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SwedenSawmill Creek near Lemont water level
River gauge, Sawmill Creek, Illinois, United States
Right now
Normal for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 3.6 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
The gauge at Sawmill Creek near Lemont reads 8.43 ft, a normal level for mid-October.
That puts it 0.11 ft above the median of 8.32 ft for mid-October, based on 32 years of readings. It is 5.57 ft below the flood stage of 14.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 9.07 ft (−0.64 ft).
The level is falling, down 0.05 ft over the past 24 hours. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 8.37 ft and 10.85 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Compared with 32 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 8.32 ft0.11 ft above the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 7.84 ft – 9.12 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (32 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 9.07 ft−0.64 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 8.37 ft – 10.85 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 7.94 ft – 11.51 ft
- Highest on record
- 17.53 ftJuly 18, 1996
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.
The National Weather Service puts flood stage for this gauge at 14.00 ft, still 5.57 ft away.
What happens at each level
- 22.00 ft
- Industrial structures are threatened at Argonne National Laboratory.
- 20.00 ft
- Northgate Road is threatened at South Cass Avenue south of Darien.
- 18.00 ft
- Numerous minor roadways are threatened at Argonne National Laboratory.
- 17.50 ft
- Bluff Road west of the creek is threatened at Argonne National Laboratory. Trails are threatened near the creek mouth in Waterfall Glen.
- 16.50 ft
- South Cass Avenue is threatened at the creek south of Darien.
- 15.50 ft
- Water treatment plan property is threatened at Argonne National Laboratory.
- 15.00 ft
- Picnic areas are inundated near the main waterfall in Waterfall Glen.
- 13.00 ft
- Low-lying trails are threatened near the main waterfall in Waterfall Glen.
- 12.00 ft
- Water overflows low-lying banks at Argonne National Laboratory.
- 8.43 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17.53 ft | July 18, 1996 |
| 2 | 15.24 ft | April 18, 2013 |
| 3 | 14.64 ft | February 21, 1997 |
| 4 | 14.46 ft | May 17, 2020 |
| 5 | 13.97 ft | July 29, 2016 |
| 6 | 13.97 ft | May 12, 2002 |
| 7 | 13.79 ft | October 15, 2017 |
| 8 | 13.75 ft | August 4, 1998 |
| 9 | 13.67 ft | June 9, 2011 |
| 10 | 13.60 ft | December 27, 2008 |
Weather at the gauge
No rain in the last 3 days.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal near LemontRiver gauge, Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal | 25.06 ft | Normal | −0.05 ft | 1.1 mi |
| Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal at LemontRiver gauge, Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal | 24.86 ft | Normal | −0.06 ft | 2.8 mi |
| Flag Creek near Willow SpringsRiver gauge, Flag Creek | 3.24 ft | Normal | −0.02 ft | 4.0 mi |
| Des Plaines River near LemontRiver gauge, Des Plaines River | 6.25 ft | Normal | −0.30 ft | 4.2 mi |
| Long Run near LemontRiver gauge, Long Run | 1.06 ft | Normal | −0.09 ft | 4.9 mi |
| East Branch Du Page River at BolingbrookRiver gauge, East Branch Du Page River | 14.96 ft | Normal | −0.11 ft | 5.6 mi |
| Stony Creek (West) near WorthRiver gauge, Stony Creek (West) | 25.49 ft | Normal | −0.09 ft | 7 mi |
| East Branch Dupage River at Short St at LisleRiver gauge, East Branch Dupage River | 5.66 ft | Normal | −0.07 ft | 8 mi |
Questions and answers
How does Sawmill Creek near Lemont compare with last year?
It is 0.64 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 9.07 ft.
What is flood stage for Sawmill Creek near Lemont?
The official flood stage is 14.00 ft. The level is currently 5.57 ft below it.
What is a normal level for Sawmill Creek near Lemont in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 8.32 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 7.84 ft and 9.12 ft, based on 32 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 Sawmill Creek near Lemont today?
On Oct 19, 2026, 11:00 AM CDT, the water level was 8.43 ft. Down 0.05 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Sawmill Creek near Lemont rising or falling?
Down 0.05 ft over the last 24 hours. Up 0.06 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Sawmill Creek near Lemont normal?
Normal for mid-October. Compared with 32 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:05533400(Agency page)- Coordinates
41.70778, -87.96278(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 | 8.43 ft | 2026-10-19 16:00 | Provisional |
| Flow | 3.6 cfs | 2026-10-19 16:00 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Sawmill Creek near Lemont (usgs:05533400). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/illinois/sawmill-creek-near-lemont
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