Piscataquis River at Medford, Maine water level
River gauge, Piscataquis River, Maine, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 543 cfs
History
What this means
Water levels are unremarkable at Piscataquis River at Medford, Maine, where the gauge shows 2.19 ft.
It is 10.81 ft below the flood stage of 13.00 ft.
It is still going down, by 0.04 ft over the past 24 hours. The 30-day range is 1.91 ft – 2.56 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 18.65 ftApril 1, 1987
Paddling and fishing conditions
Most paddlers and anglers will find the river in good shape at this stage.
For reference, flood stage is 13.00 ft.
What happens at each level
- 18.00 ft
- Record flooding similar to 1987. Widespread flooding of North Howland Road, Maxfield Road and River Road between Medford and Howland. Significant impacts to homes and structures between Medford and Howland. Significant backwater flooding of the Pleasant River, additionally small streams and creeks will experience backwater flooding downstream to Howland.
- 16.00 ft
- North Howland Road, Maxfield Road, River Road flooded in several locations between Medford to Howland with homes threatened.
- 13.00 ft
- Minor lowland flooding occurs along the Medford Road between Alder Brook to Robin Hollow Drive. Minor flooding along the lowland areas from Trestle Road Bridge downstream to Maxfield townline. Minor flooding along River Road and North Howland Road to I-95 Bridge in Maxfield to Howland.
- 12.00 ft
- River approaches bankfull.
- 2.19 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
Chance of at least minor flooding in October to December: < 5 %.
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18.65 ft | April 1, 1987 |
| 2 | 15.58 ft | November 4, 1966 |
| 3 | 15.07 ft | March 20, 1936 |
| 4 | 14.17 ft | April 29, 1979 |
| 5 | 13.55 ft | December 19, 2023 |
| 6 | 13.48 ft | December 22, 1973 |
| 7 | 13.31 ft | May 1, 2008 |
| 8 | 13.20 ft | May 4, 1929 |
| 9 | 13.06 ft | March 28, 1953 |
| 10 | 12.76 ft | April 14, 1940 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on the Piscataquis River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Piscataquis River at Blanchard, MaineRiver gauge, Piscataquis River | 3.71 ft | Below flood stage | −0.07 ft | 35 mi |
| Piscataquis River near Dover-Foxcroft, MaineRiver gauge, Piscataquis River | 1.95 ft | Below flood stage | −0.09 ft | 23 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penobscot River at West Enfield, MaineRiver gauge, Penobscot River | 1.60 ft | Below flood stage | +0.03 ft | 11 mi |
| Sebec River at Sebec, MaineRiver gauge, Sebec River | 1.93 ft | Below flood stage | −0.72 ft | 12 mi |
| Black Stream near Dover-Foxcroft, MaineRiver gauge, Black Stream | 5.9 cfs | Low | −0.8 cfs | 19 mi |
| Kenduskeag Stream near Bangor, MaineRiver gauge, Kenduskeag Stream | 3.00 ft | Below flood stage | −0.08 ft | 28 mi |
| Kingsbury Stream at Abbot Village, MaineRiver gauge, Kingsbury Stream | 5.99 ft | Below flood stage | −0.14 ft | 29 mi |
| Penobscot River at Eddington, MaineTidal gauge, Penobscot River | 2.21 ft | Very low | −0.15 ft | 31 mi |
| Mattawamkeag River near Mattawamkeag, MaineRiver gauge, Mattawamkeag River | 3.75 ft | Below flood stage | +0.08 ft | 32 mi |
| Penobscot River at Bangor, MaineTidal gauge, Penobscot River | −4.01 ft | Below flood stage | −1.14 ft | 32 mi |
Questions and answers
What is flood stage for the Piscataquis River at Medford, Maine?
The official flood stage is 13.00 ft. The level is currently 10.81 ft below it.
Is gage height the same as water depth?
No. Gage height is measured from a fixed reference point chosen by the agency, so a reading of 10 ft does not mean the river is 10 ft deep.
What is the water level of Piscataquis River at Medford, Maine today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 12:15 PM EDT, the water level was 2.19 ft. Down 0.04 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Piscataquis River at Medford, Maine rising or falling?
Down 0.04 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is the level of Piscataquis River at Medford, Maine normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Piscataquis River at Medford, Maine?
The highest level on record is 18.65 ft on April 1, 1987.
How often is this data updated?
The U.S. Geological Survey publishes a new reading every 15 minutes. This page refreshes within minutes of each update.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:01034000(Agency page)- Coordinates
45.26056, -68.86861(WGS84)- Vertical datum
- NAVD88
- Update interval
- every 15 minutes
- Licence
- Public domain. Data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), provisional data subject to revision
Published series
| Parameter | Last value | Time (UTC) | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water level | 2.19 ft | 2026-10-20 16:15 | Provisional |
| Flow | 543 cfs | 2026-10-20 16:15 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Piscataquis River at Medford, Maine (usgs:01034000). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/maine/piscataquis-river-at-medford-maine
How we check values
Each reading is stored as published. We hold back values that jump faster than physically plausible and show the measurement time with every value.
Readings are provisional, can be delayed or wrong and are not a flood warning. Read the disclaimer