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James River (Missouri), Springfield (07050700)

State	Missouri	Latest	Good (400 cfs)
River	James River	Rating	Observed	Estimated
Updated	2026-04-17 5:00 (35 minutes ago)	Flood - The river is flooding. Obstacles can be treacherous or deadly. The river should be avoided at this stage for casual trips and definitely for the inexperienced. Trips should be attempted only with protective gear and equipment.Flood	1400	1086
Discharge	400 cfs (median: 179 cfs)	High - The river is high and potentially dangerous, especially for the young and / or inexperienced. Normal stream obstacles are sometimes difficult to navigate. Extended distances can be attempted, but canoe travel may not be advisable.High	(none)	421
Height	5.71 feet	Good - Conditions are ideal for a canoe or kayak. Boats typically will drag on fewer than one-quarter of riffles, if at all, and portages are unnecessary or rare. Normal float lengths can be attempted without a problem.Good	150	185
Trend	Falling (rising over 24 hours)	Low - River is low but can still be floated. Some riffles are okay but most come with significant dragging and might need a portage. Float lengths should be reduced to accommodate low flow, dragging, and portages.Low	40	90
USGS	USGS Site ( Duck Duck Go Maps)	Poor - River is too low to float comfortably. Most or all riffles will drag or must be portaged and some obstacles (such as slick shelf rock) cause undue problems. Avoid the river at this stage for casual paddling trips.Poor	(none)	20

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Trips for James River (Missouri), Springfield (07050700)

	Date	Start	End	Distance	Condition	Discharge	Height	Fishing	Details
	2015-07-12	Southwood	Lake Springfield Park	Total trip distance: 2.1 miles2.1	Good	1390	7.83	None	None Edmond, Brian Edmond, Julian Williamson, Amelia Williamson, Charlie Williamson, Lucy Williamson, Myki Although this trip was technically in the lake, we shuttled a vehicle to the park to take advantage of the slight current coming in with the flooded James River. USGS Gauge Data: Springfield (07050700) Discharge: 1390 Height: 7.83 Source: Edmond
	2019-06-19	Hwy 65 Access	Southwood	Total trip distance: 4.5 miles4.5	Good	448	5.94	Poor	None Van Someren, Tom Having floated some of the James above Kinser Bridge, I always wanted to know what the section below Kinser (to Lake Springfield) consisted of. I can now say the 3 miles of stream contained in this section are not worth doing. Having paddled upstream for 2 miles there wasn't one moment where I couldn't hear the drone of traffic noise along highway 65 and / or highway 60. If the DOJ is the McDonald's of rivers, this section should be designated as the White Castle section, simply because it's along a major highway and can only appeal to the lowest common denominator of outdoor activities. USGS Gauge Data: Springfield (07050700) Discharge: 448 Height: 5.94 Source: Van Someren
	2020-01-27	Southwood	Southwood	Total trip distance: 1.0 miles1.0	Good	388	5.86	None	None Bartlett, Renee With my normal Monday activities sidelined, it was a perfect weather day to get on the water. I paddled up to the Nature Center and back. I was the only one on the water and other than the constant noise of US 65, it was a quiet trip. USGS Gauge Data: Springfield (07050700) Discharge: 388 Height: 5.86 Source: Bartlett
	2022-03-04	Rt YY	Rt YY	Total trip distance: 3.5 miles3.5	Good	240	4.98	Poor	SMB Barton, Adam Waded / paddle up to the mouth of Panther Creek and then floated back to the bridge. The river has a few more logs down in the middle and under the bridge after the last flood event. Water was crystal clear and flowing at a good rate. Fishing was rough though. Only caught one smallie near the low water bridge and lost one below Davis Creek. There are some fun shoals between Panther Creek and Davis Creek that would be great with a little more water. Weather was partly sunny with a high temperature of 70 degrees with gusty winds out of the south. On my way back towards the bridge, smoke from USFS prescribed burns in the Mark Twain National Forest filled the river valley as the sun set. The upper James is where it's at for sure. Side note: either the county highway department or adjacent landowner made the ROW at the bridge steeper, so be careful with low clearance vehicles. USGS Gauge Data: Springfield (07050700) Discharge: 240 Height: 4.98 Source: Barton
	2015-08-16	Tailwaters	Rivercut	Total trip distance: 7.1 miles7.1	Good	224	5.07	None	None Amburn, Andrea Amburn, Matt Coroleuski, Linda Edmond, Brian Van Someren, Cynthia Van Someren, Tom Williamson, Myki The water level was fine for this trip, but we counted perhaps 6-8 obstacles that were technically challenging in a canoe or for an inexperienced kayaker. In several places, we had to help others or exit the boat to portage around or through particularly troublesome obstacles. USGS Gauge Data: Springfield (07050700) Discharge: 224 Height: 5.07 Source: Edmond
	2020-07-05	Kerr	Cox	Total trip distance: 4.8 miles4.8	Good	223	5.22	None	RB SMB Bartlett, Joe Bartlett, Renee Dawson, Don Dawson, Laura Waldman, Rachel Holiday weekend float. We were on the water in the early am before 10. The river was remarkably quiet. The water was high enough Laura was able to use her inflatable kayak. The weather was beautiful. We were loaded and off the water by 1:30pm. USGS Gauge Data: Springfield (07050700) Discharge: 223 Height: 5.22 Source: Bartlett
	2019-06-16	Tailwaters	Rivercut	Total trip distance: 7.1 miles7.1	Good	115	4.63	None	None Osborne, Cindy Osborne, Jay Osborne, Juniper The section was easy to navigate in our kayaks. It may have been a little tricky in a canoe. We did not have to stop, portage, or drag the kayaks at all. A couple spots were a little bit tricky but not bad. The take out near Rivercut is not the best access site but it does the job. Many fish were spotted but no rods brought on the trip. It is not the cleanest section of the James. Not a single other paddler seen but many fishermen at road crossings. Scenery was okay. USGS Gauge Data: Springfield (07050700) Discharge: 115 Height: 4.63 Source: Osborne
	2020-06-25	Crighton	Crighton	Total trip distance: 2.2 miles2.2	Good	94	4.58	None	None Bartlett, Renee Early evening solo float. Paddled upstream from Farm Road 166 Bridge at Joe Crighton Access to Pierson Creek and back. USGS Gauge Data: Springfield (07050700) Discharge: 94 Height: 4.58 Source: Bartlett
	2021-12-30	Southwood	Southwood	Total trip distance: 2.0 miles2.0	Good	87	4.36	Poor	SMB Barton, Adam Paddled from the US 65 bridge to the US 60 bridge and back. It was sunny and 64 degrees when I put on about 1430 and dropped to 57 degrees when I got off the water at 1700. Only caught one bass around a bridge pillar on a Ned rig, but it was a decent 15" smallmouth. Must have came downstream out of the current to winter in the deeper water. Lake Springfield can be difficult for sure. USGS Gauge Data: Springfield (07050700) Discharge: 87 Height: 4.36 Source: Barton
	2020-12-10	Southwood	Southwood	Total trip distance: 2.0 miles2.0	Good	71	4.33	Poor	None Barton, Adam A warm December paddle on Lake Springfield that included a beautiful sunset. No fish were caught, but I was just happy to be on the water. USGS Gauge Data: Springfield (07050700) Discharge: 71 Height: 4.33 Source: Barton
	2020-12-10	Southwood	Southwood	Total trip distance: 2.0 miles2.0	Good	71	4.33	Poor	None Barton, Adam A warm December paddle on Lake Springfield that included a beautiful sunset. No fish were caught, but I was just happy to be on the water. USGS Gauge Data: Springfield (07050700) Discharge: 71 Height: 4.33 Source: Barton
	2023-05-28	US 160	US 160	Total trip distance: 4.3 miles4.3	Good	67	4.20	Good	GSF KSB LMB LSF RB SMB Barton, Adam Paddled upriver and back past where Farmer Branch runs in. Tough day on the water with most fish caught in the slack near cover and current. This stretch of the DOJ is not a favorite by any measure, but a day on the water still beats most things. Surprised by how dingy the water was based on the river level. USGS Gauge Data: Springfield (07050700) Discharge: 67 Height: 4.20 Source: Barton
	2020-08-30	Crighton	Crighton	Total trip distance: 1.1 miles1.1	Good	35	4.06	None	None Bartlett, Renee Late Afternoon solo float. While the water levels were decent in the area, the water wasn't moving as much as expected. This section was very stagnant, smelly, and overran with bugs. Floated from Joe Crighton to south of Farm Road 164 and back. USGS Gauge Data: Springfield (07050700) Discharge: 35 Height: 4.06 Source: Bartlett
	2012-09-02	Crighton	Southwood	Total trip distance: 3.2 miles3.2	Low	25	3.70	None	None Bowe, Michelle Edmond, Alex Edmond, Brian Edmond, Julian Some places could easily snag a boat and require some portage but most could be floated successfully. The last third of the trip was Lake Springfield. USGS Gauge Data: Springfield (07050700) Discharge: 25 Height: 3.70 Source: Edmond

A total of 14 rows are displayed.

Trip Summary for James River (Missouri), Springfield (07050700)

Condition Descriptions

Fishing Conditions

Fish Species

Notes

Classic Trip List

Gauge Data Table

A total of 174 rows are displayed for years 1956 through 2025.