Kenai River at Cooper Landing water level

Name: Kenai River at Cooper Landing 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, Kenai River, Alaska, United States

Directions

Below flood stage

Water level

7.99ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 19, 2026, 11:00 PM AKDT (1 hour ago)

Flow: 2,190 cfs
Water temperature: 46 °F

History

7 days

Water level Forecast Minor flood stage

The forecast expects the river to fall to 7.97 ft by Wednesday, October 21 at 10:00 AM. Issued Monday, October 19 at 02:18 PM by NOAA National Weather Service.

What this means

The Kenai River at Cooper Landing is at 7.99 ft, in the normal range.

It is 5.01 ft below the flood stage of 13.00 ft.

It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to fall to 7.97 ft by Wednesday, October 21 at 10:00 AM. In the last month it has stayed between 7.96 ft and 8.04 ft.

The water temperature at the gauge is 46 °F.

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

Key numbers

Highest on record: 17.18 ftSeptember 21, 1974
Forecast peak: 7.99 ftMonday, October 19 at 10:00 PM

Floating and fishing near Kenai River at Cooper Landing

Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.

Flood stage here is 13.00 ft, 5.01 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.

What happens at each level

16.50 ft: Many houses and businesses along Sterling Highway miles 48-50 will begin to flood. Water should also start to encroach houses built along Primrose Road. Quartz Creek and North Cooper Creek Campgrounds will be underwater. Water will also be over the Sterling Highway at mile 54.
15.00 ft: Quartz Creek Campground boat ramp submerged and water encroaches campsites that are located next to the lake. Water should start to approach foundation level of buildings along Sterling Highway miles 48-50. North Cooper Creek Campgrounds begins to flood. Water in slough at mile 54 will encroach the Sterling Highway.
14.00 ft: Properties along the Sterling Highway miles 48-50 begin to see water in their yards. USGS gauge house adjacent to Cooper Landing bridge will begin to flood. Bottom of wooden walkway at boat ramp starts to be submerged.
12.50 ft: Water starts to flow over Primrose Road on the southern end of Kenai Lake.
11.00 ft: High water level -- Class II+ whitewater above Jim's Landing; Class III below Jim's Landing.
9.00 ft: Medium water level -- Class II whitewater above Jim's Landing; Class II+ below Jim's Landing
7.99 ft: Right now
6.00 ft: Low water level -- Class II whitewater above and below Jim's Landing

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

Highest crests on record

Chance of at least minor flooding in October to December: < 5 %.

Rank	Level	Date
1	17.18 ft	September 21, 1974
2	16.25 ft	September 1, 1967
3	16.20 ft	September 23, 1995
4	16.01 ft	September 24, 2012
5	15.66 ft	June 29, 1953
6	15.24 ft	September 19, 1993
7	15.10 ft	October 14, 1970
8	15.10 ft	October 14, 1969
9	15.06 ft	September 24, 2017
10	14.78 ft	September 22, 2001

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 08:53 AM Sunset 06:36 PM Daylight 9 hr, 43 min First quarter 66%

Map

Other gauges on the Kenai River

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Kenai River below Skilak Lake Outlet near SterlingRiver gauge, Kenai River	7.76 ft	Below flood stage	+0.03 ft	27 mi
Kenai River at SoldotnaRiver gauge, Kenai River	6.92 ft	Below flood stage	+0.08 ft	43 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Cooper Creek at Mouth near Cooper LandingRiver gauge, Cooper Creek	10.06 ft	Below flood stage	+0.10 ft	2.6 mi
Snow River near SewardRiver gauge, Snow River	6.66 ft	Below flood stage	−0.04 ft	21 mi
Grouse Creek at Grouse Lake Outlet near SewardRiver gauge, Grouse Creek	5.02 ft	Below flood stage	+0.06 ft	25 mi
Sixmile Creek near HopeRiver gauge, Sixmile Creek	9.12 ft	Below flood stage	+0.06 ft	26 mi
Lowell Creek at SewardRiver gauge, Lowell Creek	46.9 cfs	High	±0	30 mi
Wolverine Creek near LawingRiver gauge, Wolverine Creek	16.4 cfs	Normal	−0.3 cfs	32 mi
Glacier Creek at Alyeska Highway at GirdwoodRiver gauge, Glacier Creek	26.55 ft	Below flood stage	+0.14 ft	40 mi

Questions and answers

What is flood stage for the Kenai River at Cooper Landing?

The official flood stage is 13.00 ft. The level is currently 5.01 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 Kenai River at Cooper Landing today?

On Oct 19, 2026, 11:00 PM AKDT, the water level was 7.99 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is Kenai River at Cooper Landing rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is the level of Kenai River at Cooper Landing normal?

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

What is the highest water level ever recorded at Kenai River at Cooper Landing?

The highest level on record is 17.18 ft on September 21, 1974.

Is Kenai River at Cooper Landing expected to rise?

The forecast expects the river to fall to 7.97 ft by Wednesday, October 21 at 10:00 AM.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads

Operator: U.S. Geological Survey
Station code: usgs:15258000 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 60.49220, -149.80995 (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	7.99 ft	2026-10-20 07:00	Provisional
Flow	2,190 cfs	2026-10-20 07:00	Provisional
Water temperature	46 °F	2026-10-20 07:00	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Kenai River at Cooper Landing (usgs:15258000). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/alaska/kenai-river-at-cooper-landing

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