Major Flood
20 ft
Current Water Level
Gage Height
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Streamflow
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Last Reading
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FLOOD STAGES
Know the flood categories.
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
Moderate Flood
18 ft
Minor Flood
13 ft
Action Stage
12.5 ft
What Floods at Each Level
25 ft
Water reaches the top of the levee near Rand Road and Ballard Road.
24 ft
Widespread inundation of structures and roadways in the floodplain may reach Lee Street and Elk Boulevard near downtown Des Plaines.
21.5 ft
Inundation of structures and roadways reaches up to 1 block from the river in Des Plaines.
20.5 ft
Water reaches the top of the floodwall along Miner Street causing numerous structures and roadways to be threatened near Miner Street and Busse Highway. Structures threatened along Prairie Avenue near South River Road. Algonquin Road threatened east of the river.
19.5 ft
Numerous residences threatened along Big Bend Drive and Grove Avenue. A few structures threatened along South River Road.
19 ft
Without flood protection, South River Road is threatened near Thacker Street.
18.5 ft
Big Bend Drive threatened.
17 ft
Central Road is threatened and Golf Road is threatened near College Drive.
15 ft
Buildings threatened at Methodist Campground.
14 ft
Low-lying Methodist Campground property and forest preserve property threatened near Des Plaines.
13.5 ft
Camp Ground Road and Des Plaines River Trail threatened near Miner Street.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
Low-Water Impacts
6.5
River nears zero flow.
7.0
Approximate stage of the 1-in-10 annual chance flow (7-day average).
What happens as water levels drop, per the National Weather Service.
7-Day Water Level Chart
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Historic Crests
| Date | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 13, 2008 | 21 ft | — |
| May 17, 2020 | 20.24 ft | 4,840 cfs |
| Sep 14, 2019 | 17.92 ft | 3,790 cfs |
About This Gauge
USGS Site
NWS LID
DMPI2
River
Des Plaines River
County
Cook, IL
Coordinates
42.0317°N, 87.8781°W
Get Flood Alerts for Des Plaines 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 Des Plaines River at Des Plaines (Algonquin Road)?
The Des Plaines River at Des Plaines (Algonquin Road) gauge is maintained by USGS (site 05530100) 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 Des Plaines River at Des Plaines (Algonquin Road)?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Des Plaines River at Des Plaines (Algonquin Road) is 13 feet. Action stage begins at 12.5 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 18 feet, and major flooding at 20 feet.
How do I get alerts when Des Plaines River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Des Plaines River at Des Plaines (Algonquin Road) to your watchlist. StormCast will send a push notification to your phone whenever the water level crosses into a new NWS flood category.
Where is the Des Plaines River at Des Plaines (Algonquin Road) gauge located?
The gauge is located in Cook County, Illinois at coordinates 42.0317°N, 87.8781°W. USGS site number: 05530100. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
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Source & Notes
Data provided by: US Geological Survey, Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey