Mississippi River at Mel Price (Alton) Lock and Dam
Illinois — Water Level & Flood Stage
Located in Madison County, Illinois on the Mississippi River. Live water level data from USGS gauge 05587541, 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
34 ft
Moderate Flood
29 ft
Minor Flood
21 ft
Action Stage
19 ft
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
What Floods at Each Level
42.7 ft
This is the RECORD FLOOD LEVEL that was reached on August 1 1993.
42 ft
Near this height U.S. Highway 67 will be completely closed. (MoDOT)
40 ft
Railroad tracks from Wood River to Alton begin to flood.
37.6 ft
Damage begins to Ardent Mills grain bins in Alton within a foot of this height.
36.1 ft
This represents the height of the Lincoln Shields levee just below the Missouri side of the Clark bridge.
35.5 ft
At this approximate stage, Mel Price Lock and Dam must close the lock to navigation. This happened on July 10, 1993.
34.5 ft
Near this height, the southbound lanes of U.S. Highway 67 will begin flooding, forcing the detour of southbound traffic onto the northbound lanes.
34.2 ft
Near this height water will begin flowing over Riverlands Way between Highway 67 and Mel Price Locks and Dam. This road is a part of the Consolidated North County levee, so this is the point when water begins gradually flowing onto the protected farmland and farm homes behind the levee.
32.9 ft
Riverfront Park in Alton begins flooding.
31.5 ft
Commercial basements in Alton begin to flood within a foot of this height.
30.5 ft
Bloch Marine Service at the Harbor Point Yacht Club begins flooding within a foot of this level.
29.9 ft
Route 100 at Alton closes within a foot of this height. Also at this level the north and south Wood River Levee structures are closed.
29.3 ft
The North Wood River Levee must be closed at this level.
28.8 ft
Highway 100 will begin flooding at Clifton Terrace Street within 2 feet of this height.
28.5 ft
The South Wood River Levee must be closed at this level.
27.9 ft
Missouri Highway 94 from Alta Villa Road to Feltes Drive will be closed near this height.
26.6 ft
Within a foot of this height, outer road US 67 between Riverlands Way and the Lincoln Shields Access Road will close due to flooding.
26.5 ft
Yachtview Drive begins flooding along the entrance to Harbor Point Yacht Club within a foot of this height.
25 ft
Highway 94 and the east end of Harbor Point Road off of Highway 94 north of West Alton begin flooding within a foot or so of this height. Also, the access road to the Lincoln Shields area off Highway 67 just west of the Clark bridge begins flooding.
24 ft
Alta Villa Road off of Highway 94 north of West Alton is closed within a foot of this height.
23 ft
Dresser Island Drive floods within a foot of this level.
20.8 ft
Unprotected farm land begins to flood
18 ft
Near this height, Mel Price Lock and Dam will go to "open river" conditions, lifting all gates out of the river.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
7-Day Water Level Chart
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Historic Crests
| Date | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 31, 1993 | 42.72 ft | 369,500 cfs |
| Jul 31, 1993 | 42.72 ft | 369,500 cfs |
| Jun 8, 2019 | 39.01 ft | — |
| Jun 8, 2019 | 39.01 ft | — |
| Jun 17, 1844 | 36.9 ft | -9,999 cfs |
About This Gauge
USGS Site
NWS LID
ALNI2
River
Mississippi River
County
Madison, IL
Coordinates
38.8664°N, 90.1464°W
Get Flood Alerts for Mississippi 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 Mississippi River at Mel Price (Alton) Lock and Dam?
The Mississippi River at Mel Price (Alton) Lock and Dam gauge is maintained by USGS (site 05587541) 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 Mississippi River at Mel Price (Alton) Lock and Dam?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Mississippi River at Mel Price (Alton) Lock and Dam is 21 feet. Action stage begins at 19 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 29 feet, and major flooding at 34 feet.
How do I get alerts when Mississippi River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Mississippi River at Mel Price (Alton) Lock and Dam 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 Mississippi River at Mel Price (Alton) Lock and Dam gauge located?
The gauge is located in Madison County, Illinois at coordinates 38.8664°N, 90.1464°W. USGS site number: 05587541. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
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Source & Notes
Data provided by: RiverGages.com
- River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 24 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time.
- 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.
- For the latest navigation status update from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-St. Louis District, <a href="http://www.mvs.usace.army.mil/Missions/Navigation/Status-Reports/">click here.</a>