Action Stage
26 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.
What Floods at Each Level
36 ft
Backwater causes Rat Run to threatened Main Street in Seneca.
35.5 ft
A few residences threatened near River Road and IL-170 in Seneca.
35 ft
River Road is threatened near IL-170 in Seneca.
33.5 ft
Industrial structures are threatened along the river west of Seneca.
33 ft
Backwater causes Rat Run to threaten a few structures near Main Street in Seneca.
32 ft
IL-36 (Dupont Road) is threatened along the river near Seneca.
31.5 ft
Old Stage Road is threatened just east of Seneca.
31 ft
Backwater causes Rat Run to overtop its banks near Main Street in Seneca.
28 ft
Old Stage Road is threatened near the Illinois and Michigan Canal between Seneca and Morris. Agricultural land is inundated north of the river near Seneca.
27 ft
Roadways at numerous marinas threatened along the river near Seneca.
25 ft
Water overtops low-lying banks in Seneca.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
Low-Water Impacts
18.6
Low water levels begin to impact shipping interests along the river.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| May 18, 2020 | 32.25 ft | — |
| May 1, 2019 | 32.16 ft | — |
| Feb 20, 2018 | 30.78 ft | — |
About This Gauge
USGS Site
NWS LID
SNAI2
River
Illinois River
County
La Salle, IL
Coordinates
41.2999°N, 88.6142°W
Get Flood Alerts for Illinois 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 Illinois River at Seneca?
The Illinois River at Seneca gauge is maintained by USGS (site 05543010) 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 Illinois River at Seneca?
This gauge has NWS-defined flood categories. Check the flood stages section above for current thresholds.
How do I get alerts when Illinois River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Illinois River at Seneca 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 Illinois River at Seneca gauge located?
The gauge is located in La Salle County, Illinois at coordinates 41.2999°N, 88.6142°W. USGS site number: 05543010. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
More Gauges on Illinois River
More Resources
Source & Notes
Data provided by: US Geological Survey, Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey