RIVER GAUGE · ROCK RIVER
Rock River at Rockford (Fordam Dam)
Winnebago County, Illinois
Water level2.52 ft
Flow—
Last readingSep 16, 2026, 5:00 PM UTC (last recorded)
Action3.5 ft
Minor flood4 ft
Moderate flood5 ft
Major flood6 ft
The past week
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What floods at each level
- 6.5 ft
Structures are threatened at Davis Park in downtown Rockford.
- 6 ft
Numerous structures are threatened at the river in downtown Rockford.
- 5 ft
Davis Park is threatened in downtown Rockford. Numerous sections of riverfront trails are inundated in downtown Rockford.
- 3.5 ft
Lowest sections of riverfront trails are threatened in downtown Rockford.
Highest crests on record
| Date | Level | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 19, 1881 | 6.5 ft | — |
| Apr 22, 1973 | 5.6 ft | — |
| Mar 28, 1916 | 5.5 ft | — |
When the water runs low
- 1.0
River reaches zero flow except for any water released manually through gates.
- 0.5
Boats may be left beached at downtown Rockford marinas.
- 0.2
Minimum stage reportable by gauge.
More on Rock River
DownstreamRock River at Byron
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