Platte R Mid-Ch, Cottonwood Ranch near Elm Cr water level
River gauge, Platte R Mid-Ch, Cottonwood Ranch, Nebraska, United States
Right now
Very low for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 208 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
The Platte R Mid-Ch, Cottonwood Ranch near Elm Cr is running far below normal at 3.87 ft.
The median for mid-October is 4.71 ft, based on 18 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.83 ft below typical. On the same day last year the reading was 4.16 ft, a difference of −0.29 ft.
It has dropped 0.04 ft over the past 24 hours. Without real rain upstream, that is unlikely to change quickly. In the last month it has stayed between 3.74 ft and 5.03 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
- 4.71 ft0.83 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 4.11 ft – 6.03 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (18 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 4.16 ft−0.29 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 3.74 ft – 5.03 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 3.32 ft – 5.37 ft
Floating and fishing near Platte R Mid-Ch, Cottonwood Ranch near Elm Cr
Low water exposes gravel bars that make good wading access, but some boat ramps may be left high and dry.
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platte R,So-Ch,Cottonwood Ranch near OvertonRiver gauge, Platte R,So-Ch,Cottonwood Ranch | 4.05 ft | Low | −0.02 ft | 2.7 mi |
| Elm Creek near Elm CreekRiver gauge, Elm Creek | 0.86 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 3.7 mi |
| Buffalo Creek near OvertonRiver gauge, Buffalo Creek | 3.76 ft | Normal | −0.06 ft | 4.8 mi |
| Platte River near OvertonRiver gauge, Platte River | 2.54 ft | Very low | −0.03 ft | 5.3 mi |
| Spring Creek near OvertonRiver gauge, Spring Creek | 2.71 ft | Low | −0.01 ft | 6 mi |
| Platte River near KearneyRiver gauge, Platte River | 2.43 ft | Normal | +0.03 ft | 19 mi |
| South Loup River at Pressey WMA near OcontoRiver gauge, South Loup River | 0.60 ft | Normal | ±0 | 38 mi |
| Republican River near OrleansRiver gauge, Republican River | 0.83 ft | Normal | +0.01 ft | 38 mi |
Questions and answers
Is the Platte R Mid-Ch, Cottonwood Ranch near Elm Cr higher than last year?
No, it is 0.29 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 4.16 ft.
What is a normal level for the Platte R Mid-Ch, Cottonwood Ranch near Elm Cr in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 4.71 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 4.11 ft and 6.03 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 Platte R Mid-Ch, Cottonwood Ranch near Elm Cr today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 01:45 PM CDT, the water level was 3.87 ft. Down 0.04 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Platte R Mid-Ch, Cottonwood Ranch near Elm Cr rising or falling?
Down 0.04 ft over the last 24 hours. Up 0.07 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Platte R Mid-Ch, Cottonwood Ranch near Elm Cr normal?
Very low for mid-October. Compared with 18 years of daily readings for this time of year.
How often is this data updated?
The U.S. Geological Survey publishes a new reading every 15 minutes. This page refreshes within minutes of each update.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:06768035(Agency page)- Coordinates
40.68557, -99.43927(WGS84)- Vertical datum
- NGVD29
- 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 | 3.87 ft | 2026-10-20 18:45 | Provisional |
| Flow | 208 cfs | 2026-10-20 18:45 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Platte R Mid-Ch, Cottonwood Ranch near Elm Cr (usgs:06768035). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/nebraska/platte-r-mid-ch-cottonwood-ranch-near-elm-cr
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