Licking River at Blue Lick Springs water level
River gauge, Licking River, Kentucky, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 182 cfs
History
What this means
Water levels are unremarkable at Licking River at Blue Lick Springs, where the gauge shows 4.72 ft.
It is 20.28 ft below the flood stage of 25.00 ft.
It is still going down, by 0.28 ft over the past 24 hours. The 30-day range is 4.72 ft – 6.46 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
- 47.60 ftMarch 3, 1997
Paddling and fishing conditions
Most paddlers and anglers will find the river in good shape at this stage.
For reference, flood stage is 25.00 ft.
What happens at each level
- 47.60 ft
- All low areas in and near Blue Licks Spring are flooded.
- 45.00 ft
- Water reaches surface of old KY 68 bridge over the Licking River.
- 42.00 ft
- Homes in and near Blue Licks Spring have water in the first floor.
- 25.00 ft
- Cropland flooding begins.
- 4.72 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: 20 %.
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 47.60 ft | March 3, 1997 |
| 2 | 47.40 ft | January 1, 1937 |
| 3 | 45.00 ft | April 13, 1948 |
| 4 | 41.40 ft | February 16, 1989 |
| 5 | 41.20 ft | March 10, 1964 |
| 6 | 40.96 ft | May 5, 2010 |
| 7 | 40.43 ft | April 6, 2025 |
| 8 | 40.20 ft | February 3, 1950 |
| 9 | 39.50 ft | December 9, 1978 |
| 10 | 39.45 ft | March 2, 1962 |
Weather at the gauge
No rain in the last 3 days.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Other gauges on the Licking River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licking River near Newark OHRiver gauge, Licking River | 3.22 ft | Below flood stage | −0.03 ft | 144 mi |
| Licking River below Dillon Dam near Dillon Falls OHRiver gauge, Licking River | 4.28 ft | High | +0.15 ft | 149 mi |
| Licking River below Mason Fork near SalyersvilleRiver gauge, Licking River | 4.81 ft | Below flood stage | −0.05 ft | 70 mi |
| Licking River at FarmersRiver gauge, Licking River | 8.68 ft | No reference yet | ±0 | 32 mi |
| Licking River at Highway 60 at FarmersRiver gauge, Licking River | 2.45 ft | No reference yet | −0.22 ft | 31 mi |
| Licking River at McKinneysburgRiver gauge, Licking River | 4.76 ft | Below flood stage | −0.33 ft | 19 mi |
| Licking River at CatawbaRiver gauge, Licking River | 424 cfs | Normal | −147.0 cfs | 26 mi |
| Licking River at Highway 536 near AlexandriaRiver gauge, Licking River | 491 cfs | Normal | −143.0 cfs | 42 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Fork Licking River near Mount OlivetRiver gauge, North Fork Licking River | 1.55 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 12 mi |
| Hinkston Creek near CarlisleRiver gauge, Hinkston Creek | 7.4 cfs | Normal | −2.3 cfs | 12 mi |
| South Fork Licking River at CynthianaRiver gauge, South Fork Licking River | 5.01 ft | Below flood stage | −0.06 ft | 17 mi |
| Stoner Creek at Water Plant at ParisRiver gauge, Stoner Creek | 13.21 ft | Normal | −0.03 ft | 20 mi |
| Ohio River at MaysvilleRiver gauge, Ohio River | 33.87 ft | Low | −0.30 ft | 22 mi |
| Rock Lick Creek at State Highway 158 near Sharkey, Ky Station DRiver gauge, Rock Lick Creek | 0.1 cfs | Low | ±0 | 25 mi |
| South Fork Licking River at HayesRiver gauge, South Fork Licking River | 120 cfs | Normal | −11.0 cfs | 25 mi |
| Slate Creek at Highway 713 near Mount SterlingRiver gauge, Slate Creek | 14.2 cfs | Normal | −3.2 cfs | 29 mi |
Questions and answers
What is flood stage for the Licking River at Blue Lick Springs?
The official flood stage is 25.00 ft. The level is currently 20.28 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 Licking River at Blue Lick Springs today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 06:00 PM EDT, the water level was 4.72 ft. Down 0.28 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Licking River at Blue Lick Springs rising or falling?
Down 0.28 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is the level of Licking River at Blue Lick Springs normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Licking River at Blue Lick Springs?
The highest level on record is 47.60 ft on March 3, 1997.
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:03250500(Agency page)- Coordinates
38.42007, -83.99743(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 | 4.72 ft | 2026-10-20 22:00 | Provisional |
| Flow | 182 cfs | 2026-10-20 22:00 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Licking River at Blue Lick Springs (usgs:03250500). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/kentucky/licking-river-at-blue-lick-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