North Canadian River at Canton
Oklahoma · Fishing & wading
Measured at USGS 07239000 — North Canadian River at Canton, OK · NWS forecast point CNOO2
Reading taken Jul 29, 12:00 AM UTC
About normal for the date
At 363 CFS, this gauge is running 102% of normal for late July — close to the 11 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 8 years of record (2016–2026).
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 Canton
Daily values from USGS gauge 07239000. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Canton
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 19.01 ft | — | Oct 25, 2024 |
| 17.74 ft | — | Oct 13, 2023 |
| 17.72 ft | — | Oct 19, 2022 |
| 17.63 ft | — | Jun 4, 2019 |
| 17.49 ft | — | Oct 23, 2018 |
| 17.42 ft | — | Nov 27, 2018 |
| 17.36 ft | — | Nov 14, 2018 |
| 16.35 ft | — | Aug 14, 2022 |
| 16.31 ft | — | Mar 30, 2021 |
| 15.91 ft | — | May 12, 2016 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About North Canadian River at Canton
This gauge sits on North Canadian River at Canton, Oklahoma, immediately below Canton Lake. Flow here is controlled by releases from the dam, so it can change by hundreds of CFS within an hour with no rain anywhere in the basin — check it before you go, not the day before.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 11 CFS for late July, from 8 years of record.
Reservoir feeding this stretch
Flow at this gauge is set by releases from Canton Lake. A full pool usually means more water is on its way down.
North Canadian River at Canton — common questions
What is the current flow on North Canadian River at Canton?
As of the last reading on this page, North Canadian River at Canton was running 363 CFS at a gage height of 11.39 ft, or 102% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 07239000, 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 11 CFS, calculated from 8 years of record (2016–2026). 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 North Canadian River at Canton 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 11 CFS, which is the single most useful input to that decision. On a dam tailwater like this one, the bigger risk is a sudden generation release, which can raise the river several feet with little warning.
How do releases from Canton Lake affect this stretch?
Directly and quickly. When the dam generates or spills, flow at this gauge climbs — often within an hour, often by an order of magnitude. The reservoir level itself is tracked on lakelvl.com, and the link on this page goes straight to it, so you can see whether the pool is high enough that releases are likely.
Where does this data come from?
Flow and gage height are public-domain USGS data from gauge 07239000. Flood categories, impact statements and the forecast come from the NOAA / National Weather Service National Water Prediction Service, gauge CNOO2. riverlvl adds the seasonal comparison and plain-English summary; it is not an official source and does not issue warnings.