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Cache River at Forman water level

River gauge, Cache River, Illinois, United States

Directions

Normal for mid-October

Water level

8.28ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Flow
1.6 cfs
0 13 25 38 Highest onrecord 39.01 ft

History

-0510ftOct 11Oct 12Oct 14Oct 15Oct 17-0510ftOct 11Oct 14Oct 17
-0510ftSep 18Sep 25Oct 2Oct 10Oct 17-0510ftSep 18Oct 2Oct 17
-0102030ftOct 2025Jan 2026Apr 2026Jul 2026Oct 2026-0102030ftOct 2025Apr 2026Oct 2026
-0102030ftJanMarMayJulSepNov2026-0102030ftJanAprJulOct2026

20252026

Water level Normal range (10–90 %)

What this means

Water levels are unremarkable at Cache River at Forman, where the gauge shows 8.28 ft.

That puts it 0.85 ft below the median of 9.13 ft for mid-October, based on 34 years of readings. A year ago it stood at 8.46 ft (−0.18 ft).

The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. The 30-day range is 8.24 ft – 8.62 ft.

Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.

Compared with 34 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date
9.13 ft0.85 ft below the median for this date
Normal for this date
0.64 ft – 10.78 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (34 years of records)
Same day last year
8.46 ft−0.18 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days
8.24 ft – 8.62 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months
8.24 ft – 32.24 ft
Highest on record
39.01 ftMarch 20, 2008

Paddling and fishing conditions

Most paddlers and anglers will find the river in good shape at this stage.

Highest crests on record

RankLevelDate
139.01 ftMarch 20, 2008

Weather at the gauge

Rain in the last 3 days: 0.07 in. Rain that falls upstream can take hours or days to show up at a river gauge.

17 Sat 59° 44° – Wind 11 mph
18 Sun 65° 39° – Wind 6 mph
19 Mon 73° 46° – Wind 5 mph
20 Tue 75° 49° – Wind 7 mph
21 Wed 76° 51° – Wind 5 mph
22 Thu 79° 51° – Wind 5 mph
23 Fri 79° 53° – Wind 7 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:06 AM Sunset 06:17 PM Daylight 11 hr, 11 min First quarter 40%

Map

Other gauges on the Cache River

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Cache River at EgyptRiver gauge, Cache River 4.00 ft Low −0.14 ft 151 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Ohio River at OlmstedRiver gauge, Ohio River 21.77 ft Below flood stage −0.73 ft 13 mi
Lusk Creek near EddyvilleRiver gauge, Lusk Creek 1.87 ft Low −0.03 ft 23 mi
Massac Creek near PaducahRiver gauge, Massac Creek 1.4 cfs Normal +0.6 cfs 23 mi
Ohio River at Dam 51 at GolcondaRiver gauge, Ohio River 30.22 ft Below flood stage −0.03 ft 24 mi
Ohio River at PaducahRiver gauge, Ohio River 16.06 ft Normal −0.53 ft 25 mi
South Fork Saline River near Carrier MillsRiver gauge, South Fork Saline River 2.21 ft Low −0.01 ft 25 mi
Mayfield Creek at LovelacevilleRiver gauge, Mayfield Creek 35.9 cfs High −4.0 cfs 27 mi
Crab Orchard Creek near MarionRiver gauge, Crab Orchard Creek 0.66 ft Very low −0.03 ft 27 mi

Questions and answers

How does the Cache River at Forman compare with last year?

It is 0.18 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 8.46 ft.

What is a normal level for the Cache River at Forman in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 9.13 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 0.64 ft and 10.78 ft, based on 34 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 Cache River at Forman today?

On Oct 17, 2026, 08:00 AM CDT, the water level was 8.28 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is Cache River at Forman rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 0.09 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Cache River at Forman normal?

Normal for mid-October. Compared with 34 years of daily readings for this time of year.

What is the highest water level ever recorded at Cache River at Forman?

The highest level on record is 39.01 ft on March 20, 2008.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
Operator
U.S. Geological Survey
Station code
usgs:03612000 (Agency page)
Coordinates
37.33500, -88.92528 (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 8.28 ft 2026-10-17 13:00 Provisional
Flow 1.6 cfs 2026-10-17 13:00 Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Cache River at Forman (usgs:03612000). Accessed October 17, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/illinois/cache-river-at-forman

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