Rivermatics

5 USGS Streamgages · Mississippi River system

Big Blue River flows and levels

Big Blue River is gauged at 5 USGS streamgages in Nebraska and Kansas, each tracked by Rivermatics. The mainstem runs about 356 miles (573 km) from headwaters to outlet. It drains into the Mississippi River system. Drainage area at the gauges ranges from 2,710 square miles at Big Blue River near Crete, Nebr. up to 9,640 at Big Blue River near Manhattan, KS. The gauged reach falls about 333 feet, from 1,347 feet down to 1,014. Rivermatics issues a daily machine-learned 14-day flow outlook at 4 of them.

Gauges on this river, upstream to downstream

Ordered by drainage area, which is how far down the river each gauge sits. April and July figures are long-term median daily flows for that month from the USGS record — historical normals, not a forecast and not today's reading.

USGS streamgages on this river, ordered upstream to downstream
Gauge State Drainage sq mi Elevation ft April p50 cfs July p50 cfs Forecast
Big Blue River near Crete, Nebr. NE 2,710 1,347 184.1 236 14-day
Big Blue River at Barneston, Nebr. NE 4,447 1,212 329.1 461.9 14-day
Big Blue River at Marysville, KS KS 4,777 1,147 412.6 582.9 14-day + temp
Big Blue River at Blue Rapids, KS KS 8,342 1,108 — — —
Big Blue River near Manhattan, KS KS 9,640 1,014 830.7 1,552.9 14-day + temp

Typical flow by month at Big Blue River near Manhattan, KS

The furthest-downstream gauge on this river, so the fullest flow it carries here. Long-term daily discharge percentiles from the USGS record (up to 76 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 202.8 511.7 1,746.8
February 228.2 650 3,118.3
March 218.2 766 5,486.8
April 231.8 830.7 8,059.7
May 264.1 1,676.8 8,758.1
June 351.3 2,163 12,226.7
July 381.6 1,552.9 10,866.1
August 236.5 899.7 5,712.9
September 153.3 677.7 4,370
October 96.2 557.7 3,691.3
November 172.4 582.6 2,955.3
December 239 622.7 3,219.4

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does the Big Blue River run highest?
June, on the long-term record at Big Blue River near Manhattan, KS — the furthest-downstream gauge Rivermatics tracks on this river. Median daily flow there is about 2,163 cfs that month, against 511.7 cfs in January, the lowest. Upstream gauges peak on their own schedule; the table on this page gives April and July for each.
How many gauges are on the Big Blue River?
Rivermatics tracks 5 USGS streamgages on the Big Blue River, across Nebraska and Kansas. Each has its own page with the site's full flow record and monthly normals. The river may carry other gauges that publish neither daily values nor discharge statistics; those are not tracked here.
Is there a flow forecast for the Big Blue River?
Yes, at 4 of the 5 gauges. Rivermatics trains a machine-learned model — a temporal-fusion transformer — on each basin's observed flows, weather and snowpack, and issues a daily 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 each gauge's live screen.
What river system is the Big Blue River part of?
The Big Blue River drains into the Mississippi River system — it is a tributary somewhere in that chain, following the flowpath down to its terminal river. Rivermatics builds this from the USGS/geoconnex reference-mainstem network rather than from names.
Can I use Big Blue River 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.

Other rivers in the Mississippi River system

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