Mill Creek near Paxico water level

Name: Mill Creek near Paxico 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, Mill Creek, Kansas, United States

Directions

High for mid-October

Water level

3.70ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 19, 2026, 08:45 AM CDT (1 hour ago)

Flow: 119 cfs

History

7 days 30 days 1 year Years compared

20252026

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

What this means

Mill Creek near Paxico is above normal at 3.70 ft.

That puts it 0.84 ft above the median of 2.86 ft for mid-October, based on 38 years of readings. It is 17.30 ft below the flood stage of 21.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 2.85 ft (+0.85 ft).

The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 3.25 ft and 14.22 ft.

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

Compared with 38 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date: 2.86 ft0.84 ft above the median for this date
Normal for this date: 2.14 ft – 3.78 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (38 years of records)
Same day last year: 2.85 ft+0.85 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 3.25 ft – 14.22 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 2.80 ft – 21.11 ft
Highest on record: 34.70 ftJuly 12, 1951

Floating and fishing near Mill Creek near Paxico

Experienced paddlers may enjoy higher water, but many outfitters stop rentals once a river runs this high.

Flood stage here is 21.00 ft, 17.30 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.

What happens at each level

34.40 ft: Water overtops the railroad tracks at Newbury Avenue.
33.00 ft: Major flooding occurs as waters top the levee on the north side of Paxico. Campsites at higher elevations begin to flood.
32.29 ft: Highway 138 is overtopped by Mill Creek.
31.00 ft: Water approaches north side of Paxico along ditch and levee.
30.00 ft: Campsites on west side of campground begin to flood.
21.00 ft: Low lying farm fields and campsites along the creek begin to flood.
3.70 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: 12 %.

Rank	Level	Date
1	34.70 ft	July 12, 1951
2	30.55 ft	May 16, 2021
3	30.41 ft	April 27, 2016
4	28.96 ft	April 27, 2009
5	28.02 ft	May 7, 2007
6	27.81 ft	May 27, 2016
7	27.64 ft	May 26, 2019
8	26.91 ft	June 10, 2014
9	26.44 ft	May 8, 2019
10	26.34 ft	June 23, 2019

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:39 AM Sunset 06:42 PM Daylight 11 hr, 3 min First quarter 60%

Map

Other gauges on Mill Creek

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Mill Creek at WashingtonRiver gauge, Mill Creek	1.98 ft	Normal	−0.07 ft	69 mi
Mill Creek at Johnson Drive, ShawneeRiver gauge, Mill Creek	23.2 cfs	Normal	−3.8 cfs	73 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Kansas River near BelvueRiver gauge, Kansas River	15.58 ft	Very high	−0.08 ft	9 mi
Kansas River at WamegoRiver gauge, Kansas River	9.27 ft	Very high	−0.08 ft	12 mi
Cross Creek at RossvilleRiver gauge, Cross Creek	7.64 ft	Below flood stage	−0.01 ft	13 mi
Soldier Creek near DeliaRiver gauge, Soldier Creek	5.63 ft	Normal	±0	19 mi
Vermillion Creek near WamegoRiver gauge, Vermillion Creek	3.30 ft	Low	+0.01 ft	20 mi
Kansas River at ManhattanRiver gauge, Kansas River	7.64 ft	Normal	−0.07 ft	22 mi
Kings Creek near ManhattanRiver gauge, Kings Creek	3.0 cfs	Very high	−0.2 cfs	23 mi
Soldier Creek near TopekaRiver gauge, Soldier Creek	0.30 ft	Normal	±0	24 mi

Questions and answers

How does Mill Creek near Paxico compare with last year?

It is 0.85 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 2.85 ft.

What is flood stage for Mill Creek near Paxico?

The official flood stage is 21.00 ft. The level is currently 17.30 ft below it.

What is a normal level for Mill Creek near Paxico in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 2.86 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 2.14 ft and 3.78 ft, based on 38 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 Mill Creek near Paxico today?

On Oct 19, 2026, 08:45 AM CDT, the water level was 3.70 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is Mill Creek near Paxico rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 0.15 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Mill Creek near Paxico normal?

High for mid-October. Compared with 38 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:06888500 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 39.06472, -96.16916 (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	3.70 ft	2026-10-19 13:45	Provisional
Flow	119 cfs	2026-10-19 13:45	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Mill Creek near Paxico (usgs:06888500). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/kansas/mill-creek-near-paxico

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