Major Flood
32 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
24 ft
Minor Flood
20 ft
Action Stage
15 ft
What Floods at Each Level
29.2 ft
Water reaches the deck floor of the Old Highway K 99 bridge over the Cottonwood River.
26.5 ft
Water reaches low steel of Old K 99 bridge over the Cottonwood River.
25.5 ft
Highway K 99 on the north bank begins to flood.
24 ft
Highway K 99 on the south bank floods.
23 ft
North bank of the Cottonwood River begins to flood. Lowland flooding occurs along the Cottonwood River from Plymouth to Neosho Rapids.
20 ft
South bank of the Cottonwood River 1 mile south of Emporia floods.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
Low-Water Impacts
0.4
River approaches 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 10, 1951 | 33.4 ft | — |
| Nov 1, 1998 | 29.5 ft | — |
| Jul 19, 1948 | 29.5 ft | — |
About This Gauge
Get Flood Alerts for Cottonwood 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 Cottonwood River at Emporia?
The Cottonwood River at Emporia gauge is maintained by USGS (site 07182260) 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 Cottonwood River at Emporia?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Cottonwood River at Emporia is 20 feet. Action stage begins at 15 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 24 feet, and major flooding at 32 feet.
How do I get alerts when Cottonwood River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Cottonwood River at Emporia 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 Cottonwood River at Emporia gauge located?
The gauge is located in Lyon County, Kansas at coordinates 38.3861°N, 96.1817°W. USGS site number: 07182260. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
More Gauges on Cottonwood River
On This River
Upstream: Cottonwood River near Plymouth
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 precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 24 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time.
- Stage may be affected by ice during winter months.