North Cottonwood River below Marion Lake water level
River gauge, North Cottonwood River, Kansas, United States
Right now
Normal for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 31.4 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
The gauge at North Cottonwood River below Marion Lake reads 4.96 ft, a normal level for mid-October.
The median for mid-October is 5.02 ft, based on 38 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.06 ft below typical. On the same day last year the reading was 4.83 ft, a difference of +0.13 ft.
It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 4.62 ft and 9.82 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Compared with 38 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 5.02 ft0.06 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 4.73 ft – 5.50 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (38 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 4.83 ft+0.13 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 4.62 ft – 9.82 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 4.55 ft – 9.82 ft
What the stage means on the water
A normal level is usually prime time for floating and wade fishing, as long as the weather holds upstream.
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nf Cottonwood River near DurhamRiver gauge, Nf Cottonwood River | 6.4 cfs | High | −0.3 cfs | 13 mi |
| Cottonwood River near FlorenceRiver gauge, Cottonwood River | 3.17 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 14 mi |
| Cedar Creek near Cedar PointRiver gauge, Cedar Creek | 3.89 ft | Low | −0.01 ft | 18 mi |
| Gypsum Creek near GypsumRiver gauge, Gypsum Creek | 10.2 cfs | High | −0.5 cfs | 26 mi |
| Cottonwood River at Cottonwood FallsRiver gauge, Cottonwood River | 265 cfs | High | −17.0 cfs | 26 mi |
| Sf Cottonwood River near BazaarRiver gauge, Sf Cottonwood River | 40.8 cfs | Normal | −3.7 cfs | 31 mi |
| Lake Arkansas River at Alta MillsRiver gauge, Lake Arkansas River | −0.69 ft | Very low | ±0 | 33 mi |
| Emma Creek at SedgwickRiver gauge, Emma Creek | −1.91 ft | Below flood stage | −0.03 ft | 33 mi |
Questions and answers
Is the North Cottonwood River below Marion Lake higher than last year?
Yes, it is 0.13 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 4.83 ft.
What is a normal level for the North Cottonwood River below Marion Lake in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 5.02 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 4.73 ft and 5.50 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 North Cottonwood River below Marion Lake today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 05:30 AM CDT, the water level was 4.96 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is North Cottonwood River below Marion Lake rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 0.25 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of North Cottonwood River below Marion Lake normal?
Normal for mid-October. Compared with 38 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:07179795(Agency page)- Coordinates
38.36586, -97.08231(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 | 4.96 ft | 2026-10-20 10:30 | Provisional |
| Flow | 31.4 cfs | 2026-10-20 10:30 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: North Cottonwood River below Marion Lake (usgs:07179795). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/kansas/north-cottonwood-river-below-marion-lake
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