Major Flood
7 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
6 ft
Minor Flood
4 ft
Action Stage
3 ft
What Floods at Each Level
12 ft
McHenry Waste Water Treatment Plant property is threatened. Miller Road is threatened west of the river in McHenry.
11 ft
Multiple structures along the river are threatened in downtown McHenry. River Road is threatened at IL-120 (Elm Street) in McHenry.
10.5 ft
IL-176 is threatened near Holiday Hills.
9 ft
Country Club Drive, Emerald Drive, and River Road near Chapel Hill Road are threatened in McHenry.
8.5 ft
Residences threatened along Country Club Drive and Emerald Drive in McHenry. Roadways threatened at Miller Riverfront Park in McHenry.
8 ft
Residences along River Road are threatened near Mary Lane in McHenry. Backwater causes Boone Creek to threaten parking lots in downtown McHenry. Numerous marinas are threatened in McHenry.
7 ft
Low-lying sections of Miller Riverfront Park inundated in McHenry.
6 ft
Backwater causes Boone Creek to inundate sections of the McHenry river walk.
5.5 ft
Water reaches bankfull along Country Club Drive and Emerald Drive in McHenry.
5 ft
Roadways and structures may be threatened in Frisch's Riverside subdivision along Lagoon and River Shore Drives.
4.5 ft
Roadways and structures may be threatened in the Holiday Hills subdivison along Holiday Drive.
3.5 ft
Boathouses threatened along the river downstream of the dam.
3 ft
Fox Waterway Agency considers "no wake" order for the Fox River from Algonquin Dam to Stratton Dam.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
Low-Water Impacts
1.0
Low water levels begin to impact operations at Stratton and Algonquin Dams.
0.5
Approximate stage of the 1-in-10 annual chance flow (7-day average).
0.0
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 4, 1938 | 9 ft | — |
| Jul 21, 2017 | 7.65 ft | — |
| Apr 22, 2013 | 7.64 ft | — |
About This Gauge
Get Flood Alerts for Fox 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 Fox River at McHenry (Stratton Lock and Dam) tailwater?
The Fox River at McHenry (Stratton Lock and Dam) tailwater gauge is maintained by USGS (site 05549501) 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 Fox River at McHenry (Stratton Lock and Dam) tailwater?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Fox River at McHenry (Stratton Lock and Dam) tailwater is 4 feet. Action stage begins at 3 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 6 feet, and major flooding at 7 feet.
How do I get alerts when Fox River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Fox River at McHenry (Stratton Lock and Dam) tailwater 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 Fox River at McHenry (Stratton Lock and Dam) tailwater gauge located?
The gauge is located in McHenry County, Illinois at coordinates 42.3092°N, 88.2514°W. USGS site number: 05549501. 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