Copper Slough at Champaign water level
River gauge, Copper Slough, Illinois, United States
Right now
Normal for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 2.2 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
The gauge at Copper Slough at Champaign reads 9.92 ft, a normal level for mid-October.
That puts it 0.04 ft below the median of 9.96 ft for mid-October, based on 21 years of readings. A year ago it stood at 10.06 ft (−0.14 ft).
The level is falling, down 0.08 ft over the past 24 hours. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 9.89 ft and 10.39 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Compared with 21 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 9.96 ft0.04 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 9.78 ft – 10.91 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (21 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 10.06 ft−0.14 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 9.89 ft – 10.39 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 9.77 ft – 13.56 ft
- Highest on record
- 18.17 ftJuly 12, 2014
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.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18.17 ft | July 12, 2014 |
| 2 | 17.49 ft | September 14, 2008 |
| 3 | 16.82 ft | May 15, 2009 |
| 4 | 16.47 ft | June 16, 2025 |
| 5 | 16.21 ft | June 25, 2013 |
| 6 | 15.95 ft | February 20, 2018 |
| 7 | 15.91 ft | August 15, 2026 |
| 8 | 15.84 ft | August 14, 2026 |
| 9 | 15.70 ft | June 25, 2015 |
| 10 | 15.45 ft | September 19, 2015 |
Weather at the gauge
Rain in the last 3 days: 0.56 in. Rain that falls upstream can take hours or days to show up at a river gauge.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boneyard Creek below 6th Street at ChampaignRiver gauge, Boneyard Creek | 11.39 ft | Normal | −0.04 ft | 4.2 mi |
| Boneyard Creek at UrbanaRiver gauge, Boneyard Creek | 10.25 ft | Normal | −0.08 ft | 4.4 mi |
| Boneyard Creek at Lincoln Ave at UrbanaRiver gauge, Boneyard Creek | 7.49 ft | Normal | −0.01 ft | 4.7 mi |
| Saline Branch above 1700E near UrbanaRiver gauge, Saline Branch | 0.48 ft | Low | −0.04 ft | 9 mi |
| Sangamon River at FisherRiver gauge, Sangamon River | 4.70 ft | Normal | +0.03 ft | 15 mi |
| Salt Fork near St. JosephRiver gauge, Salt Fork | 3.19 ft | Normal | −0.10 ft | 15 mi |
| Spoon River near St. JosephRiver gauge, Spoon River | 4.19 ft | High | −0.04 ft | 15 mi |
| Sangamon River at MonticelloRiver gauge, Sangamon River | 5.08 ft | Normal | −0.01 ft | 16 mi |
Questions and answers
How does Copper Slough at Champaign compare with last year?
It is 0.14 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 10.06 ft.
What is a normal level for Copper Slough at Champaign in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 9.96 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 9.78 ft and 10.91 ft, based on 21 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 Copper Slough at Champaign today?
On Oct 17, 2026, 09:15 PM CDT, the water level was 9.92 ft. Down 0.08 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Copper Slough at Champaign rising or falling?
Down 0.08 ft over the last 24 hours. Steady over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Copper Slough at Champaign normal?
Normal for mid-October. Compared with 21 years of daily readings for this time of year.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Copper Slough at Champaign?
The highest level on record is 18.17 ft on July 12, 2014.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:05590050(Agency page)- Coordinates
40.09722, -88.30725(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 | 9.92 ft | 2026-10-18 02:15 | Provisional |
| Flow | 2.2 cfs | 2026-10-18 02:15 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Copper Slough at Champaign (usgs:05590050). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/illinois/copper-slough-at-champaign
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