Illinois River at Starved Rock Lock (tailwater)
Illinois — Water Level & Flood Stage
Located in La Salle County, Illinois on the Illinois River. Live water level data from USGS gauge 05553700, updated every 15 minutes.
Current Water Level
Gage Height
Loading...
Streamflow
Loading...
Last Reading
Loading...
Flood Stages
Major Flood
465 ft
Moderate Flood
460 ft
Minor Flood
450 ft
Action Stage
449 ft
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
What Floods at Each Level
467.5 ft
North Utica Village Hall and North Utica Police Department are threatened.
464.5 ft
A few residences threatened in North Utica. IL-178 (Clark Street) threatened in North Utica.
463 ft
A couple structures threatened in North Utica.
461.5 ft
High water causes the Starved Rock Lock to shut down.
459 ft
Dee Bennet Road is threatened between Ottawa and Utica.
458 ft
High water levels begin to impact shipping interests along the river.
455 ft
High water causes the Starved Rock Hydroelectric Power Station to shut down.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
Low-Water Impacts
438.7
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
Loading chart data...
Historic Crests
| Date | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 18, 2013 | 467.81 ft | — |
| Apr 18, 2013 | 467.81 ft | — |
| Sep 15, 2008 | 467.31 ft | — |
| Sep 15, 2008 | 467.31 ft | — |
| May 18, 2020 | 465.86 ft | — |
About This Gauge
USGS Site
NWS LID
SRDI2
River
Illinois River
County
La Salle, IL
Coordinates
41.3251°N, 88.9874°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 Starved Rock Lock (tailwater)?
The Illinois River at Starved Rock Lock (tailwater) gauge is maintained by USGS (site 05553700) 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 Starved Rock Lock (tailwater)?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Illinois River at Starved Rock Lock (tailwater) is 450 feet. Action stage begins at 449 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 460 feet, and major flooding at 465 feet.
How do I get alerts when Illinois River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Illinois River at Starved Rock Lock (tailwater) 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 Illinois River at Starved Rock Lock (tailwater) gauge located?
The gauge is located in La Salle County, Illinois at coordinates 41.3251°N, 88.9874°W. USGS site number: 05553700. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
More Gauges on Illinois River
On This River
More Resources
Source & Notes
Data provided by: US Army Corps of Engineers, 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 precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 48 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time.