Elkhorn River at West Point water level

Name: Elkhorn River at West Point water level (U.S. Geological Survey)
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
License: https://www.usgs.gov/information-policies-and-instructions/copyrights-and-credits

River gauge, Elkhorn River, Nebraska, United States

Directions

Low for mid-October

Water level

4.03ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 18, 2026, 01:15 AM CDT (47 min ago)

Flow: 622 cfs

History

7 days 30 days 1 year Years compared

20252026

Water level Normal range (10–90 %) Minor flood stage

What this means

The Elkhorn River at West Point is running below normal at 4.03 ft.

That puts it 2.39 ft below the median of 6.42 ft for mid-October, based on 18 years of readings. It is 7.97 ft below the flood stage of 12.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 3.96 ft (+0.07 ft).

The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. Without real rain upstream, that is unlikely to change quickly. In the last month it has stayed between 3.75 ft and 4.26 ft.

Fall is often low-water season on rivers, and it usually takes a few days of steady rain to change that.

Compared with 18 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date: 6.42 ft2.39 ft below the median for this date
Normal for this date: 1.93 ft – 7.88 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (18 years of records)
Same day last year: 3.96 ft+0.07 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 3.75 ft – 4.26 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 3.33 ft – 5.19 ft
Highest on record: 18.60 ftMarch 9, 1993

Floating and fishing near Elkhorn River at West Point

Low water exposes gravel bars that make good wading access, but some boat ramps may be left high and dry.

Flood stage here is 12.00 ft, 7.97 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.

What happens at each level

25.00 ft: Water reaches the bottom of the gagehouse.
21.00 ft: Though very unlikely to occur, at this level water approaches the bottom of the Highway 32 bridge.
17.00 ft: The federal levee is threatened with overtopping which would cause widespread flooding in West Point.
16.00 ft: The west approach to State Highway 32 just west of the gage floods.
12.00 ft: Significant lowland flooding of agricultural areas is well underway.
4.03 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 %.

Rank	Level	Date
1	18.60 ft	March 9, 1993
2	17.66 ft	March 13, 2019
3	17.48 ft	March 12, 2010
4	17.23 ft	March 16, 2001
5	16.97 ft	March 5, 1994
6	16.50 ft	February 24, 1997
7	16.43 ft	February 12, 2009
8	16.37 ft	February 22, 1982
9	16.09 ft	March 18, 1978
10	16.09 ft	June 21, 1960

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:43 AM Sunset 06:42 PM Daylight 10 hr, 59 min First quarter 47%

Map

Other gauges on the Elkhorn River

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Elkhorn River at EwingRiver gauge, Elkhorn River	2.56 ft	Normal	+0.01 ft	88 mi
Elkhorn River at NorfolkRiver gauge, Elkhorn River	3.05 ft	Normal	−0.03 ft	38 mi
Elkhorn River at PilgerRiver gauge, Elkhorn River	6.77 ft	Below flood stage	−0.02 ft	20 mi
Elkhorn River at WaterlooRiver gauge, Elkhorn River	2.32 ft	Low	−0.04 ft	44 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Logan Creek near UehlingRiver gauge, Logan Creek	3.17 ft	Normal	−0.04 ft	14 mi
Maple Creek near NickersonRiver gauge, Maple Creek	2.52 ft	Low	−0.10 ft	22 mi
South Omaha Creek at WalthillRiver gauge, South Omaha Creek	6.52 ft	Normal	−0.02 ft	25 mi
Platte River at North BendRiver gauge, Platte River	3.54 ft	Normal	−0.09 ft	27 mi
North Blackbird Creek at Hwy 75 at MacyRiver gauge, North Blackbird Creek	7.86 ft	Below flood stage	+0.02 ft	27 mi
South Blackbird Creek at Hwy 75 near MacyRiver gauge, South Blackbird Creek	5.34 ft	Below flood stage	−0.06 ft	27 mi
Missouri River at DecaturRiver gauge, Missouri River	19.01 ft	Below flood stage	−0.26 ft	27 mi
Blackbird Creek near MacyRiver gauge, Blackbird Creek	5.16 ft	Below flood stage	−0.04 ft	28 mi

Questions and answers

How does the Elkhorn River at West Point compare with last year?

It is 0.07 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 3.96 ft.

What is flood stage for the Elkhorn River at West Point?

The official flood stage is 12.00 ft. The level is currently 7.97 ft below it.

What is a normal level for the Elkhorn River at West Point in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 6.42 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 1.93 ft and 7.88 ft, based on 18 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 Elkhorn River at West Point today?

On Oct 18, 2026, 01:15 AM CDT, the water level was 4.03 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is Elkhorn River at West Point rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours. Up 0.06 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Elkhorn River at West Point normal?

Low for mid-October. Compared with 18 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:06799350 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 41.83964, -96.72741 (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	4.03 ft	2026-10-18 06:15	Provisional
Flow	622 cfs	2026-10-18 06:15	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Elkhorn River at West Point (usgs:06799350). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/nebraska/elkhorn-river-at-west-point

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