Big Papillion Creek near Bennington water level
River gauge, Big Papillion Creek, Nebraska, United States
Right now
Normal for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 74.1 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
Big Papillion Creek near Bennington is at 5.70 ft, in the normal range for mid-October.
The median for mid-October is 5.19 ft, based on 10 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.51 ft above typical. It is 24.30 ft below the flood stage of 30.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 5.23 ft, a difference of +0.47 ft.
It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 4.97 ft and 11.05 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Compared with 10 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 5.19 ft0.51 ft above the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 4.56 ft – 6.24 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (10 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 5.23 ft+0.47 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 4.97 ft – 11.05 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 4.60 ft – 11.05 ft
- Highest on record
- 26.99 ftMay 21, 2024
Floating and fishing near Big Papillion Creek near Bennington
Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.
Flood stage here is 30.00 ft, 24.30 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.
What happens at each level
- 36.00 ft
- Water approaches the road surface along Highway 36 northwest of Bennington.
- 35.00 ft
- Water reaches the bottom of the Highway 36 bridge northwest of Bennington.
- 32.00 ft
- The playing fields west of Bennington are likely inundated with floodwaters.
- 30.00 ft
- Croplands near the gage site begin to flood. In addition, playing fields located west of Bennington along the creek may begin to flood.
- 5.70 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26.99 ft | May 21, 2024 |
| 2 | 24.84 ft | August 23, 2016 |
| 3 | 23.41 ft | June 5, 2010 |
| 4 | 23.40 ft | March 13, 2019 |
| 5 | 22.18 ft | August 9, 2025 |
| 6 | 21.73 ft | June 3, 2014 |
| 7 | 21.37 ft | May 23, 2004 |
| 8 | 20.03 ft | May 20, 2017 |
| 9 | 19.79 ft | May 12, 2005 |
| 10 | 19.47 ft | June 18, 2018 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on Big Papillion Creek
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Papillion Creek near BlairRiver gauge, Big Papillion Creek | 11.42 ft | Normal | −0.01 ft | 9 mi |
| Big Papillion Creek near KennardRiver gauge, Big Papillion Creek | 8.08 ft | Normal | −0.03 ft | 5.0 mi |
| Big Papillion Creek at Fort Street at OmahaRiver gauge, Big Papillion Creek | 3.37 ft | Normal | −0.09 ft | 6 mi |
| Big Papillion Creek at Pacific St at OmahaRiver gauge, Big Papillion Creek | 10.47 ft | Normal | −0.06 ft | 10 mi |
| Big Papillion Creek at Q Street at OmahaRiver gauge, Big Papillion Creek | 8.78 ft | Very high | −0.03 ft | 15 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Creek near BenningtonRiver gauge, Thomas Creek | 2.83 ft | Normal | +0.14 ft | 4.4 mi |
| West Papillion Creek at ElkhornRiver gauge, West Papillion Creek | 3.30 ft | Normal | −0.01 ft | 7 mi |
| Elkhorn River at WaterlooRiver gauge, Elkhorn River | 2.28 ft | Normal | −0.01 ft | 8 mi |
| Little Papillion Creek at IrvingtonRiver gauge, Little Papillion Creek | 4.08 ft | Very high | −0.01 ft | 8 mi |
| West Papillion Creek at Pacific St at OmahaRiver gauge, West Papillion Creek | 8.50 ft | Normal | −0.08 ft | 9 mi |
| Cole Creek at Blondo Street at OmahaRiver gauge, Cole Creek | 5.51 ft | Very high | −0.02 ft | 10 mi |
Questions and answers
Is Big Papillion Creek near Bennington higher than last year?
Yes, it is 0.47 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 5.23 ft.
What is flood stage for Big Papillion Creek near Bennington?
The official flood stage is 30.00 ft. The level is currently 24.30 ft below it.
What is a normal level for Big Papillion Creek near Bennington in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 5.19 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 4.56 ft and 6.24 ft, based on 10 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 Big Papillion Creek near Bennington today?
On Oct 19, 2026, 10:15 AM CDT, the water level was 5.70 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Big Papillion Creek near Bennington rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 0.08 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Big Papillion Creek near Bennington normal?
Normal for mid-October. Compared with 10 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:06610720(Agency page)- Coordinates
41.37887, -96.18214(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 | 5.70 ft | 2026-10-19 15:15 | Provisional |
| Flow | 74.1 cfs | 2026-10-19 15:15 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Big Papillion Creek near Bennington (usgs:06610720). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/nebraska/big-papillion-creek-near-bennington
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