West Branch Farmington River at New Hartford
Connecticut · Tubing & floating
Measured at USGS 01186000 — WEST BRANCH FARMINGTON RIVER AT RIVERTON, CT
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:30 PM UTC
Low and slow — expect to drag in the shallows
At 116 CFS, this gauge is running 48% of normal for late July — below the 241 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 70 years of record (1956–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
Sponsor West Branch Farmington River
Put your outfitter, guide service, cabin rental or shuttle in front of everyone checking this stretch before they drive out. One exclusive sponsor per river.
Cancel anytime · Questions?
12 months of flow at New Hartford
Daily values from USGS gauge 01186000. Provisional data, subject to revision.
About West Branch Farmington River at New Hartford
This gauge measures West Branch Farmington River at New Hartford, Connecticut — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Satan's Kingdom tubing; Goodwin Dam release.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 241 CFS for late July, from 70 years of record.
West Branch Farmington River at New Hartford — common questions
What is the current flow on West Branch Farmington River at New Hartford?
As of the last reading on this page, West Branch Farmington River at New Hartford was running 116 CFS at a gage height of 3.66 ft, or 48% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 01186000, 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 241 CFS, calculated from 70 years of record (1956–2026). 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.
What flow is good for tubing West Branch Farmington River?
riverlvl does not publish a recommended tubing range — that call belongs to the outfitters and the local authorities who know this stretch. What this page gives you is the objective input: today's flow, the seasonal median for the same date, and where the reading sits in the 12-month record. Local outfitters generally publish their own cutoffs, and they close when the river is up.
Does rain upstream change this reading quickly?
Yes. This is a free-flowing gauge, so it responds directly to rain in the basin upstream. Flashy rises of several feet in a few hours are normal on rivers like this after a heavy storm, which is why the reading is worth checking the morning you go.
What does gage height mean versus CFS?
Gage height is how high the water surface is above the gauge's own zero point, in feet — a local measure, not depth and not elevation. CFS is cubic feet per second, the volume of water moving past the gauge. Flood stages are set in gage height; float and paddling conditions are usually discussed in CFS.