USGS Station 04260500 • Lat 43.9858°, Long -75.9246° • Elevation New York Basin
Flow is within the historical middle range (10th–75th percentile). Actual navigability depends entirely on the specific river section and your craft.
Flow is in the historical middle range. Wading conditions and water clarity depend on recent local weather and upstream releases.
Conditions change quickly. Always verify locally and use your own judgment before entering any body of water. This data is informational only and provided as-is.
Pins show this gauge (highlighted) and up to 5 nearby USGS stations. Tap any pin or use the list to check conditions upstream or downstream.
Moose River at McKeever, NY
USGS Station 04254500 • 48.2063389208681 mi away
Hoosic River near Eagle Bridge, NY
USGS Station 01334500 • 146.823539554468 mi away
White River at West Hartford, VT
USGS Station 01144000 • 175.70980689818 mi away
Deerfield River at Charlemont, MA
USGS Station 01168500 • 180.704997753391 mi away
Susquehanna River at Wilkes-Barre, PA
USGS Station 01536500 • 188.979859304584 mi away
Guide or outfit trips near Black River at Watertown, NY?
Connect directly with river runners checking water levels on station #04260500.
Verified answers based on USGS station #04260500 live telemetry and historical statistics.
The current water level (stage height) at Black River at Watertown, NY (USGS #04260500) is 4.61 ft with a streamflow discharge of 4,020 CFS. Real-time condition is rated Normal (near average for this specific day of the year) and stream levels are falling.
Normal seasonal flow for Black River at Watertown, NY is determined from decades of USGS daily-mean discharge percentiles. Flow between the 10th percentile (1,730 CFS) and 75th percentile (4,900 CFS) is classified as Normal, with the historical daily mean flow being 3,980 CFS for this date.
The official National Weather Service (NWS) flood stage for USGS #04260500 is 13 feet. With current water level at 4.61 ft, this station is currently below flood stage (margin of 8.4 ft).
USGS gauge #04260500 (Black River at Watertown, NY) is located at latitude 43.9858°, longitude -75.9246° in New York. Data is transmitted via USGS GOES satellite telemetry every 15 to 60 minutes and refreshed automatically on ClearGauge every 15 minutes.
Current flow is rated Normal. Conditions are within normal seasonal historical ranges, which is generally suitable for boating, paddling, and wading depending on your experience and skill level. Always inspect rapids in person, wear a USCG-approved PFD, and check weather alerts before launching.
National Water Information System (NWIS) • Automated satellite telemetry transmission every 15 to 60 minutes.
Live readings via USGS satellite telemetry, updated every 15–60 minutes. Low / Normal / High verdicts are based on the 10th and 75th percentile discharge thresholds from the USGS Daily Statistics Service (decades of approved daily-mean data). Flood Risk uses the NWS published flood stage where available. Full methodology →
River Safety Notice
River conditions can change abruptly due to upstream reservoir releases, sudden mountain thunderstorms, flash flooding, and seasonal snowmelt surges. Always scout rapids prior to commitment, wear an approved USCG Type III/V Personal Flotation Device (PFD), carry appropriate rescue gear, and check local emergency management bulletins before launching.
