Atchafalaya River at Butte La Rose water level

Name: Atchafalaya River at Butte La Rose 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, Atchafalaya River, Louisiana, United States

Directions

Normal for mid-October

Water level

4.93ft Down 0.30 ft over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 20, 2026, 09:00 AM CDT (26 min ago)

History

7 days 30 days 1 year Years compared

20252026

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

The forecast expects the river to rise to 5.30 ft by Wednesday, October 21 at 01:00 AM. Issued Monday, October 19 at 10:45 AM by NOAA National Weather Service.

What this means

The Atchafalaya River at Butte La Rose is at 4.93 ft, in the normal range for mid-October.

That puts it 1.04 ft above the median of 3.89 ft for mid-October, based on 26 years of readings. It is 15.07 ft below the flood stage of 20.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 2.96 ft (+1.97 ft).

It has dropped 0.30 ft over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to rise to 5.30 ft by Wednesday, October 21 at 01:00 AM. In the last month it has stayed between 3.49 ft and 5.72 ft.

Compared with 26 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date: 3.89 ft1.04 ft above the median for this date
Normal for this date: 2.45 ft – 10.54 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (26 years of records)
Same day last year: 2.96 ft+1.97 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 3.49 ft – 5.72 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 2.00 ft – 12.44 ft
Highest on record: 27.28 ftMay 23, 1973
Forecast peak: 5.30 ftWednesday, October 21 at 01:00 AM

Floating and fishing near Atchafalaya River at Butte La Rose

Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.

Flood stage here is 20.00 ft, 15.07 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.

What happens at each level

28.00 ft: The community of Butte La Rose will be flooded. Several homes will sustain major damage. Although the project levee height is 33 feet, back water flooding will impact the community and evacuation is strongly recommended.
27.00 ft: Industrial operations will be curtailed. A few homes near the river will flood. River traffic negotiating sharp turns will remain difficult.
26.00 ft: The walkway to the river gauge will be under water and the gage will be inaccessible. Industrial storage areas near the river will flood. Unsecured material and equipment on property near the river will float off or become damaged. River traffic negotiating sharp turns will become difficult.
25.00 ft: Industrial storage areas near the river will flood. Unsecured material and equipment on property near the river will float off or become damaged. River traffic negotiating sharp turns will become difficult.
22.00 ft: River traffic negotiating sharp turns will become difficult. Industrial equipment will be threatened and should be relocated to avoid damage.
20.00 ft: Minor flooding begins.
17.00 ft: Action stage.
4.93 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	27.28 ft	May 23, 1973
2	27.00 ft	March 3, 1950
3	26.60 ft	June 2, 1961
4	26.40 ft	April 29, 1962
5	26.40 ft	June 11, 1957
6	26.20 ft	May 22, 1958
7	25.90 ft	April 13, 1955
8	25.80 ft	February 25, 1949
9	25.70 ft	April 28, 1945
10	25.60 ft	May 28, 1953

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:13 AM Sunset 06:32 PM Daylight 11 hr, 19 min First quarter 69%

Map

Other gauges on the Atchafalaya River

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Atchafalaya River at SimmesportRiver gauge, Atchafalaya River	10.16 ft	Normal	−0.44 ft	49 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Pontoon Bridge Canal near Butte LaroseRiver gauge, Pontoon Bridge Canal	5.52 ft	Normal	−0.01 ft	2.9 mi
Lake Pelba at I-10 near HendersonLake, Lake Pelba	6.42 ft	Normal	−0.01 ft	4.8 mi
Ruth Canal near RuthRiver gauge, Ruth Canal	8.59 ft	Normal	±0	12 mi
Bayou Darby near Lake Fausse Point CutRiver gauge, Bayou Darby	9.15 ft	Normal	−0.20 ft	15 mi
Vermilion River near LafayetteRiver gauge, Vermilion River	3.44 ft	Normal	−0.15 ft	17 mi
Bayou Teche at Keystone L&D near St. MartinvilleRiver gauge, Bayou Teche	9.99 ft	Very low	+0.01 ft	17 mi
Bayou Teche below Keystone L&D near St. MartinvilleRiver gauge, Bayou Teche	3.11 ft	Normal	−0.03 ft	17 mi
Vermillion Rvr N. of I-10 at LafayetteRiver gauge, Vermillion Rvr N. of I-10	5.12 ft	Normal	±0	18 mi

Questions and answers

How does the Atchafalaya River at Butte La Rose compare with last year?

It is 1.97 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 2.96 ft.

What is flood stage for the Atchafalaya River at Butte La Rose?

The official flood stage is 20.00 ft. The level is currently 15.07 ft below it.

What is a normal level for the Atchafalaya River at Butte La Rose in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 3.89 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 2.45 ft and 10.54 ft, based on 26 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 Atchafalaya River at Butte La Rose today?

On Oct 20, 2026, 09:00 AM CDT, the water level was 4.93 ft. Down 0.30 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is Atchafalaya River at Butte La Rose rising or falling?

Down 0.30 ft over the last 24 hours. Up 0.28 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Atchafalaya River at Butte La Rose normal?

Normal for mid-October. Compared with 26 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:07381515 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 30.28159, -91.68678 (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	4.93 ft	2026-10-20 14:00	Provisional

Download

Embed this gauge

Add a live card for this gauge to your website. It updates on its own and links back here.

<iframe src="https://nivelmap.com/embed/9126?lang=en" width="360" height="230" style="border:0;max-width:100%" loading="lazy" title="Atchafalaya River at Butte La Rose water level"></iframe>

How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Atchafalaya River at Butte La Rose (usgs:07381515). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/louisiana/atchafalaya-river-at-butte-la-rose

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