Rivermatics

USGS Streamgage 06468250

James River above Arrowwood Lake near Kensal, ND

James River above Arrowwood Lake near Kensal, ND is USGS streamgage 06468250 in North Dakota, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 10160001. It sits on the James River, alongside 14 other gauges Rivermatics tracks on the same river. It drains a watershed of about 1,200 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1985. Typical flow runs near 28.1 cfs in July and 89.8 cfs in April, with the higher of the two arriving in April. Rivermatics issues a daily machine-learned flow outlook for this gauge, reaching 14 days ahead.

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Gauge details

State
North Dakota
Drainage area
1,200 sq mi
Gauge elevation
1,445 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8)
10160001
Coordinates
47.39972, -98.79722
USGS site number
06468250
Records begin
1985-10-01 (41 years)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through for James River above Arrowwood Lake near Kensal, ND. Each day carries a median estimate and the band the model expects the flow to fall within — not a single number to plan against. Forecasts are re-issued daily; see the live screen for the current outlook.

Forecast daily mean discharge in cubic feet per second, by date
Date Low p10 Expected p50 High p90 Range
2.2 2.5 2.8
1.9 2.4 2.9
1.7 2.2 2.9
1.6 2.3 3.5
1.5 2.3 3.8
1.5 2.3 4.1
1.4 2.2 4.2
1.2 2.1 4.1
1 2 4.1
0.9 1.9 3.9
0.7 1.7 3.8
0.7 1.7 3.6
0.7 1.6 3.6
0.6 1.6 3.5

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs). Estimates only — do not use them for navigation or for any safety, rescue, or emergency decision.

Typical flow by month

Long-term daily discharge percentiles from the USGS record (up to 41 years of data), averaged within each month. These describe the historical normal range — they are not a forecast and not today's reading.

Historical monthly discharge percentiles in cubic feet per second
Month Low p10 Typical p50 High p90 Range
January 0 1.8 10
February 0 1.2 11.5
March 0.2 20.6 512.7
April 4.7 89.8 1,431
May 3.1 62.2 796.4
June 1.6 39.1 318.8
July 0 28.1 263.4
August 0 14.2 159.5
September 0 6 103.2
October 0 4.5 50.5
November 0 5.4 62
December 0.1 3.4 22

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does James River above Arrowwood Lake near Kensal, ND normally run highest?
April, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 89.8 cfs, against 1.2 cfs in February, the lowest month. These are historical normals for the date, not a forecast and not today's reading.
What is a normal flow for James River above Arrowwood Lake near Kensal, ND?
It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 1.8 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 0 and 10 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has James River above Arrowwood Lake near Kensal, ND been measured?
Discharge records at USGS site 06468250 begin in 1985, about 41 years, covering roughly 9,200 days of published daily values. The long record is what makes the monthly percentiles on this page meaningful.
Is there a flow forecast for James River above Arrowwood Lake near Kensal, ND?
Yes. Rivermatics trains a machine-learned model — a temporal-fusion transformer — on this basin's observed flows, weather, and snowpack, and issues a daily flow outlook reaching 14 days ahead: a median estimate inside a confidence band, not a single number to bet on. Every forecast is scored against days the model never trained on, and that track record is published on the live gauge screen. Open live conditions to see the current outlook.
Where is James River above Arrowwood Lake near Kensal, ND?
The gauge sits at 47.39972, -98.79722, in North Dakota, in hydrologic subbasin 10160001, at an elevation of about 1,445 feet, draining roughly 1,200 square miles.
Can I use James River above Arrowwood Lake near Kensal, ND data for flood or safety decisions?
No. Rivermatics provides estimates, not guarantees, and the readings and forecasts here may be delayed, inaccurate, or wrong. Do not use them for navigation or for any safety, rescue, or emergency decision. Check the National Weather Service and USGS directly, and use your own judgment.

Upstream and downstream on the James River

Every gauge Rivermatics tracks on this river, ordered by drainage area — upstream first. See the James River in full.

Other gauges in this subbasin