Watonwan River Flow Today
As of October 14, 2026 at 2:30 AM, the Watonwan River is flowing at 89 cfs near Garden City, MN — 159% of normal for the date and down 5% in 24 hours. ❤ Favorite
Watonwan River map
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Watonwan 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 Garden City, the Watonwan River is running 89 cfs — 159% of normal, down 5% since yesterday. Along the river, 1 of 1 reporting gauges are above normal (the typical gauge is at 159% of normal).
How the Watonwan 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
- Garden City931 ft 89 cfs159%
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 Watonwan River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (159%).
Watonwan River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Watonwan River Near Garden City MN
Oct 14, 2:30 AM · USGS 05319500 |
89 cfs | 159% | -5% | 1.08 ft | 931 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.
Dams & reservoirs on the Watonwan River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Watonwan River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river (this total last updated earlier; the live gauge readings above are current).
Watonwan River
The Watonwan River is a 109-mile-long river that runs through south-central Minnesota. It begins in the northeastern corner of Watonwan County and flows through Brown County before joining the Blue Earth River. The river's name comes from the Dakota word "Watanwan" meaning "fish bait."
The Watonwan River has a watershed area of 1,007 square miles and is largely influenced by agricultural practices. There are five dams along the river, including the Madelia Dam, which creates the Madelia Lake Reservoir. The reservoir is used for fishing and boating, and the surrounding area is popular for camping and picnicking.
The river is also used for agricultural purposes, including irrigation and livestock watering. However, the river has struggled with water quality issues due to agricultural runoff and sedimentation. Efforts are underway to improve the water quality of the river through conservation practices and watershed management.
About the Watonwan River
How is the Watonwan River flowing right now?
As of October 14, 2026, the Watonwan River is flowing at 89 cfs near Garden City, MN, about 159% of normal for the date. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Watonwan River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Watonwan River is at 159% 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.
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.