Kentucky River at Lock 1 near Carrollton water level
River gauge, Kentucky River, Kentucky, United States
Right now
High for mid-October
Water level
History
20252026
What this means
The Kentucky River at Lock 1 near Carrollton is above normal at 9.66 ft.
The median for mid-October is 9.03 ft, based on 8 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.63 ft above typical. On the same day last year the reading was 9.23 ft, a difference of +0.43 ft.
It has dropped 0.19 ft over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 8.71 ft and 14.55 ft.
That stands out in fall, when many rivers are usually near their lowest.
Compared with 8 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 9.03 ft0.63 ft above the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 8.74 ft – 10.09 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (8 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 9.23 ft+0.43 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 8.71 ft – 14.55 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 8.71 ft – 23.48 ft
- Highest on record
- 45.46 ftApril 8, 2025
Floating and fishing near Kentucky River at Lock 1 near Carrollton
Experienced paddlers may enjoy higher water, but many outfitters stop rentals once a river runs this high.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 45.46 ft | April 8, 2025 |
| 2 | 37.94 ft | February 20, 2025 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on the Kentucky River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky River at Lock 13 near Willow ShoalsRiver gauge, Kentucky River | 748 cfs | Normal | −140.0 cfs | 102 mi |
| Kentucky River at Lock 12 near IrvineRiver gauge, Kentucky River | 9.85 ft | Below flood stage | −0.08 ft | 94 mi |
| Kentucky River at Lock 11 near College HillRiver gauge, Kentucky River | 664 cfs | Normal | −476.0 cfs | 83 mi |
| Kentucky River at Lock 10 near WinchesterRiver gauge, Kentucky River | 10.26 ft | Normal | −0.30 ft | 71 mi |
| Kentucky River at Lock 9 at Valley ViewRiver gauge, Kentucky River | 1,020 cfs | Normal | −270.0 cfs | 68 mi |
| Kentucky River at Lock 8 near Camp NelsonRiver gauge, Kentucky River | 12.26 ft | Below flood stage | −0.26 ft | 70 mi |
| Kentucky River at Lock 7 at HighbridgeRiver gauge, Kentucky River | 9.26 ft | Below flood stage | −0.49 ft | 62 mi |
| Kentucky River at Lock 6 near SalvisaRiver gauge, Kentucky River | 1,660 cfs | Normal | −390.0 cfs | 54 mi |
| Kentucky River at Lock 5 near TyroneRiver gauge, Kentucky River | 1,600 cfs | Normal | −370.0 cfs | 45 mi |
| Kentucky River at Lock 4 at FrankfortRiver gauge, Kentucky River | 7.48 ft | Normal | −0.16 ft | 34 mi |
| Kentucky River at Lock 3 at GestRiver gauge, Kentucky River | 8.27 ft | Very low | −0.26 ft | 22 mi |
| Kentucky River at Lock 2 at LockportRiver gauge, Kentucky River | 9.36 ft | Below flood stage | −0.22 ft | 18 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio River at Markland Dam near WarsawRiver gauge, Ohio River | 17.06 ft | Normal | −1.76 ft | 12 mi |
| Indian-Kentuck Creek near CanaanRiver gauge, Indian-Kentuck Creek | 0.1 cfs | Low | ±0 | 16 mi |
| Eagle Creek at GlencoeRiver gauge, Eagle Creek | 1.26 ft | Below flood stage | +0.01 ft | 18 mi |
| Mud Lick Creek at Highway 42 near BeaverlickRiver gauge, Mud Lick Creek | 1.27 ft | Normal | ±0 | 26 mi |
| Muscatatuck River near DeputyRiver gauge, Muscatatuck River | 3.07 ft | Below flood stage | +0.13 ft | 30 mi |
| Floyds Fork near Pewee ValleyRiver gauge, Floyds Fork | 23.8 cfs | Normal | −2.5 cfs | 31 mi |
| Woolper Creek at Woolper Road near BurlingtonRiver gauge, Woolper Creek | 0.8 cfs | Low | −0.1 cfs | 32 mi |
| Elkhorn Creek near FrankfortRiver gauge, Elkhorn Creek | 2.36 ft | Below flood stage | −0.07 ft | 32 mi |
Questions and answers
Is the Kentucky River at Lock 1 near Carrollton higher than last year?
Yes, it is 0.43 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 9.23 ft.
What is a normal level for the Kentucky River at Lock 1 near Carrollton in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 9.03 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 8.74 ft and 10.09 ft, based on 8 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 Kentucky River at Lock 1 near Carrollton today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 12:30 PM EDT, the water level was 9.66 ft. Down 0.19 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Kentucky River at Lock 1 near Carrollton rising or falling?
Down 0.19 ft over the last 24 hours. Up 0.81 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Kentucky River at Lock 1 near Carrollton normal?
High for mid-October. Compared with 8 years of daily readings for this time of year.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Kentucky River at Lock 1 near Carrollton?
The highest level on record is 45.46 ft on April 8, 2025.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:03291585(Agency page)- Coordinates
38.65870, -85.14479(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 | 9.66 ft | 2026-10-20 16:30 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Kentucky River at Lock 1 near Carrollton (usgs:03291585). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/kentucky/kentucky-river-at-lock-1-near-carrollton
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