Wildcat Creek at Seth Childs Road, Manhattan water level
River gauge, Wildcat Creek, Kansas, United States
Right now
Normal for mid-October
Water level
History
20252026
What this means
Wildcat Creek at Seth Childs Road, Manhattan is at 2.73 ft, in the normal range for mid-October.
The median for mid-October is 2.45 ft, based on 14 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.28 ft above typical. On the same day last year the reading was 2.40 ft, a difference of +0.33 ft.
It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 2.37 ft and 7.48 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Compared with 14 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 2.45 ft0.28 ft above the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 2.16 ft – 3.45 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (14 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 2.40 ft+0.33 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 2.37 ft – 7.48 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 2.09 ft – 8.47 ft
- Highest on record
- 25.18 ftSeptember 3, 2018
Floating and fishing near Wildcat Creek at Seth Childs Road, Manhattan
Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25.18 ft | September 3, 2018 |
| 2 | 16.82 ft | May 8, 2019 |
| 3 | 14.27 ft | June 10, 2014 |
| 4 | 13.26 ft | July 15, 2021 |
| 5 | 12.17 ft | May 27, 16 |
| 6 | 10.83 ft | May 20, 2017 |
| 7 | 9.70 ft | July 2, 2022 |
| 8 | 9.48 ft | May 16, 2023 |
| 9 | 9.40 ft | July 29, 2020 |
| 10 | 9.27 ft | June 5, 2015 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on Wildcat Creek
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildcat Creek at KeatsRiver gauge, Wildcat Creek | 8.20 ft | High | −0.02 ft | 5.8 mi |
| Wildcat Creek at Scenic Drive, ManhattanRiver gauge, Wildcat Creek | 3.02 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 1.7 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas River at ManhattanRiver gauge, Kansas River | 7.29 ft | Normal | −0.29 ft | 3.1 mi |
| Big Blue River near ManhattanRiver gauge, Big Blue River | 11.15 ft | Very high | −0.15 ft | 4.2 mi |
| Tuttle C Lake near ManhattanLake, Tuttle C Lake | 1,083.97 ft | Very high | −1.13 ft | 4.8 mi |
| Kings Creek near ManhattanRiver gauge, Kings Creek | 2.6 cfs | Very high | −0.3 cfs | 5.8 mi |
| Kansas River at Fort RileyRiver gauge, Kansas River | 5.53 ft | Normal | −0.49 ft | 12 mi |
| Republican River at Junction CityRiver gauge, Republican River | 159 cfs | Normal | −122.0 cfs | 15 mi |
| Kansas River at WamegoRiver gauge, Kansas River | 9.11 ft | Very high | −0.15 ft | 16 mi |
| Milford Lake near Junction CityLake, Milford Lake | 1,145.82 ft | Very high | +0.03 ft | 17 mi |
Questions and answers
Is Wildcat Creek at Seth Childs Road, Manhattan higher than last year?
Yes, it is 0.33 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 2.40 ft.
What is a normal level for Wildcat Creek at Seth Childs Road, Manhattan in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 2.45 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 2.16 ft and 3.45 ft, based on 14 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 Wildcat Creek at Seth Childs Road, Manhattan today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 12:30 PM CDT, the water level was 2.73 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Wildcat Creek at Seth Childs Road, Manhattan rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours. Steady over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Wildcat Creek at Seth Childs Road, Manhattan normal?
Normal for mid-October. Compared with 14 years of daily readings for this time of year.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Wildcat Creek at Seth Childs Road, Manhattan?
The highest level on record is 25.18 ft on September 3, 2018.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:06879815(Agency page)- Coordinates
39.18474, -96.61084(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 | 2.73 ft | 2026-10-20 17:30 | Provisional |
Download
Embed this gauge
Add a live card for this gauge to your website. It updates on its own and links back here.
How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Wildcat Creek at Seth Childs Road, Manhattan (usgs:06879815). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/kansas/wildcat-creek-at-seth-childs-road-manhattan
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