Red Flag Warning
2026-04-23T00:00:00-06:00

* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 214, 215, 216, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247, 248, 249, 250 and 251. * TIMING...From 10 AM Wednesday to midnight MDT Wednesday night. * WINDS...Southwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 6 percent. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be favorable for rapid fire spread. Avoid outdoor burning and any activity that may produce a spark and start a wildfire.

UPPER RIVER

Last Updated: April 21, 2026

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the reporting a streamflow rate of cfs. This is also the highest stage along the Upper River, with a gauge stage of ft at this location. This river is monitored from 1 different streamgauging stations along the Upper River, the highest being situated at an altitude of ft, the .

Get the latest River Levels, Streamflow, and Hydrology for in River flows across 1 streamgages of the Upper River


15-Day Long Term Forecast


       
River Streamflow Levels
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Streamgauge Streamflow Gauge Stage 24hr Change (%) % Normal Minimum (cfs) Maximum (cfs) Air Temp Elevation
Upper River Rouge At Farmington
USGS 04166300 		30 cfs 3.29 ft -24.5
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
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Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile

This 629-mile-long stretch of river has significant historical and cultural importance, serving as a vital transportation route for Native American tribes, European explorers, and early American settlers.

The hydrology of the Upper River is influenced by a number of large reservoirs and dams, including the Lake Winnibigoshish Dam, the Gull Lake Dam, and the Sartell Dam. These structures provide important hydroelectric power and flood control measures, but have also impacted the river's natural ecology and disrupted fish migrations.

Recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and camping are popular along the Upper River, and the river also supports a thriving agricultural industry. However, nutrient pollution from agricultural runoff has led to water quality problems and algal blooms in some portions of the river.