Pen Branch at Columbia water level
River gauge, Pen Branch, South Carolina, United States
Right now
Normal for mid-October
Water level
History
20252026
What this means
The gauge at Pen Branch at Columbia reads 0.61 ft, a normal level for mid-October.
That puts it 0.02 ft above the median of 0.59 ft for mid-October, based on 15 years of readings.
The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 0.61 ft and 1.52 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Compared with 15 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 0.59 ft0.02 ft above the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 0.52 ft – 0.80 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (15 years of records)
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 0.61 ft – 1.52 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 0.61 ft – 1.63 ft
- Highest on record
- 8.11 ftSeptember 26, 2024
What the stage means on the water
A normal level is usually prime time for floating and wade fishing, as long as the weather holds upstream.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8.11 ft | September 26, 2024 |
| 2 | 7.77 ft | July 23, 2023 |
| 3 | 7.59 ft | June 27, 2023 |
| 4 | 7.55 ft | May 21, 2022 |
| 5 | 7.14 ft | July 24, 2024 |
| 6 | 6.98 ft | June 16, 2022 |
| 7 | 6.74 ft | September 17, 2023 |
| 8 | 6.69 ft | July 18, 2022 |
| 9 | 6.42 ft | August 18, 2024 |
| 10 | 6.40 ft | June 30, 2024 |
Weather at the gauge
Rain in the last 3 days: 0.17 in. Rain that falls upstream can take hours or days to show up at a river gauge.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gills Creek at ColumbiaRiver gauge, Gills Creek | 0.92 ft | Very low | −0.04 ft | 1.7 mi |
| Rocky Branch at Pickens St at ColumbiaRiver gauge, Rocky Branch | 2.67 ft | Low | ±0 | 2.7 mi |
| Rocky Branch at Whaley St at ColumbiaRiver gauge, Rocky Branch | 1.10 ft | Normal | ±0 | 3.1 mi |
| Smith Branch at North Main St at ColumbiaRiver gauge, Smith Branch | 0.39 ft | Very low | ±0 | 3.6 mi |
| Congaree River at ColumbiaRiver gauge, Congaree River | 3.48 ft | Normal | −0.10 ft | 4.1 mi |
| Broad River near ColumbiaRiver gauge, Broad River | 154.09 ft | Normal | −0.01 ft | 5.8 mi |
| Saluda River near ColumbiaRiver gauge, Saluda River | 3.27 ft | High | ±0 | 6.1 mi |
| Congaree Creek at South CongareeRiver gauge, Congaree Creek | 3.45 ft | Normal | −0.06 ft | 11 mi |
Questions and answers
What is a normal level for Pen Branch at Columbia in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 0.59 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 0.52 ft and 0.80 ft, based on 15 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 Pen Branch at Columbia today?
On Oct 19, 2026, 10:15 PM EDT, the water level was 0.61 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Pen Branch at Columbia rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours. Steady over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Pen Branch at Columbia normal?
Normal for mid-October. Compared with 15 years of daily readings for this time of year.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Pen Branch at Columbia?
The highest level on record is 8.11 ft on September 26, 2024.
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:02169568(Agency page)- Coordinates
34.01293, -80.98203(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 | 0.61 ft | 2026-10-20 02:15 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Pen Branch at Columbia (usgs:02169568). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/south-carolina/pen-branch-at-columbia
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