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Fox River at Waterford Dam, at Waterford water level

River gauge, Fox River, Wisconsin, United States

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Right now

Very high for mid-October

Water level

1.79ft Steady over the last 24 hours

1.8 2.0 2.2 Highest onrecord 2.23 ft

History

History
1.61.71.8ftOct 16Oct 17Oct 18Oct 19Oct 201.61.71.8ftOct 16Oct 18Oct 20
1.61.82.0ftSep 21Sep 28Oct 5Oct 13Oct 201.61.82.0ftSep 21Oct 5Oct 20
1.52.02.53.0ftOct 2025Jan 2026Apr 2026Jul 2026Oct 20261.52.02.53.0ftOct 2025Apr 2026Oct 2026
1.52.02.53.0ftJanMarMayJulSepNov20261.52.02.53.0ftJanAprJulOct2026

20252026

Water level Normal range (10–90 %)

What this means

The Fox River at Waterford Dam, at Waterford is well above normal at 1.79 ft.

That puts it 0.12 ft above the median of 1.67 ft for mid-October, based on 10 years of readings. A year ago it stood at 1.76 ft (+0.03 ft). The record high is 2.23 ft, set on August 20, 2025.

The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 1.58 ft and 1.80 ft.

That stands out in fall, when many rivers are usually near their lowest.

Compared with 10 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date
1.67 ft0.12 ft above the median for this date
Normal for this date
1.59 ft – 1.76 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (10 years of records)
Same day last year
1.76 ft+0.03 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days
1.58 ft – 1.80 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months
1.53 ft – 2.97 ft
Highest on record
2.23 ftAugust 20, 2025

Flood levels and safety

Most flood deaths in the US happen in vehicles. Six inches of fast water can knock an adult off their feet, and a foot or two can float a car. If a road is covered, turn around.

Readings can change quickly after heavy rain upstream, so check again before heading near the water.

Highest crests on record

RankLevelDate
12.23 ftAugust 20, 2025

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:13 AM Sunset 06:04 PM Daylight 10 hr, 51 min Waxing gibbous 71%

Map

Other gauges on the Fox River

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Fox River at PrincetonRiver gauge, Fox River 5.13 ft Below flood stage −0.05 ft 88 mi
Fox River at OshkoshRiver gauge, Fox River 6.34 ft Below flood stage +0.01 ft 88 mi
Fox River at WaukeshaRiver gauge, Fox River 3.07 ft Below flood stage −0.07 ft 17 mi
Fox River at RochesterRiver gauge, Fox River 4.32 ft Normal −0.24 ft 1.8 mi
Fox River near New MunsterRiver gauge, Fox River 6.70 ft Below flood stage −0.01 ft 11 mi
Fox River at JohnsburgRiver gauge, Fox River 4.10 ft Normal +0.06 ft 27 mi
Fox River near McHenryRiver gauge, Fox River 4.11 ft High +0.08 ft 32 mi
Fox River at AlgonquinRiver gauge, Fox River 1.75 ft High +0.01 ft 42 mi
Fox River at South ElginRiver gauge, Fox River 12.56 ft Normal −0.13 ft 53 mi
Fox River at South Elgin, Il (Tailwater)River gauge, Fox River 6.65 ft Normal −0.15 ft 53 mi
Fox River at MontgomeryRiver gauge, Fox River 11.49 ft Normal −0.17 ft 72 mi
Fox River at YorkvilleRiver gauge, Fox River 12.83 ft Normal −0.11 ft 78 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Wind Lake at Outlet at Wind LakeLake, Wind Lake 4.58 ft Very low −2.99 ft 4.9 mi
Muskego (Big Muskego) Lake Outlet near Wind LakeRiver gauge, Muskego (Big Muskego) Lake Outlet 11.74 ft High +3.05 ft 7 mi
Mukwonago River at MukwonagoRiver gauge, Mukwonago River 2.45 ft Below flood stage +0.06 ft 9 mi
Root River Canal near FranklinCanal gauge, Root River Canal 2.49 ft Below flood stage −0.05 ft 12 mi
Root River near FranklinRiver gauge, Root River 2.36 ft Below flood stage −0.02 ft 13 mi
Root River at Grange Avenue at GreendaleRiver gauge, Root River 4.7 cfs Normal ±0 16 mi
Geneva Lake at Lake GenevaLake, Geneva Lake 2.50 ft High −0.02 ft 17 mi

Questions and answers

How does the Fox River at Waterford Dam, at Waterford compare with last year?

It is 0.03 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 1.76 ft.

What is a normal level for the Fox River at Waterford Dam, at Waterford in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 1.67 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 1.59 ft and 1.76 ft, based on 10 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 Fox River at Waterford Dam, at Waterford today?

On Oct 20, 2026, 03:00 PM CDT, the water level was 1.79 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is Fox River at Waterford Dam, at Waterford rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours. Up 0.10 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Fox River at Waterford Dam, at Waterford normal?

Very high for mid-October. Compared with 10 years of daily readings for this time of year.

What is the highest water level ever recorded at Fox River at Waterford Dam, at Waterford?

The highest level on record is 2.23 ft on August 20, 2025.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
Operator
U.S. Geological Survey
Station code
usgs:05544348 (Agency page)
Coordinates
42.76528, -88.21333 (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

ParameterLast valueTime (UTC)Quality
Water level 1.79 ft 2026-10-20 20:00 Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Fox River at Waterford Dam, at Waterford (usgs:05544348). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/wisconsin/fox-river-at-waterford-dam-at-waterford

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.