Smoky Hill River near Schoenchen water level

Name: Smoky Hill River near Schoenchen 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, Smoky Hill River, Kansas, United States

Directions

Normal for mid-October

Water level

3.09ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 20, 2026, 03:30 AM CDT (45 min ago)

Flow: 5.0 cfs

History

7 days 30 days 1 year Years compared

20252026

Water level Normal range (10–90 %)

What this means

The gauge at Smoky Hill River near Schoenchen reads 3.09 ft, a normal level for mid-October.

The median for mid-October is 2.85 ft, based on 30 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.24 ft above typical. On the same day last year the reading was 2.80 ft, a difference of +0.29 ft.

It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 2.60 ft and 5.72 ft.

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

Compared with 30 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date: 2.85 ft0.24 ft above the median for this date
Normal for this date: 2.44 ft – 3.59 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (30 years of records)
Same day last year: 2.80 ft+0.29 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 2.60 ft – 5.72 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 2.53 ft – 8.61 ft
Highest on record: 11.00 ftOctober 9, 2018

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.

What happens at each level

13.30 ft: The county road just west of bridge begins to overflow.
10.40 ft: Right bank overflows initiate about 100 feet downstream of bridge.
3.09 ft: Right now

Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.

Highest crests on record

Rank	Level	Date
1	11.00 ft	October 9, 2018
2	10.93 ft	April 17, 2016
3	10.84 ft	August 24, 2010
4	10.46 ft	July 10, 2014
5	4.96 ft	August 17, 2006

Weather at the gauge

Rain in the last 3 days: 0.24 in. Rain that falls upstream can take hours or days to show up at a river gauge.

17 Sat 64° 31° – Wind 16 mph

18 Sun 69° 41° – Wind 20 mph

19 Mon 71° 42° – Wind 15 mph

20 Tue 72° 53° 0.00 in Wind 20 mph

21 Wed 82° 60° – Wind 17 mph

22 Thu 85° 61° – Wind 16 mph

23 Fri 81° 68° – Wind 23 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:52 AM Sunset 06:53 PM Daylight 11 hr, 1 min First quarter 67%

Map

Other gauges on the Smoky Hill River

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Smoky Hill River at ElkaderRiver gauge, Smoky Hill River	4.61 ft	Very high	−0.02 ft	82 mi
Smoky Hill River near ArnoldRiver gauge, Smoky Hill River	0.23 ft	Low	±0	37 mi
Smoky Hill River below SchoenchenRiver gauge, Smoky Hill River	2.85 ft	Very high	−0.02 ft	3.0 mi
Smoky Hill River at PfeiferRiver gauge, Smoky Hill River	9.5 cfs	Normal	−0.5 cfs	10 mi
Smoky Hill River near RussellRiver gauge, Smoky Hill River	4.18 ft	Below flood stage	−0.05 ft	27 mi
Smoky Hill River at EllsworthRiver gauge, Smoky Hill River	1.76 ft	Normal	−0.03 ft	60 mi
Smoky Hill River near LangleyRiver gauge, Smoky Hill River	3.67 ft	Normal	−0.02 ft	76 mi
Smoky Hill River at LindsborgRiver gauge, Smoky Hill River	7.31 ft	Below flood stage	−0.04 ft	91 mi
Smoky Hill River near MentorRiver gauge, Smoky Hill River	4.39 ft	Normal	−0.02 ft	96 mi
Smoky Hill River at New CambriaRiver gauge, Smoky Hill River	5.95 ft	Below flood stage	−0.02 ft	101 mi
Smoky Hill River at EnterpriseRiver gauge, Smoky Hill River	7.41 ft	Normal	−0.06 ft	121 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Big Creek near HaysRiver gauge, Big Creek	4.67 ft	Normal	−0.01 ft	10 mi
Walnut Creek at NekomaRiver gauge, Walnut Creek	6.60 ft	Normal	−0.02 ft	17 mi
Cedar Bluff Re near EllisLake, Cedar Bluff Re	2,118.67 ft	Very low	−0.01 ft	21 mi
Big Creek near EllisRiver gauge, Big Creek	1.0 cfs	Normal	−0.6 cfs	22 mi
Walnut Creek at AlbertRiver gauge, Walnut Creek	2.52 ft	Low	−0.06 ft	25 mi
Saline River near RussellRiver gauge, Saline River	4.50 ft	Normal	−0.01 ft	32 mi
Pawnee River at RozelRiver gauge, Pawnee River	7.19 ft	Normal	−0.02 ft	35 mi

Questions and answers

Is the Smoky Hill River near Schoenchen higher than last year?

Yes, it is 0.29 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 2.80 ft.

What is a normal level for the Smoky Hill River near Schoenchen in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 2.85 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 2.44 ft and 3.59 ft, based on 30 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 Smoky Hill River near Schoenchen today?

On Oct 20, 2026, 03:30 AM CDT, the water level was 3.09 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is Smoky Hill River near Schoenchen rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 0.13 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Smoky Hill River near Schoenchen normal?

Normal for mid-October. Compared with 30 years of daily readings for this time of year.

What is the highest water level ever recorded at Smoky Hill River near Schoenchen?

The highest level on record is 11.00 ft on October 9, 2018.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads

Operator: U.S. Geological Survey
Station code: usgs:06862700 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 38.71168, -99.34705 (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	3.09 ft	2026-10-20 08:30	Provisional
Flow	5.0 cfs	2026-10-20 08:30	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Smoky Hill River near Schoenchen (usgs:06862700). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/kansas/smoky-hill-river-near-schoenchen

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