Shell Creek near Columbus water level

Name: Shell Creek near Columbus 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, Shell Creek, Nebraska, United States

Directions

Below flood stage

Water level

10.14ft Down 0.21 ft over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 17, 2026, 09:30 PM CDT (1 hour ago)

Flow: 23.1 cfs

History

7 days 30 days 1 year Years compared

20252026

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

What this means

Water levels are unremarkable at Shell Creek near Columbus, where the gauge shows 10.14 ft.

It is 19.86 ft below the flood stage of 30.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 10.41 ft (−0.27 ft).

It is still going down, by 0.21 ft over the past 24 hours. The 30-day range is 9.83 ft – 11.49 ft.

Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.

Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels

Key numbers

Same day last year: 10.41 ft−0.27 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 9.83 ft – 11.49 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 9.62 ft – 13.06 ft
Highest on record: 32.76 ftJune 17, 1990

Paddling and fishing conditions

Most paddlers and anglers will find the river in good shape at this stage.

For reference, flood stage is 30.00 ft.

What happens at each level

32.00 ft: Extensive flooding takes place affecting county roads and much farmland. Depending on the amount of runoff below the gage, the Lower Shell Creek basin may threaten Schuyler and Rogers.
31.00 ft: The access road to the gage begins to flood.
30.00 ft: Low banks located 200 feet upstream of the gage begin to flood rural lowlands. In addition, water reaches the bottom of the bridge at the gage site.
10.14 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	32.76 ft	June 17, 1990
2	32.15 ft	February 20, 1971
3	32.11 ft	May 20, 1982
4	32.09 ft	March 14, 2019
5	31.73 ft	July 10, 1993
6	31.70 ft	June 2, 1947
7	31.63 ft	June 12, 2010
8	31.53 ft	March 9, 1993
9	31.38 ft	June 3, 1950
10	31.23 ft	June 26, 2018

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:45 AM Sunset 06:45 PM Daylight 11 hr First quarter 46%

Map

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Clear Creek 1.75 mile W of Polk County lineRiver gauge	4.51 ft	High	+0.02 ft	14 mi
Platte River near SchuylerRiver gauge, Platte River	6.65 ft	Very high	+0.03 ft	14 mi
Platte River near DuncanRiver gauge, Platte River	3.53 ft	Normal	+0.01 ft	16 mi
Loup River near GenoaRiver gauge, Loup River	4.36 ft	Normal	+0.10 ft	24 mi
Beaver Creek at GenoaRiver gauge, Beaver Creek	3.18 ft	Low	±0	24 mi
Prairie Creek near Silver CreekRiver gauge, Prairie Creek	2.11 ft	Normal	−0.01 ft	25 mi
Platte River at North BendRiver gauge, Platte River	3.52 ft	Normal	+0.06 ft	27 mi
Silver Creek, at Mile 4 near Silver CreekRiver gauge, Silver Creek,	4.59 ft	High	+0.07 ft	27 mi

Questions and answers

How does Shell Creek near Columbus compare with last year?

It is 0.27 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 10.41 ft.

What is flood stage for Shell Creek near Columbus?

The official flood stage is 30.00 ft. The level is currently 19.86 ft below it.

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 Shell Creek near Columbus today?

On Oct 17, 2026, 09:30 PM CDT, the water level was 10.14 ft. Down 0.21 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is Shell Creek near Columbus rising or falling?

Down 0.21 ft over the last 24 hours. Up 0.14 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Shell Creek near Columbus normal?

Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.

What is the highest water level ever recorded at Shell Creek near Columbus?

The highest level on record is 32.76 ft on June 17, 1990.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads

Operator: U.S. Geological Survey
Station code: usgs:06795500 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 41.52596, -97.28160 (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	10.14 ft	2026-10-18 02:30	Provisional
Flow	23.1 cfs	2026-10-18 02:30	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Shell Creek near Columbus (usgs:06795500). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/nebraska/shell-creek-near-columbus

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