Lake Arkansas River at Valley Center water level
River gauge, Lake Arkansas River, Kansas, United States
Right now
Normal for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 18.5 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
The Lake Arkansas River at Valley Center is at 1.14 ft, in the normal range for mid-October.
That puts it 0.04 ft below the median of 1.18 ft for mid-October, based on 39 years of readings. A year ago it stood at 1.61 ft (−0.47 ft).
The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 0.91 ft and 6.69 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Compared with 39 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 1.18 ft0.04 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 0.78 ft – 2.47 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (39 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 1.61 ft−0.47 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 0.91 ft – 6.69 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 0.87 ft – 8.36 ft
Floating and fishing near Lake Arkansas River at Valley Center
Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.
Weather at the gauge
No rain in the last 3 days.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Other gauges on the Lake Arkansas River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Arkansas River at Alta MillsRiver gauge, Lake Arkansas River | −0.69 ft | Very low | ±0 | 22 mi |
| Lake Arkansas River at Highway 50 near HalsteadRiver gauge, Lake Arkansas River | 5.67 ft | Normal | +0.01 ft | 16 mi |
| Lake Arkansas River near SedgwickRiver gauge, Lake Arkansas River | 1.84 ft | Very low | −0.04 ft | 4.0 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas River near MaizeRiver gauge, Arkansas River | 4.59 ft | Low | −0.01 ft | 3.5 mi |
| Cowskin Creek at 119th St at WichitaRiver gauge, Cowskin Creek | 6.68 ft | Low | −0.03 ft | 10 mi |
| Emma Creek at SedgwickRiver gauge, Emma Creek | −1.93 ft | Below flood stage | −0.03 ft | 11 mi |
| Calfskin Creek at 119th St, WichitaRiver gauge, Calfskin Creek | 0.1 cfs | Normal | −0.1 cfs | 12 mi |
| Cowskin Creek at Kellogg St, WichitaRiver gauge, Cowskin Creek | 3.0 cfs | Normal | −0.4 cfs | 12 mi |
| Arkansas River at WichitaRiver gauge, Arkansas River | 2.67 ft | Low | +0.09 ft | 13 mi |
| Whitewater River at TowandaRiver gauge, Whitewater River | 1.69 ft | Normal | −0.03 ft | 21 mi |
| Arkansas River at DerbyRiver gauge, Arkansas River | 0.71 ft | Very low | −0.05 ft | 21 mi |
Questions and answers
How does the Lake Arkansas River at Valley Center compare with last year?
It is 0.47 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 1.61 ft.
What is a normal level for the Lake Arkansas River at Valley Center in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 1.18 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 0.78 ft and 2.47 ft, based on 39 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 Lake Arkansas River at Valley Center today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 02:00 PM CDT, the water level was 1.14 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Lake Arkansas River at Valley Center rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 0.14 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Lake Arkansas River at Valley Center normal?
Normal for mid-October. Compared with 39 years of daily readings for this time of year.
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:07144200(Agency page)- Coordinates
37.83217, -97.38857(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 | 1.14 ft | 2026-10-20 19:00 | Provisional |
| Flow | 18.5 cfs | 2026-10-20 19:00 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Lake Arkansas River at Valley Center (usgs:07144200). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/kansas/lake-arkansas-river-at-valley-center
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