Frenchman Creek at Culbertson water level
River gauge, Frenchman Creek, Nebraska, United States
Right now
Normal for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 13.4 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
Water levels are unremarkable at Frenchman Creek at Culbertson, where the gauge shows 2.73 ft.
That puts it 0.06 ft above the median of 2.67 ft for mid-October, based on 15 years of readings. It is 5.27 ft below the flood stage of 8.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 3.65 ft (−0.92 ft).
The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. The 30-day range is 2.29 ft – 2.73 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Compared with 15 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 2.67 ft0.06 ft above the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 2.11 ft – 3.42 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (15 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 3.65 ft−0.92 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 2.29 ft – 2.73 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 1.90 ft – 5.93 ft
- Highest on record
- 14.80 ftMay 31, 1935
Paddling and fishing conditions
Most paddlers and anglers will find the river in good shape at this stage.
For reference, flood stage is 8.00 ft.
What happens at each level
- 8.00 ft
- Lowland areas near the vicinity of the gage will become flooded.
- 2.73 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 | 14.80 ft | May 31, 1935 |
| 2 | 10.43 ft | June 17, 1951 |
| 3 | 10.40 ft | May 26, 2023 |
| 4 | 9.87 ft | August 9, 2008 |
| 5 | 9.85 ft | May 30, 2007 |
| 6 | 9.36 ft | June 18, 1956 |
| 7 | 8.97 ft | July 5, 1965 |
| 8 | 8.97 ft | August 25, 1977 |
| 9 | 8.95 ft | July 31, 1962 |
| 10 | 8.91 ft | June 18, 1972 |
Weather at the gauge
No rain in the last 3 days.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Other gauges on Frenchman Creek
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frenchman Creek at PalisadeRiver gauge, Frenchman Creek | 2.37 ft | Normal | +0.01 ft | 15 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swanson Lake and TrentonReservoir | 2,734.05 ft | Normal | 11 mi | |
| Driftwood Creek near McCookRiver gauge, Driftwood Creek | 2.57 ft | Normal | +0.07 ft | 12 mi |
| Hugh Butler Lake and Red WillowReservoir | 2,564.61 ft | Normal | 14 mi | |
| Republican River at McCookRiver gauge, Republican River | 2.71 ft | Very low | +0.01 ft | 14 mi |
| Republican River at StrattonRiver gauge, Republican River | 4.19 ft | Low | ±0 | 20 mi |
| Red Willow Creek near Red WillowRiver gauge, Red Willow Creek | 4.53 ft | Low | +0.04 ft | 20 mi |
| Beaver Creek at Cedar BluffsRiver gauge, Beaver Creek | 2.98 ft | High | ±0 | 24 mi |
| Enders ReservoirReservoir | 3,080.08 ft | Very low | 36 mi |
Questions and answers
How does Frenchman Creek at Culbertson compare with last year?
It is 0.92 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 3.65 ft.
What is flood stage for Frenchman Creek at Culbertson?
The official flood stage is 8.00 ft. The level is currently 5.27 ft below it.
What is a normal level for Frenchman Creek at Culbertson in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 2.67 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 2.11 ft and 3.42 ft, based on 15 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 Frenchman Creek at Culbertson today?
On Oct 18, 2026, 12:15 PM CDT, the water level was 2.73 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Frenchman Creek at Culbertson rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours. Up 0.06 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Frenchman Creek at Culbertson normal?
Normal for mid-October. Compared with 15 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:06835500(Agency page)- Coordinates
40.23429, -100.87807(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 | 2.73 ft | 2026-10-18 17:15 | Provisional |
| Flow | 13.4 cfs | 2026-10-18 17:15 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Frenchman Creek at Culbertson (usgs:06835500). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/nebraska/frenchman-creek-at-culbertson
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