Des Plaines River near Des Plaines
Illinois — Water Level & Flood Stage
Located in Cook County, Illinois on the Des Plaines River. Live water level data from USGS gauge 05529000, 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
19 ft
Moderate Flood
18 ft
Minor Flood
15 ft
Action Stage
13.5 ft
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
What Floods at Each Level
22.5 ft
Structures threatened at Chicago Executive Airport in Prospect Heights.
21.5 ft
Taxiways and runways threatened at Chicago Executive Airport in Prospect Heights.
21 ft
Inundation of structures and roadways reaches up to 1 block from the river in Des Plaines, Mount Prospect, and Prospect Heights. Milwaukee Avenue threatened at Palatine Road in Prospect Heights. Algonquin Road threatened east of the river in Des Plaines.
20 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 in Des Plaines. Structures threatened along Prairie Avenue near South River Road in Des Plaines.
18.5 ft
Big Bend Road threatened in Des Plaines.
17 ft
Central Road and Golf Road are threatened in Des Plaines.
15 ft
Structures threatened at Methodist Campground in Des Plaines. Forest preserve roadways are threatened.
14 ft
Low-lying Methodist Campground property and forest preserve property threatened near Des Plaines.
13 ft
Camp Ground Road and Des Plaines River Trail threatened near Miner Street in Des Plaines.
12 ft
Low-lying sections of the Des Plaines River Trail threatened near Des Plaines.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
Low-Water Impacts
7.5
Approximate stage of the 1-in-10 annual chance flow (7-day average).
7.0
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 18, 2013 | 20.92 ft | 4,490 cfs |
| Apr 18, 2013 | 20.92 ft | 4,490 cfs |
| Sep 30, 1986 | 20.880000000000003 ft | 4,900 cfs |
| Sep 30, 1986 | 20.880000000000003 ft | 4,900 cfs |
| Sep 13, 2008 | 20 ft | 3,010 cfs |
About This Gauge
USGS Site
NWS LID
DSPI2
River
Des Plaines River
County
Cook, IL
Coordinates
42.0872°N, 87.8872°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 near Des Plaines?
The Des Plaines River near Des Plaines gauge is maintained by USGS (site 05529000) 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 near Des Plaines?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Des Plaines River near Des Plaines is 15 feet. Action stage begins at 13.5 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 18 feet, and major flooding at 19 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 near Des Plaines 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 near Des Plaines gauge located?
The gauge is located in Cook County, Illinois at coordinates 42.0872°N, 87.8872°W. USGS site number: 05529000. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
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On This River
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Source & Notes
Data provided by: US Geological Survey, Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey
- 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.