Conestoga River at Lancaster, PA
USGS 01576500 · Pennsylvania · reports discharge (live), gauge height
Reading Conestoga River at Lancaster, PA…
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USGS 01576500 · Pennsylvania · reports discharge (live), gauge height
What the agencies suggest
Carry a pocket thermometer to monitor water temperatureNational Park Service
General guidance from the readings and the published lines named above, not a fishing forecast. Local rules and closures come first.
Reading Nov 5, 8:15 PM EST · provisional USGS data
Normal for Nov 5 Steady · 24 h Below NWS action stage
Discharge, last 7 days: 169 readings from Oct 29, 9:15 PM EDT to Nov 5, 8:15 PM EST; ranging 191 to 231 ft³/s; latest 201 ft³/s; shaded band: typical range (25th–75th percentile) for each date.
USGS provisional data may be revised. Source: USGS instantaneous values.
| Time | Discharge (ft³/s) | Gauge height (ft) | Normal, 25th–75th (ft³/s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 5, 8:15 PM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 105–298 |
| Nov 5, 7:15 PM EST | 198 | 3.44 | 105–298 |
| Nov 5, 6:15 PM EST | 198 | 3.44 | 105–298 |
| Nov 5, 5:15 PM EST | 198 | 3.44 | 105–298 |
| Nov 5, 4:15 PM EST | 194 | 3.43 | 105–298 |
| Nov 5, 3:15 PM EST | 194 | 3.43 | 105–298 |
| Nov 5, 2:15 PM EST | 194 | 3.43 | 105–298 |
| Nov 5, 1:15 PM EST | 194 | 3.43 | 105–298 |
| Nov 5, 12:15 PM EST | 194 | 3.43 | 105–298 |
| Nov 5, 11:15 AM EST | 194 | 3.43 | 105–298 |
| Nov 5, 10:15 AM EST | 194 | 3.43 | 105–298 |
| Nov 5, 9:15 AM EST | 194 | 3.43 | 105–298 |
| Nov 5, 8:15 AM EST | 194 | 3.43 | 105–298 |
| Nov 5, 7:15 AM EST | 194 | 3.43 | 105–298 |
| Nov 5, 6:15 AM EST | 194 | 3.43 | 105–298 |
| Nov 5, 5:15 AM EST | 198 | 3.44 | 105–298 |
| Nov 5, 4:15 AM EST | 198 | 3.44 | 105–298 |
| Nov 5, 3:15 AM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 105–298 |
| Nov 5, 2:15 AM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 105–298 |
| Nov 5, 1:15 AM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 105–298 |
| Nov 5, 12:15 AM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 105–298 |
| Nov 4, 11:15 PM EST | 198 | 3.44 | 103–332 |
| Nov 4, 10:15 PM EST | 198 | 3.44 | 103–332 |
| Nov 4, 9:15 PM EST | 198 | 3.44 | 103–332 |
| Nov 4, 8:15 PM EST | 198 | 3.44 | 103–332 |
| Nov 4, 7:15 PM EST | 194 | 3.43 | 103–332 |
| Nov 4, 6:15 PM EST | 194 | 3.43 | 103–332 |
| Nov 4, 5:15 PM EST | 194 | 3.43 | 103–332 |
| Nov 4, 4:15 PM EST | 194 | 3.43 | 103–332 |
| Nov 4, 3:15 PM EST | 191 | 3.42 | 103–332 |
| Nov 4, 2:15 PM EST | 191 | 3.42 | 103–332 |
| Nov 4, 1:15 PM EST | 194 | 3.43 | 103–332 |
| Nov 4, 12:15 PM EST | 194 | 3.43 | 103–332 |
| Nov 4, 11:15 AM EST | 194 | 3.43 | 103–332 |
| Nov 4, 10:15 AM EST | 194 | 3.43 | 103–332 |
| Nov 4, 9:15 AM EST | 198 | 3.44 | 103–332 |
| Nov 4, 8:15 AM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 103–332 |
| Nov 4, 7:15 AM EST | 198 | 3.44 | 103–332 |
| Nov 4, 6:15 AM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 103–332 |
| Nov 4, 5:15 AM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 103–332 |
| Nov 4, 4:15 AM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 103–332 |
| Nov 4, 3:15 AM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 103–332 |
| Nov 4, 2:15 AM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 103–332 |
| Nov 4, 1:15 AM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 103–332 |
| Nov 4, 12:15 AM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 103–332 |
| Nov 3, 11:15 PM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 101–336 |
| Nov 3, 10:15 PM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 101–336 |
| Nov 3, 9:15 PM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 101–336 |
| Nov 3, 8:15 PM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 101–336 |
| Nov 3, 7:15 PM EST | 205 | 3.46 | 101–336 |
| Nov 3, 6:15 PM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 101–336 |
| Nov 3, 5:15 PM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 101–336 |
| Nov 3, 4:15 PM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 101–336 |
| Nov 3, 3:15 PM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 101–336 |
| Nov 3, 2:15 PM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 101–336 |
| Nov 3, 1:15 PM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 101–336 |
| Nov 3, 12:15 PM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 101–336 |
| Nov 3, 11:15 AM EST | 205 | 3.46 | 101–336 |
| Nov 3, 10:15 AM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 101–336 |
| Nov 3, 9:15 AM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 101–336 |
| Nov 3, 8:15 AM EST | 205 | 3.46 | 101–336 |
| Nov 3, 7:15 AM EST | 205 | 3.46 | 101–336 |
| Nov 3, 6:15 AM EST | 205 | 3.46 | 101–336 |
| Nov 3, 5:15 AM EST | 205 | 3.46 | 101–336 |
| Nov 3, 4:15 AM EST | 205 | 3.46 | 101–336 |
| Nov 3, 3:15 AM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 101–336 |
| Nov 3, 2:15 AM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 101–336 |
| Nov 3, 1:15 AM EST | 198 | 3.44 | 101–336 |
| Nov 3, 12:15 AM EST | 198 | 3.44 | 101–336 |
| Nov 2, 11:15 PM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 101–348 |
| Nov 2, 10:15 PM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 101–348 |
| Nov 2, 9:15 PM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 101–348 |
| Nov 2, 8:15 PM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 101–348 |
| Nov 2, 7:15 PM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 101–348 |
| Nov 2, 6:15 PM EST | 198 | 3.44 | 101–348 |
| Nov 2, 5:15 PM EST | 198 | 3.44 | 101–348 |
| Nov 2, 4:15 PM EST | 198 | 3.44 | 101–348 |
| Nov 2, 3:15 PM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 101–348 |
| Nov 2, 2:15 PM EST | 205 | 3.46 | 101–348 |
| Nov 2, 1:15 PM EST | 208 | 3.47 | 101–348 |
| Nov 2, 12:15 PM EST | 212 | 3.48 | 101–348 |
| Nov 2, 11:15 AM EST | 212 | 3.48 | 101–348 |
| Nov 2, 10:15 AM EST | 212 | 3.48 | 101–348 |
| Nov 2, 9:15 AM EST | 212 | 3.48 | 101–348 |
| Nov 2, 8:15 AM EST | 212 | 3.48 | 101–348 |
| Nov 2, 7:15 AM EST | 212 | 3.48 | 101–348 |
| Nov 2, 6:15 AM EST | 208 | 3.47 | 101–348 |
| Nov 2, 5:15 AM EST | 208 | 3.47 | 101–348 |
| Nov 2, 4:15 AM EST | 205 | 3.46 | 101–348 |
| Nov 2, 3:15 AM EST | 205 | 3.46 | 101–348 |
| Nov 2, 2:15 AM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 101–348 |
| Nov 2, 1:15 AM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 101–348 |
| Nov 2, 12:15 AM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 101–348 |
| Nov 1, 11:15 PM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 101–291 |
| Nov 1, 10:15 PM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 101–291 |
| Nov 1, 9:15 PM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 101–291 |
| Nov 1, 8:15 PM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 101–291 |
| Nov 1, 7:15 PM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 101–291 |
| Nov 1, 6:15 PM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 101–291 |
| Nov 1, 5:15 PM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 101–291 |
| Nov 1, 4:15 PM EST | 201 | 3.45 | 101–291 |
| Nov 1, 3:15 PM EST | 205 | 3.46 | 101–291 |
| Nov 1, 2:15 PM EST | 208 | 3.47 | 101–291 |
| Nov 1, 1:15 PM EST | 208 | 3.47 | 101–291 |
| Nov 1, 12:15 PM EST | 208 | 3.47 | 101–291 |
| Nov 1, 11:15 AM EST | 212 | 3.48 | 101–291 |
| Nov 1, 10:15 AM EST | 212 | 3.48 | 101–291 |
| Nov 1, 9:15 AM EST | 212 | 3.48 | 101–291 |
| Nov 1, 8:15 AM EST | 212 | 3.48 | 101–291 |
| Nov 1, 7:15 AM EST | 212 | 3.48 | 101–291 |
| Nov 1, 6:15 AM EST | 212 | 3.48 | 101–291 |
| Nov 1, 5:15 AM EST | 212 | 3.48 | 101–291 |
| Nov 1, 4:15 AM EST | 216 | 3.49 | 101–291 |
| Nov 1, 3:15 AM EST | 216 | 3.49 | 101–291 |
| Nov 1, 2:15 AM EST | 216 | 3.49 | 101–291 |
| Nov 1, 1:15 AM EST | 216 | 3.49 | 101–291 |
| Nov 1, 1:15 AM EDT | 216 | 3.49 | 101–291 |
| Nov 1, 12:15 AM EDT | 216 | 3.49 | 101–291 |
| Oct 31, 11:15 PM EDT | 216 | 3.49 | 102–295 |
| Oct 31, 10:15 PM EDT | 212 | 3.48 | 102–295 |
| Oct 31, 9:15 PM EDT | 208 | 3.47 | 102–295 |
| Oct 31, 8:15 PM EDT | 208 | 3.47 | 102–295 |
| Oct 31, 7:15 PM EDT | 208 | 3.47 | 102–295 |
| Oct 31, 6:15 PM EDT | 208 | 3.47 | 102–295 |
| Oct 31, 5:15 PM EDT | 205 | 3.46 | 102–295 |
| Oct 31, 4:15 PM EDT | 205 | 3.46 | 102–295 |
| Oct 31, 3:15 PM EDT | 205 | 3.46 | 102–295 |
| Oct 31, 2:15 PM EDT | 205 | 3.46 | 102–295 |
| Oct 31, 1:15 PM EDT | 205 | 3.46 | 102–295 |
| Oct 31, 12:15 PM EDT | 205 | 3.46 | 102–295 |
| Oct 31, 11:15 AM EDT | 208 | 3.47 | 102–295 |
| Oct 31, 10:15 AM EDT | 208 | 3.47 | 102–295 |
| Oct 31, 9:15 AM EDT | 212 | 3.48 | 102–295 |
| Oct 31, 8:15 AM EDT | 212 | 3.48 | 102–295 |
| Oct 31, 7:15 AM EDT | 212 | 3.48 | 102–295 |
| Oct 31, 6:15 AM EDT | 212 | 3.48 | 102–295 |
| Oct 31, 5:15 AM EDT | 216 | 3.49 | 102–295 |
| Oct 31, 4:15 AM EDT | 216 | 3.49 | 102–295 |
| Oct 31, 3:15 AM EDT | 219 | 3.5 | 102–295 |
| Oct 31, 2:15 AM EDT | 219 | 3.5 | 102–295 |
| Oct 31, 1:15 AM EDT | 219 | 3.5 | 102–295 |
| Oct 31, 12:15 AM EDT | 223 | 3.51 | 102–295 |
| Oct 30, 11:15 PM EDT | 223 | 3.51 | 99–338 |
| Oct 30, 10:15 PM EDT | 223 | 3.51 | 99–338 |
| Oct 30, 9:15 PM EDT | 223 | 3.51 | 99–338 |
| Oct 30, 8:15 PM EDT | 223 | 3.51 | 99–338 |
| Oct 30, 7:15 PM EDT | 223 | 3.51 | 99–338 |
| Oct 30, 6:15 PM EDT | 223 | 3.51 | 99–338 |
| Oct 30, 5:15 PM EDT | 223 | 3.51 | 99–338 |
| Oct 30, 4:15 PM EDT | 223 | 3.51 | 99–338 |
| Oct 30, 3:15 PM EDT | 223 | 3.51 | 99–338 |
| Oct 30, 2:15 PM EDT | 219 | 3.5 | 99–338 |
| Oct 30, 1:15 PM EDT | 219 | 3.5 | 99–338 |
| Oct 30, 12:15 PM EDT | 227 | 3.52 | 99–338 |
| Oct 30, 11:15 AM EDT | 227 | 3.52 | 99–338 |
| Oct 30, 10:15 AM EDT | 227 | 3.52 | 99–338 |
| Oct 30, 9:15 AM EDT | 227 | 3.52 | 99–338 |
| Oct 30, 8:15 AM EDT | 227 | 3.52 | 99–338 |
| Oct 30, 7:15 AM EDT | 227 | 3.52 | 99–338 |
| Oct 30, 6:15 AM EDT | 227 | 3.52 | 99–338 |
| Oct 30, 5:15 AM EDT | 227 | 3.52 | 99–338 |
| Oct 30, 4:15 AM EDT | 227 | 3.52 | 99–338 |
| Oct 30, 3:15 AM EDT | 227 | 3.52 | 99–338 |
| Oct 30, 2:15 AM EDT | 231 | 3.53 | 99–338 |
| Oct 30, 1:15 AM EDT | 231 | 3.53 | 99–338 |
| Oct 30, 12:15 AM EDT | 231 | 3.53 | 99–338 |
| Oct 29, 11:15 PM EDT | 231 | 3.53 | 103–342 |
| Oct 29, 10:15 PM EDT | 231 | 3.53 | 103–342 |
| Oct 29, 9:15 PM EDT | 231 | 3.53 | 103–342 |
Map of USGS gauge 01576500 and the river around it
Where Conestoga River at Lancaster, PA sits, with 1 other gauge on the same river.
No current water-temperature reading at this gauge, so no temperature guidance is given. Take a stream thermometer: the trout lines Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission uses are 60°F, 70°F and 72°F.
Species list not on file for this gauge. Check the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission: Pennsylvania adult trout stocking schedule · Pennsylvania fishing regulations.
Normal for Nov 5: 105–298 ft³/s (middle half of 97 years of record). Now: 201 ft³/s, normal.
Normal for this date. 201 ft³/s is between the 25th and 75th percentiles of daily mean flow for Nov 5 at this gauge over 97 years of record (1929–2026): 10th 62, 25th 105, median 176, 75th 298, 90th 584 ft³/s.
Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 48 ft³/s, highest 930 ft³/s.
Classes as USGS labels them (hyswap: flow categories (WDFN_stats schema) (U.S. Geological Survey) ); percentiles from the USGS daily statistics (U.S. Geological Survey) (approved daily means; the reading is provisional and instantaneous).
Steady over 24 hours (+1.5% discharge). Rising or falling means a change of more than 10% in discharge (or 0.2 ft of gauge height) over 24 hours; our rule of thumb, not a USGS class.
Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
Flood categories: action stage, minor, moderate and major flooding (National Weather Service)Turn Around Don't Drown. “A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult.” No flow number makes a crossing safe; if in doubt, stay out.
Turn Around Don't Drown (National Weather Service)Guidance from the readings above and the published thresholds named with each line; not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access. Local rules and closures come first.
Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
NWS observed 3.45 ft stage, 201 ft³/s at Nov 5, 8:15 PM EST (NWS gauge LNCP1; its stage datum can differ from the USGS gauge height).
NWS river forecast forecast issued Nov 5, 9:45 AM EST. Highest point: 3.5 ft, 219 ft³/s on Nov 5, 7:00 PM EST (Below NWS action stage).
| Day | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Thu, Nov 5 | 3.5 ft | 219 ft³/s |
| Fri, Nov 6 | 3.5 ft | 219 ft³/s |
| Sat, Nov 7 | 3.4 ft | 184 ft³/s |
| Sun, Nov 8 | 3.4 ft | 184 ft³/s |
Open the NWS gauge page · What the categories mean (National Weather Service)
Checked Nov 5, 9:09 PM EST; readings refresh at most every 15 minutes and statistics daily. Provisional USGS data can be revised. Conditions change: re-check before you go. This is general guidance, not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access.