Ouachita River at Thatcher L&D
Arkansas — Water Level & Flood Stage
Located in Union County, Arkansas on the Ouachita River. Live water level data from USGS gauge 07362400, updated every 15 minutes.
Current Water Level
Gage Height
Loading...
Streamflow
Loading...
Last Reading
Loading...
Flood Stages
Major Flood
94 ft
Moderate Flood
88 ft
Minor Flood
79 ft
Action Stage
78.5 ft
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
What Floods at Each Level
96 ft
Crest of record, 96.3 feet in April 1945. Very serious situation, extent of damages not entirely known. Possible road and structural flooding from near Calion downstream to the Moro Bay State Park vicinity.
94 ft
Serious flooding begins, gap in floodwall near Calion Sawmill may need to be closed. River crested at 93.6 feet in January 1988, the highest level since completion of upstream flood control reservoirs. Calion Lake levee gates closed and runoff into lake cannot drain. Heavy rainfall in area could raise the lake level enough to threaten homes along shore. Areas of Moro Bay State Park flooded. Structures in the park probably high enough to stay dry.
92 ft
From Calion to Thatcher Lock and Dam, the road along the levee may be affected. Some roads in Moro Bay State Park are flooded. Problems with Calion lake drainage. Heavy rain in the area could cause homes along the Lake Shore to be threatened by rising lake levels.
90 ft
Access to Thatcher Lock and Dam may be affected. Many oil and gas rigs in the river bottoms can be reached by boat only. Runoff into Calion Lake cannot drain to the river. Levee gates should be closed. Downstream, minor impacts to the Moro Bay State Park, some shallow water may be over the road to the campground.
88 ft
River is high enough to stop drainage from Calion Lake. Heavy rainfall in the area could cause the lake to rise towards several homes along the shore. Downstream, water rising into undeveloped areas of the State Park at Moro Bay. Widespread flooding of timber, with access to many oil and gas rigs flooded.
85 ft
There may be some County roads along the river flooded, requiring lengthy detours. River is high and swift, boaters should be very cautious. Access to many oil and gas rigs will be by boat only. Levee gates should be closed.
83 ft
Access to oil and gas rigs and to timber is flooded. Calhoun County Road 131 is completely under water leading to old Lock 8 river access.
80 ft
Minor flooding occurs at this level. Levee gates should be closed to prevent the river from backing into Calion Lake. Access to oil and gas rigs and to timber is flooded. There is wide coverage of flooding in the river bottoms.
79 ft
Property in low lying areas needs to be removed. Access roads to oil and gas rigs may be flooded. Levee gates should be closed before the river reaches 80 feet. There is minor flooding at this level.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
7-Day Water Level Chart
Loading chart data...
Historic Crests
| Date | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 5, 1945 | 96.3 ft | — |
| Apr 5, 1945 | 96.3 ft | — |
| May 23, 1968 | 94.9 ft | — |
| May 23, 1968 | 94.9 ft | — |
| Mar 1, 2018 | 93.69 ft | — |
About This Gauge
Get Flood Alerts for Ouachita River
StormCast monitors this gauge and sends a push notification to your phone when the water level crosses into a new flood category — even at 3 AM.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current water level of Ouachita River at Thatcher L&D?
The Ouachita River at Thatcher L&D gauge is maintained by USGS (site 07362400) and reports water levels every 15 minutes. Visit this page to see the latest reading updated live, or download StormCast to get push alerts when levels rise.
What is flood stage for Ouachita River at Thatcher L&D?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Ouachita River at Thatcher L&D is 79 feet. Action stage begins at 78.5 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 88 feet, and major flooding at 94 feet.
How do I get alerts when Ouachita River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Ouachita River at Thatcher L&D to your watchlist. StormCast will send a push notification to your phone whenever the water level crosses into a new NWS flood category — even when your screen is off.
Where is the Ouachita River at Thatcher L&D gauge located?
The gauge is located in Union County, Arkansas at coordinates 33.3111°N, 92.4850°W. USGS site number: 07362400. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
More Gauges on Ouachita River
On This River
More Resources
Source & Notes
Data provided by: Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey