Kennebec River level at The Forks
Maine · Paddling & whitewater
Measured at USGS 01042500 — Kennebec River at The Forks, Maine · NWS forecast point FRKM1
Reading taken · as of 18 min ago
Too low for most boats — rocky and technical
At 481 CFS, this gauge is running 20% of normal for mid-September — below the 2,360 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 122 years of record (1904–2026).
Sponsor Kennebec River
One exclusive sponsor per river, on every gauge page for it.
Cancel anytime · Questions?
Flow history at The Forks
Daily values from USGS 01042500, updated every 15 to 60 minutes; NWS forecast for FRKM1 reissued through the day. Provisional.
Highest crests on record at The Forks
12 on record
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 14.41 ft | 28,300 CFS | Apr 18, 1983 |
| 13.78 ft | 30,300 CFS | Jun 1, 1984 |
| 12.68 ft | 24,900 CFS | Dec 22, 1973 |
| 11.06 ft | 21,600 CFS | Sep 25, 1981 |
| 11.01 ft | 21,500 CFS | May 21, 1969 |
| 10.95 ft | 20,600 CFS | Dec 19, 2023 |
| 10.70 ft | 18,900 CFS | Apr 28, 1945 |
| 10.58 ft | 18,700 CFS | May 9, 1947 |
| 10.37 ft | 20,200 CFS | Jun 19, 1969 |
| 10.10 ft | 23,700 CFS | Jun 18, 1917 |
Crests published by the National Weather Service.
About Kennebec River at The Forks
In Maine — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters here check before committing to a shuttle. Harris Station release rafting.
Kennebec River at The Forks — common questions
3 questions
How fast can Kennebec River at The Forks come up?
Fast. It is free-flowing, so rain upstream moves it directly. Several feet in a few hours is normal after a heavy storm.
Is Kennebec River at The Forks high or low for this time of year?
The USGS median flow for mid-September here is 2,360 CFS, from 122 years of record (1904–2026). Today is 20% of it. The comparison is what makes the raw number mean anything: the same reading is a drought on one river and a flood on another.
How often does this reading update?
USGS transmits from gauge 01042500 every 15 to 60 minutes, and the National Weather Service reissues the flood forecast for FRKM1 a few times a day — more often when the river is rising. This page refreshes from both when you open it. The timestamp is in the gauge's local time.