Ocklawaha River at Rodman Dam near Orange Springs water level
River gauge, Ocklawaha River, Florida, United States
Right now
Very low for late October
Water level
- Flow
- 281 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
The Ocklawaha River at Rodman Dam near Orange Springs is running far below normal at 3.31 ft.
The median for late October is 4.19 ft, based on 56 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.88 ft below typical. It is 1.69 ft below the flood stage of 5.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 4.72 ft, a difference of −1.41 ft.
It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. Without real rain upstream, that is unlikely to change quickly.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, and it usually takes a few days of steady rain to change that.
Compared with 56 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 4.19 ft0.88 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 3.44 ft – 6.13 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (56 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 4.72 ft−1.41 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 3.10 ft – 5.94 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 0.80 ft – 5.94 ft
- Highest on record
- 9.70 ftSeptember 13, 2017
Floating and fishing near Ocklawaha River at Rodman Dam near Orange Springs
Low water exposes gravel bars that make good wading access, but some boat ramps may be left high and dry.
Flood stage here is 5.00 ft, 1.69 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.
What happens at each level
- 7.00 ft
- Extensive inundation of structures and roads in the area. Evacuations of people or transfer of property to higher ground is likely.
- 6.00 ft
- Some inundation of roads and low lying structures in the area can be expected. Evacuations of people or property to higher ground is possible.
- 5.00 ft
- Elevated water levels with minor impacts to recreational activities along the river basin.
- 4.00 ft
- Elevated water levels with minor impacts to recreational activities along the river basin.
- 3.31 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9.70 ft | September 13, 2017 |
| 2 | 9.01 ft | October 14, 2024 |
| 3 | 8.67 ft | September 29, 2022 |
| 4 | 8.53 ft | April 12, 1982 |
| 5 | 8.40 ft | September 10, 2004 |
| 6 | 8.35 ft | February 5, 1970 |
| 7 | 7.97 ft | September 27, 1979 |
| 8 | 7.75 ft | March 31, 1987 |
| 9 | 7.71 ft | April 7, 1970 |
| 10 | 7.55 ft | July 7, 2021 |
Weather at the gauge
Rain in the last 3 days: 0.07 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 Ocklawaha River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ocklawaha River above Moss Bluff Dam at Moss BluffRiver gauge, Ocklawaha River | 57.54 ft | Low | +0.02 ft | 30 mi |
| Ocklawaha River at Moss BluffRiver gauge, Ocklawaha River | 36.09 ft | Normal | −0.06 ft | 30 mi |
| Ocklawaha River near OcalaRiver gauge, Ocklawaha River | 35.10 ft | High | −0.02 ft | 25 mi |
| Ocklawaha River near ConnerRiver gauge, Ocklawaha River | 4.27 ft | Normal | −0.07 ft | 23 mi |
| Ocklawaha River at EurekaRiver gauge, Ocklawaha River | 19.69 ft | Normal | −0.01 ft | 11 mi |
| Ocklawaha River above Rodman Dam near Orange SpringsRiver gauge, Ocklawaha River | 18.88 ft | Normal | +0.07 ft | 0.0 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orange Creek at Orange SpringsRiver gauge, Orange Creek | 1.45 ft | Low | −0.09 ft | 9 mi |
| St. Johns River at Buffalo Bluff near SatsumaTidal gauge, St. Johns River | 12.58 ft | Normal | +0.01 ft | 9 mi |
| Dunns Creek near SatsumaTidal gauge, Dunns Creek | 12.71 ft | High | +0.02 ft | 12 mi |
| Silver Glen Springs near AstorRiver gauge, Silver Glen Springs | 3.22 ft | High | +0.04 ft | 21 mi |
| Deep Creek at SpudsTidal gauge, Deep Creek | 1.95 ft | Flooding | −0.04 ft | 24 mi |
| Silver River near OcalaRiver gauge, Silver River | 1.98 ft | Low | −0.01 ft | 25 mi |
Questions and answers
Is the Ocklawaha River at Rodman Dam near Orange Springs higher than last year?
No, it is 1.41 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 4.72 ft.
What is flood stage for the Ocklawaha River at Rodman Dam near Orange Springs?
The official flood stage is 5.00 ft. The level is currently 1.69 ft below it.
What is a normal level for the Ocklawaha River at Rodman Dam near Orange Springs in late October?
The median for late October is 4.19 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 3.44 ft and 6.13 ft, based on 56 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 Ocklawaha River at Rodman Dam near Orange Springs today?
On Oct 21, 2026, 05:00 AM EDT, the water level was 3.31 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Ocklawaha River at Rodman Dam near Orange Springs rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 1.36 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Ocklawaha River at Rodman Dam near Orange Springs normal?
Very low for late October. Compared with 56 years of daily readings for this time of year.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:02243960(Agency page)- Coordinates
29.50833, -81.80417(WGS84)- 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 | 3.31 ft | 2026-10-21 09:00 | Provisional |
| Flow | 281 cfs | 2026-10-21 09:00 | Provisional |
Download
Embed this gauge
Add a live card for this gauge to your website. It updates on its own and links back here.
How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Ocklawaha River at Rodman Dam near Orange Springs (usgs:02243960). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/florida/ocklawaha-river-at-rodman-dam-near-orange-springs
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