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SwedenSangamon River near Springfield water level
River gauge, Sangamon River, Illinois, United States
Right now
Normal for mid-October
Water level
History
20252026
What this means
The gauge at Sangamon River near Springfield reads 21.19 ft, a normal level for mid-October.
The median for mid-October is 21.23 ft, based on 16 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.03 ft below typical. On the same day last year the reading was 20.85 ft, a difference of +0.34 ft.
The water is rising: up 0.05 ft over the past 24 hours. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 21.07 ft and 21.79 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Compared with 16 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 21.23 ft0.03 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 20.88 ft – 27.17 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (16 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 20.85 ft+0.34 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 21.07 ft – 21.79 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 20.83 ft – 34.32 ft
- Highest on record
- 45.41 ftDecember 31, 2015
What the stage means on the water
A normal level is usually prime time for floating and wade fishing, as long as the weather holds upstream.
What happens at each level
- 42.00 ft
- Water over road on Business 55 near Riverside Park entrance.
- 35.00 ft
- Riverside Park is inundated.
- 21.19 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 45.41 ft | December 31, 2015 |
| 2 | 40.92 ft | April 22, 2013 |
| 3 | 39.58 ft | May 6, 2017 |
| 4 | 39.57 ft | June 24, 2019 |
| 5 | 39.32 ft | June 25, 2010 |
| 6 | 39.20 ft | May 19, 2020 |
| 7 | 38.48 ft | January 14, 2020 |
| 8 | 38.41 ft | May 3, 2019 |
| 9 | 38.39 ft | June 20, 2011 |
| 10 | 38.11 ft | May 1, 2020 |
Weather at the gauge
Rain in the last 3 days: 0.67 in. Rain that falls upstream can take hours or days to show up at a river gauge.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Other gauges on the Sangamon River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sangamon River at FisherRiver gauge, Sangamon River | 4.69 ft | Normal | +0.02 ft | 75 mi |
| Sangamon River at MonticelloRiver gauge, Sangamon River | 5.07 ft | Normal | −0.02 ft | 55 mi |
| Sangamon River at Route 48 at DecaturRiver gauge, Sangamon River | 2.13 ft | Low | −0.11 ft | 34 mi |
| Sangamon River at RivertonRiver gauge, Sangamon River | 2.54 ft | Low | +0.12 ft | 4.0 mi |
| Sangamon River at PetersburgRiver gauge, Sangamon River | 4.48 ft | Normal | +0.01 ft | 15 mi |
| Sangamon River near OakfordRiver gauge, Sangamon River | 3.47 ft | Normal | +0.02 ft | 26 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Creek at SpringfieldRiver gauge, Spring Creek | 1.50 ft | Low | −0.20 ft | 6.0 mi |
| Sugar Creek near SpringfieldRiver gauge, Sugar Creek | 9.76 ft | Low | −0.01 ft | 6 mi |
| South Fork Sangamon River below RochesterRiver gauge, South Fork Sangamon River | 4.34 ft | Normal | −0.04 ft | 9 mi |
| South Fork Sangamon River near RochesterRiver gauge, South Fork Sangamon River | 5.03 ft | Normal | ±0 | 9 mi |
| Lake Fork near CornlandRiver gauge, Lake Fork | 7.7 cfs | Low | −1.0 cfs | 13 mi |
| Lick Creek near ChathamRiver gauge, Lick Creek | 11.83 ft | Normal | −0.02 ft | 14 mi |
| Salt Creek near GreenviewRiver gauge, Salt Creek | 1.41 ft | Normal | +0.03 ft | 19 mi |
Questions and answers
Is the Sangamon River near Springfield higher than last year?
Yes, it is 0.34 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 20.85 ft.
What is a normal level for the Sangamon River near Springfield in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 21.23 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 20.88 ft and 27.17 ft, based on 16 years of records.
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 Sangamon River near Springfield today?
On Oct 18, 2026, 12:15 AM CDT, the water level was 21.19 ft. Up 0.05 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Sangamon River near Springfield rising or falling?
Up 0.05 ft over the last 24 hours. Steady over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Sangamon River near Springfield normal?
Normal for mid-October. Compared with 16 years of daily readings for this time of year.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Sangamon River near Springfield?
The highest level on record is 45.41 ft on December 31, 2015.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:05576900(Agency page)- Coordinates
39.87139, -89.61406(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 | 21.19 ft | 2026-10-18 05:15 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Sangamon River near Springfield (usgs:05576900). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/illinois/sangamon-river-near-springfield
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