Des Plaines River at Riverside
Illinois — Water Level & Flood Stage
Located in Cook County, Illinois on the Des Plaines River. Live water level data from USGS gauge 05532500, updated every 15 minutes.
Current Water Level
Gage Height
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Streamflow
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Last Reading
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Flood Stages
Major Flood
9 ft
Moderate Flood
8 ft
Minor Flood
7.5 ft
Action Stage
7 ft
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
What Floods at Each Level
13.5 ft
Water reaches the top of the west bank levees in Lyons and McCook.
12 ft
Water reaches the top of the levees in Lyons and McCook.
11.5 ft
Widespread inundation of industrial property and structures north of the river in McCook. Numerous residences threatened near the river in Lyons.
11 ft
Structures threatened at Brookfield Zoo.
10.5 ft
Residences threatened between river and 39th Street in Riverside. Without flood protection from levees, widespread inundation of industrial property and structures would occur north of the river in McCook.
10 ft
US-34 (Ogden Avenue) threatened along the River in Lyons.
9.5 ft
Parking areas at Brookfield Zoo threatened. Industrial parking area near the river and I-55 is threatened.
9 ft
Residences threatened near the confluence of Des Plaines River and Salt Creek.
8.5 ft
IL-171 (1st Avenue) threatened near Brookfield Zoo. Water may begin to overflow into the Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal near Willow Springs.
8 ft
Park areas are inundated near the confluence of Des Plaines River and Salt Creek.
7.5 ft
Low-lying sections of Miller Meadow, Indian Gardens, Cermak Woods, Ottawa Trail Woods, and other forest land along the river are inundated.
7 ft
Water begins to overflow banks in adjacent forest preserve areas.
4 ft
Without flood protection from levees, water would begin to bypass the main river channel through Chicago Portage toward the Chicago River Basin and areas once covered by Mud Lake.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
Low-Water Impacts
1.5
Approximate stage of the 1-in-10 annual chance flow (7-day average).
1.0
River nears zero flow.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 17, 2013 | 11.28 ft | 12,200 cfs |
| Apr 17, 2013 | 11.28 ft | 12,200 cfs |
| May 17, 2020 | 10 ft | 9,920 cfs |
| May 17, 2020 | 10 ft | 9,920 cfs |
| Aug 14, 1987 | 9.9 ft | 9,770 cfs |
About This Gauge
USGS Site
NWS LID
RVRI2
River
Des Plaines River
County
Cook, IL
Coordinates
41.8217°N, 87.8219°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 Riverside?
The Des Plaines River at Riverside gauge is maintained by USGS (site 05532500) 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 Riverside?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Des Plaines River at Riverside is 7.5 feet. Action stage begins at 7 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 8 feet, and major flooding at 9 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 Riverside 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 Des Plaines River at Riverside gauge located?
The gauge is located in Cook County, Illinois at coordinates 41.8217°N, 87.8219°W. USGS site number: 05532500. 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, Observations courtesy of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- River forecasts for this location take into account past and future precipitation. The stages/flows that will occur may be different if future rainfall is different than forecast.