Indian River at Sitka water level

Name: Indian River at Sitka water level (U.S. Geological Survey)
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
License: https://www.usgs.gov/information-policies-and-instructions/copyrights-and-credits

River gauge, Indian River, Alaska, United States

Directions

Below flood stage

Water level

21.25ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 9, 2026, 08:00 PM AKDT (9 days ago)

Flow: 138 cfs
Water temperature: 44 °F

This gauge last reported 9 days ago. The value may be out of date; check the agency page before you rely on it.

History

Not enough readings for a chart yet. History builds up with every update.

What this means

The gauge at Indian River at Sitka reads 21.25 ft, a normal level. That reading is from Oct 9, 2026, 08:00 PM AKDT, so the gauge may be offline or reporting late.

It is 4.25 ft below the flood stage of 25.50 ft.

The level has held steady over the past 24 hours.

Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns. The sensor also reports a water temperature of 44 °F.

Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels

Key numbers

Highest on record: 26.84 ftAugust 18, 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.

The National Weather Service puts flood stage for this gauge at 25.50 ft, still 4.25 ft away.

What happens at each level

25.50 ft: Water will begin to flood the National Park Service's bridge near Sawmill Creek road along with the trail system in the park near the river. Other places in the Sitka area will also begin to see minor flooding issues.
21.25 ft: Right now

Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.

Highest crests on record

Rank	Level	Date
1	26.84 ft	August 18, 2015
2	26.84 ft	October 19, 1998
3	26.53 ft	October 26, 2020
4	26.51 ft	August 12, 2023
5	26.46 ft	August 12, 2002
6	26.32 ft	November 21, 2013
7	26.31 ft	September 7, 2014
8	26.08 ft	October 11, 2000
9	25.93 ft	August 13, 2021
10	25.93 ft	October 16, 2002

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:44 AM Sunset 05:50 PM Daylight 10 hr, 6 min First quarter 54%

Map

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Sawmill Creek below U Tailrace near SitkaRiver gauge, Sawmill Creek	614 cfs	Normal	+6.0 cfs	4.0 mi

Questions and answers

What is flood stage for the Indian River at Sitka?

The official flood stage is 25.50 ft. The level is currently 4.25 ft below it.

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 Indian River at Sitka today?

On Oct 9, 2026, 08:00 PM AKDT, the water level was 21.25 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is Indian River at Sitka rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is the level of Indian River at Sitka normal?

Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.

What is the highest water level ever recorded at Indian River at Sitka?

The highest level on record is 26.84 ft on August 18, 2015.

How often is this data updated?

The U.S. Geological Survey publishes a new reading every 15 minutes. This page refreshes within minutes of each update.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads

Operator: U.S. Geological Survey
Station code: usgs:15087700 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 57.05316, -135.31626 (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	21.25 ft	2026-10-10 04:00	Provisional
Flow	138 cfs	2026-10-10 04:00	Provisional
Water temperature	44 °F	2026-10-10 04:00	Provisional

Download

Embed this gauge

Add a live card for this gauge to your website. It updates on its own and links back here.

<iframe src="https://nivelmap.com/embed/6878?lang=en" width="360" height="230" style="border:0;max-width:100%" loading="lazy" title="Indian River at Sitka water level"></iframe>

How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Indian River at Sitka (usgs:15087700). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/alaska/indian-river-at-sitka

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