Rivermatics

USGS Streamgage 06891080

Kansas River at Lawrence, KS

Kansas River at Lawrence, KS is USGS streamgage 06891080 in Kansas, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 10270104. It sits on the Kansas River, alongside 11 other gauges Rivermatics tracks on the same river. It drains a watershed of about 58,500 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 2012. Typical flow runs near 4,800.3 cfs in July and 1,876 cfs in April, with the higher of the two arriving in July. Rivermatics issues a daily machine-learned flow outlook for this gauge, reaching 14 days ahead.

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Gauge details

State
Kansas
Drainage area
58,500 sq mi
Gauge elevation
791 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8)
10270104
Coordinates
38.97328, -95.23211
USGS site number
06891080
Records begin
2012-09-14 (14 years)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through for Kansas River at Lawrence, KS. 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
2,136 2,460 2,891
2,045 2,481 3,233
2,005 2,521 3,698
1,943 2,554 4,253
1,900 2,565 4,469
1,937 2,673 5,207
1,983 2,887 6,885
2,131 3,142 7,933
2,126 3,476 8,918
2,129 3,611 9,255
2,039 3,451 8,739
2,074 3,505 8,629
2,030 3,406 8,288
1,940 3,217 7,631

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 14 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 748.8 1,954.2 11,970.6
February 844.1 2,225.2 7,585.4
March 805.4 1,691.6 10,797.4
April 969 1,876 17,203.7
May 1,443.2 6,986.5 32,000
June 1,795.3 9,277 39,856.7
July 1,348.1 4,800.3 32,783.9
August 1,107.5 2,286.8 23,406.5
September 1,011.8 1,973.3 18,443.3
October 902 1,420 13,184.5
November 796.4 1,272.3 20,023.3
December 757.3 2,592.6 19,154.8

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does Kansas River at Lawrence, KS normally run highest?
June, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 9,277 cfs, against 1,272.3 cfs in November, the lowest month. These are historical normals for the date, not a forecast and not today's reading.
What is a normal flow for Kansas River at Lawrence, KS?
It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 1,954.2 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 748.8 and 11,970.6 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has Kansas River at Lawrence, KS been measured?
Discharge records at USGS site 06891080 begin in 2012, about 14 years, covering roughly 5,032 days of published daily values. The long record is what makes the monthly percentiles on this page meaningful.
Is there a flow forecast for Kansas River at Lawrence, KS?
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 Kansas River at Lawrence, KS?
The gauge sits at 38.97328, -95.23211, in Kansas, in hydrologic subbasin 10270104, at an elevation of about 791 feet, draining roughly 58,500 square miles.
Can I use Kansas River at Lawrence, KS 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 Kansas River

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

Other gauges in this subbasin