Summary
Total streamflow across the
Winooski River
was last observed at
1,611
cfs, and is expected to yield approximately
3,195
acre-ft of water today; about 46%
of normal.
River levels are low and may signify a drought.
Average streamflow for this time of year is
3,506 cfs,
with recent peaks last observed
on
2023-07-12 when daily discharge volume was observed at
48,030 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the
Winooski River Near Essex Junction
reporting a streamflow rate of 1,290 cfs.
However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the
Winooski River At Montpelier
with a gauge stage of 4.03 ft.
This river is monitored from 2 different streamgauging stations along the Winooski River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 510 ft, the
Winooski River At Montpelier.
River Details
| Last Updated | 2025-12-04 |
| Discharge Volume | 3,195 ACRE-FT |
| Streamflow |
1,611.0 cfs
+136.0 cfs (+9.22%) |
| Percent of Normal | 45.95% |
| Maximum |
48,030.0 cfs
2023-07-12 |
| Seasonal Avg | 3,506 cfs |
River Streamflow Levels
| Streamgauge | Streamflow | Gauge Stage | 24hr Change (%) | % Normal | Minimum (cfs) | Maximum (cfs) | Air Temp | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Winooski River At Montpelier
USGS 04286000 |
321 cfs | 4.03 ft | 16.73 | |||||
|
Winooski River Near Essex Junction
USGS 04290500 |
1290 cfs | 3.03 ft | 7.5 |
Seasonal Discharge Comparison
Maximum Streamflow Discharge
Streamflow Elevation Profile
The Winooski River (formerly the Onion River) is a tributary of Lake Champlain, approximately 90 miles (145 km) long, in the northern half of Vermont. Although not Vermont's longest river, it is one of the state's most significant, forming a major valley way from Lake Champlain through the Green Mountains towards (although not connecting in drainage to) the Connecticut River valley.
The river drains an area of the northern Green Mountains between Vermont's capital of Montpelier and its largest city, Burlington. It rises in the town of Cabot in Washington County, and then flows southwest to Montpelier, passing through the city along the south side of downtown and the Vermont State House. From Montpelier it flows northwest into Chittenden County through Richmond, passing north of the city of Burlington. It enters the eastern side of Lake Champlain approximately 5 miles (8 km) northwest of downtown Burlington. The city of Winooski sits along the river approximately 8 miles (13 km) upstream from its mouth, on the northeastern edge of Burlington. The river was historically used for the transportation of timber in the logging heyday of Vermont during the 19th century. The valley of the river downstream from Montpelier is where both U.S. Highway 2 and Interstate 89 run between Montpelier and Burlington.
The river is one of several antecedent rivers in Vermont which predate the rise of the ancient Green Mountains, and have cut through these mountains as they rose and eroded.