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SwedenSaline River at Lincoln water level
River gauge, Saline River, Kansas, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 14.5 cfs
History
What this means
The Saline River at Lincoln is at 10.39 ft, in the normal range.
It is 19.61 ft below the flood stage of 30.00 ft.
It has dropped 0.05 ft over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 10.38 ft and 10.52 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 38.55 ftJuly 23, 1993
Floating and fishing near Saline River at Lincoln
Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.
Flood stage here is 30.00 ft, 19.61 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.
What happens at each level
- 38.00 ft
- Widespread flooding of low-lying and agricultural areas can be expected. Several roads near Lincoln will be flooded.
- 36.00 ft
- Highway 14 south of the gage site begins to flood.
- 33.00 ft
- Flood waters cover 220th Road near the river, located just southeast of Lincoln. Expect the river to be out of its banks between 1/4 to 1/2 miles in expanse. Lowland flooding occurs east and west of town.
- 32.00 ft
- The lowlands around the gage site begin to flood. Much of this lowland is cultivated land.
- 30.00 ft
- The railroad tracks flood 4 miles west of Lincoln when Spillman Creek is high. Water may be near 2 feet deep.
- 10.39 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: 5 %.
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 38.55 ft | July 23, 1993 |
| 2 | 36.40 ft | April 15, 1987 |
| 3 | 35.82 ft | June 24, 1993 |
| 4 | 35.50 ft | March 24, 1987 |
| 5 | 35.10 ft | May 23, 1961 |
| 6 | 35.00 ft | June 3, 2011 |
| 7 | 34.85 ft | March 27, 1960 |
| 8 | 34.85 ft | March 27, 1960 |
| 9 | 34.75 ft | July 3, 1982 |
| 10 | 34.65 ft | May 20, 1958 |
Weather at the gauge
Rain in the last 3 days: 0.14 in. Rain that falls upstream can take hours or days to show up at a river gauge.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Other gauges on the Saline River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saline River near WakeeneyRiver gauge, Saline River | 2.11 ft | Normal | −0.05 ft | 92 mi |
| Saline River near RussellRiver gauge, Saline River | 4.51 ft | Normal | −0.01 ft | 38 mi |
| Saline River at Wilson DamRiver gauge, Saline River | 2.87 ft | Normal | ±0 | 19 mi |
| Saline River at TescottRiver gauge, Saline River | 6.68 ft | Normal | ±0 | 15 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Creek near AdaRiver gauge, Salt Creek | 4.56 ft | High | −0.02 ft | 18 mi |
| Wilson Lake near WilsonLake, Wilson Lake | 1,511.18 ft | Low | −0.03 ft | 19 mi |
| Smoky Hill River at EllsworthRiver gauge, Smoky Hill River | 1.78 ft | Normal | −0.05 ft | 21 mi |
| Solomon River near MinneapolisRiver gauge, Solomon River | 2.36 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 24 mi |
| Mulberry Creek near SalinaRiver gauge, Mulberry Creek | 3.83 ft | Below flood stage | −0.03 ft | 29 mi |
| Solomon River at BeloitRiver gauge, Solomon River | 2.94 ft | Below flood stage | −0.08 ft | 30 mi |
| Smoky Hill River near LangleyRiver gauge, Smoky Hill River | 3.69 ft | Normal | −0.03 ft | 31 mi |
| Kanopolis Lake near KanopolisLake, Kanopolis Lake | 1,466.85 ft | Very high | −0.06 ft | 31 mi |
Questions and answers
What is flood stage for the Saline River at Lincoln?
The official flood stage is 30.00 ft. The level is currently 19.61 ft below it.
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 Saline River at Lincoln today?
On Oct 19, 2026, 01:45 AM CDT, the water level was 10.39 ft. Down 0.05 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Saline River at Lincoln rising or falling?
Down 0.05 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is the level of Saline River at Lincoln normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Saline River at Lincoln?
The highest level on record is 38.55 ft on July 23, 1993.
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:06868850(Agency page)- Coordinates
39.02832, -98.15017(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 | 10.39 ft | 2026-10-19 06:45 | Provisional |
| Flow | 14.5 cfs | 2026-10-19 06:45 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Saline River at Lincoln (usgs:06868850). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/kansas/saline-river-at-lincoln
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