River Report

Sugar River river

2 streamgauges 90% of normal Last updated 2026-05-25
Aggregate flow
793cfs
% of normal
90%
Daily volume
1,573AF
Seasonal avg
883cfs

Total streamflow across the Sugar River was last observed at 793 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 1,573 acre-ft of water today; about 90% of normal. Average streamflow for this time of year is 883 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2023-07-11 when daily discharge volume was observed at 9,262 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Sugar River At West Claremont reporting a streamflow rate of 691 cfs. This is also the highest stage along the Sugar River, with a gauge stage of 2.62 ft at this location. This river is monitored from 2 different streamgauging stations along the Sugar River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 780 ft, the Sugar River Near Brodhead.

Max discharge

Sugar River At West Claremont

691cfs
Highest stage

Sugar River At West Claremont

2.62ft
Highest-elevation gauge

Sugar River Near Brodhead

780ft
Aggregate trend

River streamflow levels

Daily aggregate streamflow across every monitored gauge along the Sugar River. Use the range buttons to zoom in on a specific period.

Total streamflow

Sum of all monitored streamgauges · daily

Per-gauge breakdown

Every streamgauge along the Sugar 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)
Sugar River Near Brodhead WI
USGS 05436500
381 1.23 -1.8 94% 144 8,740 780
Sugar River At West Claremont NH
USGS 01152500
691 2.62 13.6 113% 7 9,020 358
Annual peaks

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

Profile

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

About this river

Sugar River

The Sugar River is a 66-mile long river that flows through central New Hampshire. It has a rich history dating back to the 18th century when it was used as a major transportation route for logging and farming. Today, the river is primarily used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. Its hydrology is influenced by three major reservoirs: Blaisdell Lake, Highland Lake, and Webster Lake. These reservoirs are managed by the Army Corps of Engineers and provide hydroelectric power and water supply for surrounding communities. The river also supports agricultural uses, with farms located along its banks producing crops such as corn, hay, and vegetables. The Sugar River plays an important role in both the natural and cultural history of New Hampshire, and continues to be a valuable resource for the state.

Around the river

Recreation along the Sugar River

Fishing access and paddle runs Snoflo tracks within the watershed.

Track the Sugar 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.

FAQ

About the Sugar River

Where does the data for the Sugar 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.