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SwedenPrairie River near Nottawa water level
River gauge, Prairie River, Michigan, United States
Right now
Normal for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 72.3 cfs
History
What this means
The Prairie River near Nottawa is at 3.58 ft, in the normal range for mid-October.
It has dropped 0.05 ft over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 3.58 ft and 3.66 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Compared with 5 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 6.80 ftFebruary 23, 2018
Floating and fishing near Prairie River near Nottawa
Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.
What happens at each level
- 7.00 ft
- MAJOR FLOODING...SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE AND INUNDATION OF ROADS AND BRIDGES NEAR THE RIVER.
- 6.00 ft
- SECONDARY ROADS NEAREST THE RIVER MAY BECOME FLOODED WITH THOSE NEAREST THE RIVER HAVING TO MOVE PROPERTY TO HIGHER GROUND.
- 5.00 ft
- MINOR FLOODING...ONLY MINIMAL DAMAGE EXPECTED.
- 4.00 ft
- OVERFLOW BEGINS ALONG LOW-LYING AREAS ADJACENT TO THE STREAM.
- 3.58 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6.80 ft | February 23, 2018 |
| 2 | 6.30 ft | February 26, 1985 |
| 3 | 6.29 ft | January 11, 2008 |
| 4 | 6.12 ft | March 20, 1982 |
| 5 | 5.98 ft | January 1, 1991 |
| 6 | 5.97 ft | May 20, 2020 |
| 7 | 5.91 ft | April 21, 2013 |
| 8 | 5.86 ft | June 9, 1980 |
| 9 | 5.74 ft | June 3, 1989 |
| 10 | 5.73 ft | March 12, 2009 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on the Prairie River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prairie River at US 12 near Burr OakRiver gauge, Prairie River | 26.5 cfs | Normal | −0.6 cfs | 8 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Creek at Rambadt Road near CentrevilleRiver gauge, Spring Creek | 4.3 cfs | Very low | −0.4 cfs | 5.5 mi |
| St. Joseph River at Three RiversRiver gauge, St. Joseph River | 3.01 ft | Below flood stage | −0.31 ft | 12 mi |
| Pigeon River near ScottRiver gauge, Pigeon River | 3.56 ft | Below flood stage | −0.04 ft | 13 mi |
| Mill Creek at Quaker Street near MottvilleRiver gauge, Mill Creek | 14.3 cfs | Very low | −2.6 cfs | 18 mi |
| St. Joseph River at MottvilleRiver gauge, St. Joseph River | 2.93 ft | Below flood stage | −0.04 ft | 19 mi |
| Austin Lake near KalamazooLake, Austin Lake | 5.79 ft | Low | −0.04 ft | 22 mi |
| St. Joseph River at BurlingtonRiver gauge, St. Joseph River | 3.40 ft | Below flood stage | +0.01 ft | 23 mi |
| Pigeon Creek near AngolaRiver gauge, Pigeon Creek | 5.46 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 23 mi |
Questions and answers
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 Prairie River near Nottawa today?
On Oct 19, 2026, 02:00 PM EDT, the water level was 3.58 ft. Down 0.05 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Prairie River near Nottawa rising or falling?
Down 0.05 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is the level of Prairie River near Nottawa normal?
Normal for mid-October. Compared with 5 years of daily readings for this time of year.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Prairie River near Nottawa?
The highest level on record is 6.80 ft on February 23, 2018.
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.
Where does this data come from?
The values come directly from the U.S. Geological Survey, the official operator of this gauge, and are in the public domain. We do not estimate or model live values.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:04097540(Agency page)- Coordinates
41.88838, -85.40943(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 | 3.58 ft | 2026-10-19 18:00 | Provisional |
| Flow | 72.3 cfs | 2026-10-19 18:00 | Provisional |
Download
Embed this gauge
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Prairie River near Nottawa (usgs:04097540). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/michigan/prairie-river-near-nottawa
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