Sweetwater River Flow Today
As of October 9, 2026 at 1:30 AM, the Sweetwater River is flowing at 21 cfs near Sweetwater Station, WY — 57% of normal for the date. 3 of 4 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 0 to 21 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Sweetwater River map
See the Sweetwater 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
✓ Free for 7 days · ✓ Cancel anytime
Sweetwater 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 Sweetwater Station, the Sweetwater River is running 21 cfs — 57% of normal. Along the river, 2 of 2 reporting gauges are below normal (the typical gauge is at 29% of normal).
Paddlers: 0 of 1 runs on the Sweetwater River with a live range are in range, 1 too low.
How the Sweetwater 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
- Sweetwater Station6,593 ft 21 cfs57%
- Descanso Ca3,295 ft 0 cfs0%
- Sweetwater River A Dehesa Ca521 ft 0 cfs
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 Sweetwater River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (29%).
Sweetwater River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sweetwater River Near Sweetwater Station WY
Oct 9, 1:30 AM · USGS 06638090 |
21 cfs | 57% | 0% | 1.59 ft | 5.4 ft below | 6,593 ft |
|
Sweetwater River Near Alcova WY
Last reported Jul 13 · USGS 06639000 |
27 cfs | · | · | 1.77 ft | · | 5,889 ft |
|
Sweetwater River Near Descanso Ca CA
Oct 9, 12:45 AM · USGS 11015000 |
0 cfs | 0% | · | 3.33 ft | · | 3,295 ft |
|
Sweetwater River A Dehesa Ca CA
Oct 9, 12:15 AM · USGS 11016200 |
0 cfs | · | · | 2.91 ft | · | 521 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 Sweetwater 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crouch Ranch To Morena Reservoir Gauge: Descanso Ca |
Too low | 0 cfs | 6–141 cfs typical | III–IV |
Dams & reservoirs on the Sweetwater River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Sweetwater River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river (this total last updated 2026-05-22; the live gauge readings above are current).
Maximum streamflow by year
Sweetwater River
The Sweetwater River is a 55-mile long river located in San Diego County, California. Historically, it was used by the Kumeyaay people for fishing and hunting. Today, it serves as a major source of water for the county. The river's hydrology is affected by both natural factors, such as rainfall, and man-made factors, including water diversion and dam operations. Specific reservoirs and dams on the Sweetwater River include Loveland Reservoir, Sweetwater Reservoir, and Lower Sweetwater Dam. These structures are used to store water for municipal and agricultural purposes. Recreational activities such as hiking, fishing, and camping are popular along the river, though access can be limited due to private property rights.
Fishing near the Sweetwater River
About the Sweetwater River
How is the Sweetwater River flowing right now?
As of October 9, 2026, the Sweetwater River is flowing at 21 cfs near Sweetwater Station, WY, about 57% of normal for the date. Across its 4 USGS gauges, current flows range from 0 to 21 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Sweetwater River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Sweetwater River is at 29% 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 Sweetwater River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Sweetwater Station (7.0 ft), . The table shows how far each gauge is below its flood stage right now.
Is the Sweetwater 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.