Mississippi River at Canton Lock and Dam 20
Missouri — Water Level & Flood Stage
Located in Lewis County, Missouri on the Mississippi River. Live water level data from USGS gauge 05495150, 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
25 ft
Moderate Flood
20 ft
Minor Flood
15 ft
Action Stage
13 ft
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
What Floods at Each Level
110000 ft
At this approximate discharge, the Corps will raise the gates out of the water, creating "open river" conditions.
29.3 ft
Water reaches the 12,000 volt transformer pad at Lock 20.
27 ft
Water reaches the top of the lower gates.
26 ft
The Lock and Dam 20 Control Center begins flooding at this height.
25.7 ft
The Illinois levee protecting Meyer, IL is overtopped. The town of Meyer begins flooding.
24.5 ft
Lock and Dam 20 maintenance buildings begin flooding.
20 ft
Flood waters reach the top of the upper gates.
19.6 ft
Water reaches the top of the lock wall, flooding the lock chamber.
18.1 ft
Railroad tracks near the campgrounds begin flooding at this height.
18 ft
Near this level, the lock is closed to navigation. This level will vary with circumstance. Also, the railroad crossing at the east end of Henderson Street floods at this height.
17.5 ft
At this height, the city of Canton will install the flood gates at the railroad opening and at Route B north of town.
17.3 ft
State Highway B, or Business U.S. Highway 61, is closed from Missouri Highway 16 in Canton to north of Canton at the levee flood gate near this level.
16.6 ft
Front Street leading to the campground and Corps park campgrounds flood at this height.
15.6 ft
North Front Street and the first 2-3 campsites in Mississippi Park begin flooding at this height.
14 ft
Both banks begin to overflow.
9 ft
Above 8.7 to 9.2 feet, the Corps will raise the gates out of the water, allowing for "open river" conditions. This corresponds to a discharge of approximately 110,000 cfs.
8.5 ft
The Corps will not allow the pool level to drop below 8.5 feet (higher flows below 100K). At low flows, they allow a 2-foot variation between 11.0 and 13.0 feet. At higher flows below 100K, the range is actually lower, between 8.5 and 10.5 feet. Above 110K cfs, the gates are raised above the water surface, allowing open river conditions.
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 8, 1993 | 27.88 ft | 436,886 cfs |
| Jul 8, 1993 | 27.88 ft | 436,886 cfs |
| Jun 18, 2008 | 27.73 ft | 564,000 cfs |
| Jun 18, 2008 | 27.73 ft | 564,000 cfs |
| Jun 1, 2019 | 27.11 ft | 534,000 cfs |
About This Gauge
USGS Site
NWS LID
CANM7
River
Mississippi River
County
Lewis, MO
Coordinates
40.1424°N, 91.5150°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 Canton Lock and Dam 20?
The Mississippi River at Canton Lock and Dam 20 gauge is maintained by USGS (site 05495150) 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 Canton Lock and Dam 20?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Mississippi River at Canton Lock and Dam 20 is 15 feet. Action stage begins at 13 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 20 feet, and major flooding at 25 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 Canton Lock and Dam 20 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 Canton Lock and Dam 20 gauge located?
The gauge is located in Lewis County, Missouri at coordinates 40.1424°N, 91.5150°W. USGS site number: 05495150. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
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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 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>