hr forecast, press play
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Sturgeon River conditions today
Where the river is running versus normal, what’s rising or dropping, and what it means for a trip — built from the live USGS readings below.
At Wolverine, the Sturgeon River is running 207 cfs — 105% of normal. Along the river, 3 of 4 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 55% of normal).
In the last 24 hours the river is rising at Sidnaw (+19%).
Highest against normal: Wolverine at 105%. Lowest: Sidnaw at 17%.
Paddlers: 0 of 2 runs on the Sturgeon River with a live range are in range, 2 too low.
How the Sturgeon River compares to normal
Every reporting gauge from the top of the river to the bottom: bar length is today’s flow, colour is percent of normal for the date.
Flow along the river, upstream to downstream
- Sidnaw1,228 ft 10 cfs17%
- Wolverine778 ft 207 cfs105%
- Alston735 ft 109 cfs51%
- Nahma Junction662 ft 58 cfs60%
Bar length uses a square-root scale so small headwater flows stay visible next to big downstream ones. Colour: <50% 50–90 90–110 110–150 150%+ of normal.
Where every gauge sits
One dot per Sturgeon River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (55%).
Sturgeon River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sturgeon River Near Sidnaw MI
Oct 4, 2:45 AM · USGS 04040500 |
10 cfs | 17% | +19% | 3.10 ft | 8.9 ft below | 1,228 ft |
|
Sturgeon River At Wolverine MI
Oct 4, 2:30 AM · USGS 04127997 |
207 cfs | 105% | 0% | 2.88 ft | · | 778 ft |
|
Sturgeon River Near Alston MI
Oct 4, 2:30 AM · USGS 04041500 |
109 cfs | 51% | +3% | 3.80 ft | · | 735 ft |
|
Sturgeon River Near Nahma Junction MI
Oct 4, 1:45 AM · USGS 04057510 |
58 cfs | 60% | -3% | 3.81 ft | 6.2 ft below | 662 ft |
USGS provisional data. Readings are in each gauge’s local time; gauges silent for more than 3 days are marked “Last reported”. Tap any gauge for its hydrograph, forecast and history.
Paddle runs on the Sturgeon River
Each run is checked against its runnable range using the gauge it is keyed to (or the nearest gauge on this river).
| Run | Status | Flow now | Runnable range | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| From Sixteen Mile Lake To North Line Of Sec 26, T43N, R19W Gauge: Nahma Junction |
Too low | 58 cfs | 69–462 cfs typical | IV |
| From Wagner Lake In Sec 13, T49N, R31W To Eastern Boundary Of The Ottawa Nf In Sec 12, T48N, R35@ Gauge: Sidnaw |
Too low | 10 cfs | 400–2,000 cfs | II–III |
Dams & reservoirs on the Sturgeon River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Sturgeon River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
Sturgeon River
The Sturgeon River is a 106-mile-long river that flows through northern Michigan. It starts in the northeastern part of the state and flows southwest into the Cheboygan River. The river has played a significant role in the region's history, having been used by Native Americans and early settlers for transportation and trade. Today, the river's hydrology is impacted by two major reservoirs, the Burt Lake Reservoir and the Mullett Lake Reservoir, which were created by dams built in the late 1800s. These reservoirs are used for hydroelectric power generation and also provide recreational opportunities for boating and fishing. The Sturgeon River and its tributaries also support agricultural activities such as cattle grazing and hay production.
About the Sturgeon River
How is the Sturgeon River flowing right now?
As of October 4, 2026, the Sturgeon River is flowing at 207 cfs at Wolverine, MI, about 105% of normal for the date. Across its 4 USGS gauges, current flows range from 10 to 207 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Sturgeon River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Sturgeon River is at 55% of normal for the date. Above 100% means higher than the historical average for this calendar day; below 100% means lower. The profile above shows which reaches are high or low.
What is flood stage on the Sturgeon River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Sidnaw (12.0 ft), Nahma Junction (10.0 ft). The table shows how far each gauge is below its flood stage right now.
Is the Sturgeon River runnable for paddling today?
Each run in the paddle table is checked against its runnable range using its gauge's live flow.
Where does the data come from?
Discharge and gage height are from the USGS National Water Information System; flood stages from the National Weather Service. The history chart sums every monitored gauge on the river.
Can I get alerts for a gauge?
Yes — open any gauge from the table, favorite it in the Snoflo app and set a flow threshold.