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Sturgeon River near Alston water level

River gauge, Sturgeon River, Michigan, United States

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Right now

Below flood stage

Water level

4.09ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Flow
170 cfs
Water temperature
53 °F
5 10 Highest onrecord 13.75 ft Minor floodstage 8.00 ft

History

History
3.954.004.054.10ftOct 16Oct 16Oct 17Oct 18Oct 193.954.004.054.10ftOct 16Oct 17Oct 19
Water level Minor flood stage

What this means

The Sturgeon River near Alston is at 4.09 ft, in the normal range.

It is 3.91 ft below the flood stage of 8.00 ft.

It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 3.92 ft and 4.10 ft.

Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns. The water temperature at the gauge is 53 °F.

Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels

Key numbers

Highest on record
13.75 ftApril 24, 1960

Floating and fishing near Sturgeon River near Alston

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

Flood stage here is 8.00 ft, 3.91 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.

What happens at each level

11.00 ft
Additional homes and structures near the river are impacted and evacuations may be necessary. Water levels may reach the bottom of Froberg bridge in addition to other bridges that cross the river
8.00 ft
Homes and structures along the low lying areas and numerous roads become impacted by flood water. In Houghton County...Sturgeon River Road...Aho Road...and Rajala Road are impacted. In Baraga County...Sturgeon Road...Halonen Road and Usitalo Road are impacted. Along Froberg Road...Tahtinen Road...Irwin Road...Oliver Road...and Shirley Road are impacted.
4.09 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 %.

RankLevelDate
113.75 ftApril 24, 1960
212.10 ftApril 22, 2019
311.92 ftApril 18, 2002
411.78 ftApril 29, 1951
511.64 ftJuly 16, 1968
611.49 ftMay 6, 1950
711.43 ftApril 21, 1985
811.25 ftJuly 2, 1992
911.23 ftApril 22, 1957
1011.13 ftApril 20, 1952

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:18 AM Sunset 06:02 PM Daylight 10 hr, 44 min First quarter 60%

Map

Other gauges on the Sturgeon River

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Sturgeon River near SidnawRiver gauge, Sturgeon River 3.78 ft Below flood stage −0.10 ft 11 mi
Sturgeon River near Nahma JunctionRiver gauge, Sturgeon River 4.10 ft Below flood stage −0.08 ft 108 mi
Sturgeon River at Us Hwy-2 at LorettoRiver gauge, Sturgeon River 129 cfs Low ±0 77 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Falls River near L'anseRiver gauge, Falls River 23.8 cfs Low −5.1 cfs 10 mi
Silver River near L'anseRiver gauge, Silver River 6.56 ft Below flood stage −0.09 ft 17 mi
Pilgrim River at Paradise Road near DodgevilleRiver gauge, Pilgrim River 90.0 cfs Very high +1.3 cfs 25 mi
Ontonagon River near RocklandRiver gauge, Ontonagon River 5.34 ft Below flood stage −0.05 ft 26 mi
Middle Branch Ontonagon River near PauldingRiver gauge, Middle Branch Ontonagon River 4.25 ft Below flood stage −0.07 ft 32 mi
Trap Rock River near Lake LindenRiver gauge, Trap Rock River 3.50 ft Below flood stage −0.12 ft 37 mi
Salmon Trout River near Big BayRiver gauge, Salmon Trout River 5.1 cfs Normal −0.2 cfs 37 mi
East Branch Salmon Trout River near Dodge CityRiver gauge, East Branch Salmon Trout River 15.1 cfs Low −0.5 cfs 39 mi

Questions and answers

What is flood stage for the Sturgeon River near Alston?

The official flood stage is 8.00 ft. The level is currently 3.91 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 Sturgeon River near Alston today?

On Oct 19, 2026, 10:30 AM CDT, the water level was 4.09 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is Sturgeon River near Alston rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is the level of Sturgeon River near Alston normal?

Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.

What is the highest water level ever recorded at Sturgeon River near Alston?

The highest level on record is 13.75 ft on April 24, 1960.

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:04041500 (Agency page)
Coordinates
46.72583, -88.66242 (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

ParameterLast valueTime (UTC)Quality
Water level 4.09 ft 2026-10-19 15:30 Provisional
Flow 170 cfs 2026-10-19 15:30 Provisional
Water temperature 53 °F 2026-10-19 15:30 Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Sturgeon River near Alston (usgs:04041500). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/michigan/sturgeon-river-near-alston

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.