Major Flood
12.5 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
11 ft
Minor Flood
10 ft
Action Stage
8.5 ft
What Floods at Each Level
17.5 ft
Bethany Road threatened.
16 ft
Multiple structures threatened at Northern Illinois University. DeKalb Sanitary District property threatened.
15.5 ft
Coltonville Road threatened north of DeKalb. Park Avenue (IL-72) and Madison Avenue may be threatened in Genoa.
15 ft
Annie Glidden Road threatened near Taylor Street.
14.5 ft
Roadways and structures threatened at Edgebrook Mobile Home Park. First Street threatened.
14 ft
IL-64 is threatened west of Sycamore.
13.5 ft
Flood waters overtop levee north of Hillcrest Street in DeKalb.
13 ft
Water overtops the levee at the east lagoon at Northern Illinois University. Castle Drive and Lucinda Avenue threatened.
12.5 ft
A few structures threatened at Northern Illinois University.
12 ft
Low-lying portions of River Heights Golf Course inundated.
11 ft
Clifford Drive is threatened near Prairie Park in DeKalb. Creek Court threatened south of DeKalb.
10.5 ft
Residences threatened near the river on Taylor Street. Fairview Drive is threatened near the river south of DeKalb.
9 ft
Taylor Street is threatened. Low-lying portions of Lions Park inundated in DeKalb.
8.5 ft
Water overtops low-lying banks in DeKalb.
7.5 ft
Gurler Road threatened southwest of DeKalb.
6 ft
DeKalb Nature Trail is threatened near and south of Lincoln Highway.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
Low-Water Impacts
2.5
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 1, 1983 | 15.8 ft | 3,500 cfs |
| Aug 23, 2007 | 15.34 ft | 3,100 cfs |
| Oct 10, 1954 | 15.24 ft | — |
About This Gauge
USGS Site
NWS LID
DEKI2
River
South Branch Kishwaukee River
County
De Kalb, IL
Coordinates
41.9311°N, 88.7597°W
Get Flood Alerts for South Branch Kishwaukee 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 South Branch Kishwaukee River at De Kalb?
The South Branch Kishwaukee River at De Kalb gauge is maintained by USGS (site 05439000) 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 South Branch Kishwaukee River at De Kalb?
The NWS-defined flood stage for South Branch Kishwaukee River at De Kalb is 10 feet. Action stage begins at 8.5 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 11 feet, and major flooding at 12.5 feet.
How do I get alerts when South Branch Kishwaukee River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add South Branch Kishwaukee River at De Kalb 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 South Branch Kishwaukee River at De Kalb gauge located?
The gauge is located in De Kalb County, Illinois at coordinates 41.9311°N, 88.7597°W. USGS site number: 05439000. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
More Gauges on South Branch Kishwaukee River
On This River
Downstream: South Branch Kishwaukee River near Fairdale
More Resources
Source & Notes
Data provided by: US Geological Survey, Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey
- River forecasts for this location take into account past and future precipitation. The stages/flows that will occur may be different if future rainfall is different than forecast.