USGS Streamgage 06870200
Smoky Hill River at New Cambria, KS
Smoky Hill River at New Cambria, KS is USGS streamgage 06870200 in Kansas, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 10260008. It sits on the Smoky Hill River, alongside 11 other gauges Rivermatics tracks on the same river. It drains a watershed of about 11,730 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1962. Typical flow runs near 327.5 cfs in July and 241.5 cfs in April, with the higher of the two arriving in July.
Gauge details
- State
- Kansas
- Drainage area
- 11,730 sq mi
- Gauge elevation
- 1,184 ft
- Subbasin (HUC-8)
- 10260008
- Coordinates
- 38.864, -97.48316
- USGS site number
- 06870200
- Records begin
- 1962-10-01 (64 years)
Typical flow by month
Long-term daily discharge percentiles from the USGS record (up to 48 years of data), averaged within each month. These describe the historical normal range — they are not a forecast and not today's reading.
| Month | Low p10 | Typical p50 | High p90 | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 55.9 | 149 | 557.1 | |
| February | 63 | 180.5 | 1,112.5 | |
| March | 67.3 | 251.8 | 1,653.4 | |
| April | 78.4 | 241.5 | 2,484.7 | |
| May | 79.1 | 362.5 | 2,745.8 | |
| June | 121.2 | 454.6 | 2,915.3 | |
| July | 61.6 | 327.5 | 2,282.9 | |
| August | 52.8 | 257.9 | 1,868.4 | |
| September | 64.4 | 259.9 | 1,188.5 | |
| October | 64.3 | 178.2 | 1,083.5 | |
| November | 60.1 | 166.9 | 1,100.8 | |
| December | 54.4 | 168.5 | 803 |
All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).
Common questions
- When does Smoky Hill River at New Cambria, KS normally run highest?
- June, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 454.6 cfs, against 149 cfs in January, the lowest month. These are historical normals for the date, not a forecast and not today's reading.
- What is a normal flow for Smoky Hill River at New Cambria, KS?
- It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 149 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 55.9 and 557.1 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
- How long has Smoky Hill River at New Cambria, KS been measured?
- Discharge records at USGS site 06870200 begin in 1962, about 64 years, covering roughly 3,458 days of published daily values. The long record is what makes the monthly percentiles on this page meaningful.
- Where is Smoky Hill River at New Cambria, KS?
- The gauge sits at 38.864, -97.48316, in Kansas, in hydrologic subbasin 10260008, at an elevation of about 1,184 feet, draining roughly 11,730 square miles.
- Can I use Smoky Hill River at New Cambria, 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 Smoky Hill River
Every gauge Rivermatics tracks on this river, ordered by drainage area — upstream first. See the Smoky Hill River in full.
- Smoky Hill River at Elkader, KS 3,555 sq mi
- Smoky Hill River near Arnold, KS 5,220 sq mi
- Smoky Hill River near Schoenchen, KS 5,760 sq mi
- Smoky Hill River below Schoenchen, KS 5,810 sq mi
- Smoky Hill River at Pfeifer, KS 6,033 sq mi
- Smoky Hill River near Russell, KS 6,965 sq mi
- Smoky Hill River at Ellsworth, KS 7,580 sq mi
- Smoky Hill River near Langley, KS 7,857 sq mi
- Smoky Hill River at Lindsborg, KS 8,110 sq mi
- Smoky Hill River near Mentor, KS 8,341 sq mi
- Smoky Hill River at New Cambria, KS this page
- Smoky Hill River at Enterprise, KS 19,260 sq mi