Sangamon River at Route 48 at Decatur water level
River gauge, Sangamon River, Illinois, United States
Right now
Low for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 16.7 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
At 2.04 ft, the Sangamon River at Route 48 at Decatur is below normal for mid-October.
That puts it 0.45 ft below the median of 2.49 ft for mid-October, based on 34 years of readings. A year ago it stood at 2.00 ft (+0.04 ft).
The level is falling, down 0.14 ft over the past 24 hours. Without real rain upstream, that is unlikely to change quickly. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 2.00 ft and 2.55 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, and it usually takes a few days of steady rain to change that.
Compared with 34 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 2.49 ft0.45 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 1.95 ft – 7.83 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (34 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 2.00 ft+0.04 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 2.00 ft – 2.55 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 1.65 ft – 17.39 ft
- Highest on record
- 24.43 ftSeptember 14, 2008
What the stage means on the water
Low water means more dragging on shallow riffles and slower floats. Fish crowd into the deeper runs, and warm, low water stresses them, so play and release them quickly.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24.43 ft | September 14, 2008 |
| 2 | 24.33 ft | May 12, 2002 |
| 3 | 23.89 ft | June 5, 2008 |
| 4 | 23.13 ft | December 29, 2015 |
| 5 | 23.04 ft | May 2, 1983 |
| 6 | 22.61 ft | November 19, 1985 |
| 7 | 21.87 ft | December 30, 1990 |
| 8 | 21.50 ft | May 16, 1990 |
| 9 | 21.45 ft | February 6, 2008 |
| 10 | 21.12 ft | April 15, 1994 |
Weather at the gauge
Rain in the last 3 days: 0.47 in. Rain that falls upstream can take hours or days to show up at a river gauge.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Other gauges on the Sangamon River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sangamon River at FisherRiver gauge, Sangamon River | 4.70 ft | Normal | −0.01 ft | 48 mi |
| Sangamon River at MonticelloRiver gauge, Sangamon River | 5.03 ft | Normal | −0.06 ft | 25 mi |
| Sangamon River at RivertonRiver gauge, Sangamon River | 2.48 ft | Low | −0.01 ft | 30 mi |
| Sangamon River near SpringfieldRiver gauge, Sangamon River | 21.22 ft | Normal | +0.05 ft | 34 mi |
| Sangamon River at PetersburgRiver gauge, Sangamon River | 4.44 ft | Normal | −0.03 ft | 47 mi |
| Sangamon River near OakfordRiver gauge, Sangamon River | 3.48 ft | Normal | +0.02 ft | 57 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Okaw River near LovingtonRiver gauge, West Okaw River | 2.27 ft | Normal | −0.01 ft | 18 mi |
| Salt Creek near RowellRiver gauge, Salt Creek | 9.09 ft | Normal | −0.02 ft | 20 mi |
| Clinton Lake near LaneRiver gauge, Clinton Lake | 689.66 ft | Normal | −0.01 ft | 22 mi |
| Lake Fork near CornlandRiver gauge, Lake Fork | 8.4 cfs | Low | ±0 | 23 mi |
| Lake Fork at AtwoodRiver gauge, Lake Fork | 3.00 ft | Normal | +0.02 ft | 27 mi |
| North Fork Salt Creek near De WittRiver gauge, North Fork Salt Creek | 691.06 ft | Normal | ±0 | 29 mi |
| Robinson Creek near ShelbyvilleRiver gauge, Robinson Creek | 2.75 ft | High | −0.04 ft | 30 mi |
| Kickapoo Creek at WaynesvilleRiver gauge, Kickapoo Creek | 2.44 ft | Normal | −0.06 ft | 30 mi |
Questions and answers
How does the Sangamon River at Route 48 at Decatur compare with last year?
It is 0.04 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 2.00 ft.
What is a normal level for the Sangamon River at Route 48 at Decatur in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 2.49 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 1.95 ft and 7.83 ft, based on 34 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 Sangamon River at Route 48 at Decatur today?
On Oct 18, 2026, 02:45 PM CDT, the water level was 2.04 ft. Down 0.14 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Sangamon River at Route 48 at Decatur rising or falling?
Down 0.14 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 0.21 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Sangamon River at Route 48 at Decatur normal?
Low for mid-October. Compared with 34 years of daily readings for this time of year.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Sangamon River at Route 48 at Decatur?
The highest level on record is 24.43 ft on September 14, 2008.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:05573540(Agency page)- Coordinates
39.83111, -88.97639(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 | 2.04 ft | 2026-10-18 19:45 | Provisional |
| Flow | 16.7 cfs | 2026-10-18 19:45 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Sangamon River at Route 48 at Decatur (usgs:05573540). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/illinois/sangamon-river-at-route-48-at-decatur
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