River Level Report
Mississippi - 674 miles
Note: Most river level reports are derived from automatic gages. Others are read manually by volunteers and
are updated every Thursday by 2pm, from early April through late October.
Be aware that measurements in feet (i.e. 3.5') are distances to a fixed point of reference (i.e. the bottom of a
bridge or other nearby benchmark). They are intended only as a relative measure of water stage, not as a measurement
of water depth. Be aware that river levels may change dramatically over a short period of time due to inclement
weather conditions.
River Section: Headwaters to Stumphges Rapids Road - 25 miles
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Gauge interpretation: High above 3.5' Medium 1.9' to 3.5' Low below 1.9' Shallow above Coffee Pot if below 1.9' |
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| Gauge location: | RM 1329.5 - Coffee Pot Landing, #9 Bridge (Y) | |||
| Comments and conditions: | Wanagan Landing has the only working well. Aquatic vegetation is now a navigation concern. (2009-09-24) | |||
| Skill requirements and notes: | Narrow and meandering, potential navigation hazards. Maneuvering in light rapids, portage old logging dam, wilderness camping skills, class I rapids. |
River Section: Stumphges Rapids Road to Iron Bridge - 23 miles
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Gauge interpretation: High above 7.5' Medium 6.0' to 7.5' Low below 6.0' Uncanoeable below 4.0' |
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| Gauge location: | RM 1315.5 - County Road 5 Bridge (Y) | |||
| Comments and conditions: | Wanagan Landing has the only working well. Aquatic vegetation is now a navigation concern. (2009-09-24) | |||
| Skill requirements and notes: | Maneuvering in light rapids, wilderness camping skills, class I rapids. Extensive marsh from Pine Point for 8 miles, confusing and meandering. |
River Section: Iron Bridge to Lake Bemidji - 15 miles
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Gauge interpretation: High above 5.2' Medium 4.2' to 5.2' Low below 4.2' |
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| Gauge location: | RM 1291.8 - Twsp Bridge south of Cty. Rd. 7 (Y) | |||
| Comments and conditions: | Wanagan Landing has the only working well. Aquatic vegetation is now a navigation concern. (2009-09-24) | |||
| Skill requirements and notes: | Portaging and manuvering necessary to avoid snags in and across river. |
River Section: Lake Bemidji to Wolf Lake - 14 miles
| Gauge interpretation: High above 3.6' Medium 2.8' to 3.6' Low below 2.8' |
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| Gauge location: | RM 1272.5 - County Road 8 Bridge (N) | |||
| Comments and conditions: | Wanagan Landing has the only working well. Aquatic vegetation is now a navigation concern. (2009-09-24) | |||
| Skill requirements and notes: | Lake paddling skills - waves can swamp open canoe -- stay near shore, portage dam below Lake Bemidji. Class I rapids. Water levels below power dam vary according to outlet management. |
River Section: Wolf Lake to Hwy 6 Bridge West of Grand Rapids - 72 miles
| Gauge interpretation: High above 74.6' Medium 73.9' to 74.6' Low below 73.9' |
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| Gauge location: | USGS gauge at Days High Landing | |||
| Skill requirements and notes: | Portage dams. Cass and Winnibigoshish are big lakes, stay close to shore. |
River Section: Hwy 6 Bridge West of Grand Rapids to Aitkin - 138 miles
| Gauge interpretation: High above 5' Medium 2' to 5' Low below 2' |
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| Gauge location: | USGS gauge at Grand Rapids | |||
| Skill requirements and notes: | No special skills, portage dam in Grand Rapids. |
River Section: Aitkin to Crow Wing State Park - 66 miles
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Gauge interpretation: High above 7000+ cfs Medium 1800 to 7000 cfs Low below 1800 cfs |
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| Gauge location: | USGS gauge at Brainerd | |||
| Comments and conditions: | Low flow and current; fair canoeability (2009-10-29) | |||
| Skill requirements and notes: | Portage dam at Brainerd. Portage by dam is hazardous if the flow is greater than 7000 cfs. Swirling currents and class 3 rapids circulate back towards the dam spillway. Recommend not using the portage and taking out at Rice Lake (Lum Park) just above dam. The river can be accessed 1 1/4 mile downstream at Evergreen landing. NO shuttle available. |
River Section: Crow Wing State Park to County Road 2 Bridge - 48 miles
| Gauge interpretation: High 9000+ cfs Medium 3000 - 9000 cfs Low 3000 cfs Less than 2000 cfs poor for boating |
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| Gauge location: | USGS gauge at Royalton | |||
| Skill requirements and notes: | Portage dams at Little Falls and Blanchard west of Royalton. |
River Section: County Road 2 Bridge to Monticello - 46 miles
| Gauge interpretation: High 9000 cfs Medium 3000 - 9000 cfs Low 3000 cfs Less than 2000 cfs poor for boating |
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| Gauge location: | USGS gauge at Saint Cloud (N) | |||
| Skill requirements and notes: | Portage dams at Sartell and Saint Cloud. |
River Section: Monticello to Minneapolis - 35 miles
| Gauge interpretation: High 9500 cfs and above Medium 3500 - 9500 cfs Low below 3500 cfs |
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| Gauge location: | USGS gauge in Anoka | |||
| Skill requirements and notes: | No special skills. |
River Section: Below Minneapolis
| Gauge interpretation: Navigation channel is maintained by U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. Always boatable |
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| Gauge location: | Several USACOE gauges between Minneapolis and Iowa border | |||
| Skill requirements and notes: | Stay clear of barges, use locks around dams, Lake Pepin may have large waves. |
© 2010
MN Department of Natural Resources
