Upper Iowa River Flow Today
As of October 5, 2026 at 2:00 AM, the Upper Iowa River is flowing at 1,020 cfs near Dorchester, IA — 264% of normal for the date and down 8% in 24 hours. 3 of 3 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 474 to 1,020 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Upper Iowa River map
See the Upper Iowa 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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Upper Iowa 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 Dorchester, the Upper Iowa River is running 1,020 cfs — 264% of normal, down 8% since yesterday. Along the river, 3 of 3 reporting gauges are above normal (the typical gauge is at 264% of normal).
Highest against normal: Decorah at 312%. Lowest: Dorchester at 264%.
Paddlers: 2 of 2 runs on the Upper Iowa River with a live range are in range.
How the Upper Iowa 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
- Bluffton970 ft 474 cfs264%
- Decorah854 ft 698 cfs312%
- Dorchester668 ft 1,020 cfs264%
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 Upper Iowa River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (264%).
Upper Iowa River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Upper Iowa River At Bluffton IA
Oct 5, 2:45 AM · USGS 05387440 |
474 cfs | 264% | -5% | 4.00 ft | 10.0 ft below | 970 ft |
|
Upper Iowa River At Decorah IA
Oct 5, 2:45 AM · USGS 05387500 |
698 cfs | 312% | -6% | 2.49 ft | 9.5 ft below | 854 ft |
|
Upper Iowa River Near Dorchester IA
Oct 5, 2:00 AM · USGS 05388250 |
1,020 cfs | 264% | -8% | 8.05 ft | 6.0 ft below | 668 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 Upper Iowa River
2 of 3 runs are in range right now. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Minnesota-Iowa State Border To Ends Near The Town Of Bluffton, Iowa Gauge: Bluffton |
In range | 474 cfs | 88–1,317 cfs typical | III |
| The Town Of Bluffton To The "Lower" Dam, Near The Confluence Of Coon Creek Gauge: Bluffton |
In range | 474 cfs | 88–1,317 cfs typical | II–III |
| The "Lower" Dam, Near The Confluence Of Coon Creek To Lane'S Bridge Gauge: Decorah |
No live range | 698 cfs | 62–1,047 cfs typical | · |
Dams & reservoirs on the Upper Iowa River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Upper Iowa River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
Upper Iowa River
The Upper Iowa River is a 156-mile-long tributary of the Mississippi River that flows through the northeast region of Iowa. The river originates in the highlands of Minnesota and flows through a series of rapids, pools, and limestone bluffs before entering the Mississippi. The river has a significant history, with early settlers using it for transportation and powering mills. Today, the river is mainly used for recreational purposes such as fishing, canoeing, and camping. There are several dams and reservoirs along the river, including the Lake Hendricks Dam and the Upper Iowa Dam, which provide hydroelectric power and serve as popular recreational areas. The agricultural industry also benefits from the river, with local farmers using the river for irrigation and livestock watering.
Fishing near the Upper Iowa River
About the Upper Iowa River
How is the Upper Iowa River flowing right now?
As of October 5, 2026, the Upper Iowa River is flowing at 1,020 cfs near Dorchester, IA, about 264% of normal for the date. Across its 3 USGS gauges, current flows range from 474 to 1,020 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Upper Iowa River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Upper Iowa River is at 264% 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 Upper Iowa River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Bluffton (14.0 ft), Decorah (12.0 ft), Dorchester (14.0 ft). The table shows how far each gauge is below its flood stage right now.
Is the Upper Iowa River runnable for paddling today?
2 of 3 paddle runs are in range right now. 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.