Saddle Creek at Structure P-11 near Bartow water level

Name: Saddle Creek at Structure P-11 near Bartow water level (U.S. Geological Survey)
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
License: https://www.usgs.gov/information-policies-and-instructions/copyrights-and-credits

River gauge, Saddle Creek, Florida, United States

Directions

High for mid-October

Water level

15.71ft Up 5.13 ft over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 19, 2026, 01:30 PM EDT (1 hour ago)

Flow: 37.7 cfs

History

7 days 30 days 1 year Years compared

20252026

Water level Normal range (10–90 %)

What this means

High water at Saddle Creek at Structure P-11 near Bartow: the latest reading is 15.71 ft, above normal for mid-October.

That puts it 5.18 ft above the median of 10.53 ft for mid-October, based on 45 years of readings. A year ago it stood at 9.95 ft (+5.76 ft).

It is on the way up, by 5.13 ft over the past 24 hours. If the rise continues, low-lying paths and riverside parking can go under water. The 30-day range is 9.20 ft – 15.85 ft.

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

Compared with 45 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date: 10.53 ft5.18 ft above the median for this date
Normal for this date: 8.71 ft – 15.95 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (45 years of records)
Same day last year: 9.95 ft+5.76 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 9.20 ft – 15.85 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 8.35 ft – 16.04 ft

Paddling and fishing conditions

Above-normal flows push fish to the edges and make wading risky. Wait for the river to drop and clear.

Weather at the gauge

Rain in the last 3 days: 2.02 in. Rain that falls upstream can take hours or days to show up at a river gauge.

18 Sun 78° 62° – Wind 15 mph

19 Mon 78° 62° 0.02 in Wind 16 mph

20 Tue 79° 62° – Wind 12 mph

21 Wed 79° 64° – Wind 14 mph

22 Thu 81° 64° – Wind 13 mph

23 Fri 80° 62° – Wind 16 mph

24 Sat 80° 64° – Wind 19 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:31 AM Sunset 06:55 PM Daylight 11 hr, 25 min First quarter 61%

Map

Other gauges on Saddle Creek

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Saddle Creek at St.hwy 542 near LakelandRiver gauge, Saddle Creek	14.64 ft	High	−0.07 ft	8 mi
Saddle Creek at State Highway 570 near Eaton ParkRiver gauge, Saddle Creek	12.49 ft	Normal	−0.03 ft	5.0 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Peace River at SR 60 at BartowRiver gauge, Peace River	5.13 ft	Normal	−0.07 ft	3.2 mi
Peace Creek near BartowRiver gauge, Peace Creek	95.40 ft	Normal	−0.13 ft	3.5 mi
Banana-Hancock Canal near Highland CityCanal gauge, Banana-Hancock Canal	2.82 ft	High	−0.02 ft	4.1 mi
Peace River near BartowRiver gauge, Peace River	9.35 ft	Normal	+0.01 ft	4.7 mi
Lake Lena Run near AuburndaleRiver gauge, Lake Lena Run	9.49 ft	High	−0.40 ft	4.9 mi
Gator Sink near BartowRiver gauge, Gator Sink	88.73 ft	Normal	+0.03 ft	5.2 mi
Peace River Distributary at Dover Sink near BartowRiver gauge, Peace River Distributary	88.96 ft	Normal	+0.03 ft	5.4 mi
Sixmile Creek at BartowRiver gauge, Sixmile Creek	11.67 ft	Normal	−0.02 ft	5.7 mi

Questions and answers

How does Saddle Creek at Structure P-11 near Bartow compare with last year?

It is 5.76 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 9.95 ft.

What is a normal level for Saddle Creek at Structure P-11 near Bartow in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 10.53 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 8.71 ft and 15.95 ft, based on 45 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 Saddle Creek at Structure P-11 near Bartow today?

On Oct 19, 2026, 01:30 PM EDT, the water level was 15.71 ft. Up 5.13 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is Saddle Creek at Structure P-11 near Bartow rising or falling?

Up 5.13 ft over the last 24 hours. Up 5.72 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Saddle Creek at Structure P-11 near Bartow normal?

High for mid-October. Compared with 45 years of daily readings for this time of year.

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:02294491 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 27.93788, -81.85071 (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	15.71 ft	2026-10-19 17:30	Provisional
Flow	37.7 cfs	2026-10-19 17:30	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Saddle Creek at Structure P-11 near Bartow (usgs:02294491). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/florida/saddle-creek-at-structure-p-11-near-bartow

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