Marais Des Cygnes River near Ottawa water level

Name: Marais Des Cygnes River near Ottawa 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, Marais Des Cygnes River, Kansas, United States

Directions

High for mid-October

Water level

5.38ft Down 0.19 ft over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 20, 2026, 07:30 AM CDT (43 min ago)

Flow: 357 cfs

History

7 days 30 days 1 year Years compared

20252026

Water level Normal range (10–90 %) Minor flood stage

What this means

High water at Marais Des Cygnes River near Ottawa: the latest reading is 5.38 ft, above normal for mid-October.

That puts it 1.71 ft above the median of 3.67 ft for mid-October, based on 36 years of readings. It is 24.62 ft below the flood stage of 30.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 3.56 ft (+1.82 ft).

It is still going down, by 0.19 ft over the past 24 hours. The 30-day range is 3.63 ft – 13.09 ft.

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

Compared with 36 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date: 3.67 ft1.71 ft above the median for this date
Normal for this date: 3.51 ft – 6.48 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (36 years of records)
Same day last year: 3.56 ft+1.82 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 3.63 ft – 13.09 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 3.55 ft – 23.90 ft
Highest on record: 42.97 ftJuly 11, 1951

Paddling and fishing conditions

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

For reference, flood stage is 30.00 ft.

What happens at each level

37.00 ft: Flood barriers are closed on Main Street in north Ottawa. Also flooding occurs in parts of east and west Ottawa due to backwater from the river along creeks. Homes are threatened by flood waters in parts of west and east Ottawa.
31.00 ft: Lowland areas near the river continue to flood.
30.00 ft: Neosho Road east of Ottawa floods.
5.38 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: 16 %.

Rank	Level	Date
1	42.97 ft	July 11, 1951
2	41.00 ft	July 1, 2007
3	38.92 ft	November 2, 1998
4	34.95 ft	September 14, 1961
5	34.58 ft	June 27, 1969
6	34.33 ft	May 17, 1995
7	34.16 ft	May 22, 2019
8	34.03 ft	June 24, 2019
9	34.01 ft	October 12, 1973
10	34.01 ft	October 12, 1973

Weather at the gauge

No rain in the last 3 days.

20 Tue 64° 45° – Wind 7 mph

21 Wed 71° 51° – Wind 6 mph

22 Thu 76° 56° – Wind 10 mph

23 Fri 78° 58° – Wind 15 mph

24 Sat 78° 57° – Wind 15 mph

25 Sun 77° 60° – Wind 12 mph

26 Mon 64° 49° 0.67 in Wind 14 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:36 AM Sunset 06:37 PM Daylight 11 hr, 1 min First quarter 68%

Map

Other gauges on the Marais Des Cygnes River

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Marais Des Cygnes River near ReadingRiver gauge, Marais Des Cygnes River	2.96 ft	Very high	−0.04 ft	38 mi
Marais Des Cygnes River at MelvernRiver gauge, Marais Des Cygnes River	242 cfs	High	±0	24 mi
Marais Des Cygnes River near PomonaRiver gauge, Marais Des Cygnes River	2.33 ft	High	−0.05 ft	10 mi
Marais Des Cygnes River at La CygneRiver gauge, Marais Des Cygnes River	5.70 ft	Normal	−0.36 ft	33 mi
Marais Des Cygnes River near Ks-Mo St LineRiver gauge, Marais Des Cygnes River	5.15 ft	Normal	−0.54 ft	45 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Pottawatomie Creek at LaneRiver gauge, Pottawatomie Creek	5.79 ft	Below flood stage	−0.10 ft	16 mi
Hundred and Ten Mile Creek near QuenemoRiver gauge, Hundred and Ten Mile Creek	2.78 ft	Low	+0.38 ft	16 mi
Pomona Lake near QuenemoLake, Pomona Lake	974.54 ft	Normal	±0	16 mi
Big Bull Creek near EdgertonRiver gauge, Big Bull Creek	1.88 ft	Normal	−0.04 ft	18 mi
Pottawatomie Creek near GarnettRiver gauge, Pottawatomie Creek	3.58 ft	Below flood stage	−0.14 ft	20 mi
Hillsdale Lake near HillsdaleLake, Hillsdale Lake	917.06 ft	High	−0.01 ft	20 mi
Big Bull Creek near HillsdaleRiver gauge, Big Bull Creek	2.15 ft	Normal	+0.15 ft	20 mi
Wakarusa River near LawrenceRiver gauge, Wakarusa River	4.24 ft	Normal	−0.03 ft	20 mi

Questions and answers

How does the Marais Des Cygnes River near Ottawa compare with last year?

It is 1.82 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 3.56 ft.

What is flood stage for the Marais Des Cygnes River near Ottawa?

The official flood stage is 30.00 ft. The level is currently 24.62 ft below it.

What is a normal level for the Marais Des Cygnes River near Ottawa in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 3.67 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 3.51 ft and 6.48 ft, based on 36 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 Marais Des Cygnes River near Ottawa today?

On Oct 20, 2026, 07:30 AM CDT, the water level was 5.38 ft. Down 0.19 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is Marais Des Cygnes River near Ottawa rising or falling?

Down 0.19 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 2.64 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Marais Des Cygnes River near Ottawa normal?

High for mid-October. Compared with 36 years of daily readings for this time of year.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads

Operator: U.S. Geological Survey
Station code: usgs:06913500 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 38.61807, -95.26831 (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	5.38 ft	2026-10-20 12:30	Provisional
Flow	357 cfs	2026-10-20 12:30	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Marais Des Cygnes River near Ottawa (usgs:06913500). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/kansas/marais-des-cygnes-river-near-ottawa

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