Manistee River at Wellston
Michigan · Fishing & wading
Measured at USGS 04125550 — MANISTEE RIVER NEAR WELLSTON, MI · NWS forecast point WLSM4
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:45 PM UTC
About normal for the date
At 1,700 CFS, this gauge is running 113% of normal for late July — close to the 1,500 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 29 years of record (1997–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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12 months of flow at Wellston
Daily values from USGS gauge 04125550. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Wellston
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 12.03 ft | 9,390 CFS | Apr 16, 2026 |
| 11.14 ft | 6,700 CFS | Apr 15, 2014 |
| 11.06 ft | 6,500 CFS | Jun 14, 2008 |
| 10.91 ft | 6,130 CFS | Mar 31, 1998 |
| 10.32 ft | 4,749 CFS | May 20, 2020 |
| 10.25 ft | 4,590 CFS | Mar 23, 2007 |
| 10.25 ft | 4,590 CFS | Mar 13, 2006 |
| 10.24 ft | 4,570 CFS | May 4, 2012 |
| 10.21 ft | 4,510 CFS | Apr 1, 2016 |
| 10.21 ft | 4,510 CFS | Aug 14, 2018 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Manistee River at Wellston
This gauge measures Manistee River at Wellston, Michigan — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Below Tippy Dam; premier Michigan steelhead tailwater.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 1,500 CFS for late July, from 29 years of record.
Manistee River at Wellston — common questions
What is the current flow on Manistee River at Wellston?
As of the last reading on this page, Manistee River at Wellston was running 1,700 CFS at a gage height of 8.82 ft, or 113% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 04125550, which reports every 15 to 60 minutes.
Is that high or low for this time of year?
The USGS median flow for late July at this gauge is 1,500 CFS, calculated from 29 years of record (1997–2026). Comparing today's reading against that median is the only way a raw CFS number tells you anything — 200 CFS is a drought on one river and a flood on another.
How often does this reading update?
USGS transmits from this gauge every 15 to 60 minutes. This page bakes in the most recent reading when it is rebuilt, then refreshes live from USGS when you open it. Readings are provisional and subject to revision by USGS.
Is Manistee River at Wellston wadeable right now?
That depends on the reach and on your own judgement — riverlvl will not tell you the water is safe to stand in. What it will tell you is whether today's flow is unusually high or low for the date, against a seasonal median of 1,500 CFS, which is the single most useful input to that decision.
What makes the flow change on this stretch?
Rain in the basin upstream, plus seasonal baseflow. The 12-month chart shows the past year of daily values, which is the clearest picture of how this gauge behaves through the seasons.
Where does this data come from?
Flow and gage height are public-domain USGS data from gauge 04125550. Flood categories, impact statements and the forecast come from the NOAA / National Weather Service National Water Prediction Service, gauge WLSM4. riverlvl adds the seasonal comparison and plain-English summary; it is not an official source and does not issue warnings.