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Cottonwood River in Kansas

River62.1 mi
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Around here

Around Cottonwood River

Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge14.9 miTallgrass Prairie National Preserve…18.4 mi20 mi

Data Source: Recreation.gov · Public land: USGS PAD-US

About this river

Cottonwood River is a 62.1 mile river. Streamflow is measured at the USGS gauge Cottonwood R near Florence, KS (site 07180400). The National Hydrography Dataset places it at stream order 7. Reach geometry comes from the USGS National Hydrography Dataset.

Typical flow by month

1962 to 2026

Cottonwood River typically runs highest in June, at a median 185 cfs, and lowest in September, at 56 cfs. The highest flow on record for any single day is 47,800 cfs, in 1999.

Show the numbers
Typical flow by month at Cottonwood R near Florence, KS, in cfs
MonthTypical (cfs)Usual range (cfs)
January6738 to 112
February7240 to 150
March9544 to 209
April11755 to 251
May13768 to 407
June18580 to 605
July9148 to 246
August6236 to 110
September5635 to 115
October6232 to 118
November7041 to 128
December7040 to 122

Typical is the median of each month’s daily median values, and the usual range runs from the median 25th to the median 75th percentile, across about 65 years of record. Statistics published by the US Geological Survey for Cottonwood R near Florence, KS (site 07180400). Conditions on any given day can fall well outside the usual range. Check the current reading before you go.

Boat access nearby

One mapped launch sits in the mapped area of Cottonwood River. Ramp data comes from the USGS national boat-ramp inventory.

  • Chase State Fishing LakeChase State Fishing LakePublic

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This river section as an art print, drawn over the real terrain with its miles, plus the trails, roads and peaks around it. Pick the colors and the size, and see the finished print before you buy. From $39, shipping included.

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Paste this snippet anywhere, an outfitter page, a club site, a trip report, to show Cottonwood River's live streamflow, water level and 7-day trend. It reads the USGS gauge directly, updates itself, and links back here.

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