Wildcat Creek at Scenic Drive, Manhattan water level
River gauge, Wildcat Creek, Kansas, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 23.9 cfs
History
What this means
Wildcat Creek at Scenic Drive, Manhattan is at 3.02 ft, in the normal range.
It is 10.98 ft below the flood stage of 14.00 ft.
The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 3.01 ft and 3.05 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 28.29 ftSeptember 3, 2018
Floating and fishing near Wildcat Creek at Scenic Drive, Manhattan
Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.
Flood stage here is 14.00 ft, 10.98 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.
What happens at each level
- 23.00 ft
- Flood waters flood the road going into the Highland Ridge Apartment complex and water nearing the actual buildings. In the Garden Way area downstream of Seth Childs Road, some apartment buildings are either taking on water, or completely surrounded by flood waters. In addition extensive road and parking lot flooding occurs in the Garden Way area.
- 22.00 ft
- Water just overtops the retaining wall adjacent to the parking lot north of the Highland Ridge Apartments. The Garden Way area downstream of Seth Childs Road, the road is flooded in a couple of spots on Garden Way.
- 17.00 ft
- The low spot in Anneberg Circle is flooded with water very close to the golf course clubhouse.
- 16.00 ft
- Flood waters begin to reach North 1200 Road, commonly known as Wildcat Creek Road, just upstream of the Scenic Drive bridge.
- 14.00 ft
- Flood waters reach Poliska Lane, just north of Fort Riley Boulevard.
- 3.02 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
Chance of at least minor flooding in October to December: 8 %.
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28.29 ft | September 3, 2018 |
| 2 | 20.10 ft | May 8, 2019 |
| 3 | 17.53 ft | June 10, 2014 |
| 4 | 16.75 ft | June 23, 2019 |
| 5 | 16.57 ft | August 30, 2019 |
| 6 | 16.13 ft | July 15, 2021 |
| 7 | 15.70 ft | May 19, 2019 |
| 8 | 14.32 ft | May 27, 2016 |
| 9 | 12.57 ft | May 20, 2017 |
| 10 | 11.21 ft | May 25, 2022 |
Weather at the gauge
No rain in the last 3 days.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Other gauges on Wildcat Creek
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildcat Creek at KeatsRiver gauge, Wildcat Creek | 8.19 ft | High | −0.02 ft | 4.2 mi |
| Wildcat Creek at Seth Childs Road, ManhattanRiver gauge, Wildcat Creek | 2.73 ft | Normal | −0.01 ft | 1.7 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas River at ManhattanRiver gauge, Kansas River | 7.28 ft | Normal | −0.27 ft | 4.8 mi |
| Tuttle C Lake near ManhattanLake, Tuttle C Lake | 1,083.86 ft | Very high | −1.18 ft | 5.0 mi |
| Big Blue River near ManhattanRiver gauge, Big Blue River | 11.14 ft | Very high | −0.15 ft | 5.1 mi |
| Kings Creek near ManhattanRiver gauge, Kings Creek | 2.8 cfs | Very high | −0.2 cfs | 6 mi |
| Kansas River at Fort RileyRiver gauge, Kansas River | 5.52 ft | Normal | −0.38 ft | 11 mi |
| Republican River at Junction CityRiver gauge, Republican River | 159 cfs | Normal | −55.0 cfs | 14 mi |
| Milford Lake near Junction CityLake, Milford Lake | 1,145.80 ft | Very high | ±0 | 16 mi |
| Kansas River at WamegoRiver gauge, Kansas River | 9.10 ft | Very high | −0.16 ft | 18 mi |
Questions and answers
What is flood stage for Wildcat Creek at Scenic Drive, Manhattan?
The official flood stage is 14.00 ft. The level is currently 10.98 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 Wildcat Creek at Scenic Drive, Manhattan today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 02:15 PM CDT, the water level was 3.02 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Wildcat Creek at Scenic Drive, Manhattan rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is the level of Wildcat Creek at Scenic Drive, Manhattan normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Wildcat Creek at Scenic Drive, Manhattan?
The highest level on record is 28.29 ft on September 3, 2018.
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:06879810(Agency page)- Coordinates
39.18839, -96.64256(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 | 3.02 ft | 2026-10-20 19:15 | Provisional |
| Flow | 23.9 cfs | 2026-10-20 19:15 | 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: Wildcat Creek at Scenic Drive, Manhattan (usgs:06879810). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/kansas/wildcat-creek-at-scenic-drive-manhattan
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