Major Flood
21 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
18 ft
Minor Flood
14 ft
Action Stage
12 ft
What Floods at Each Level
29 ft
Water nears the top of the federal levee.
18 ft
The state highway approaches from Highway 36 north to Highway 30 and Highway 91 will be threatened.
17 ft
King Lake just upstream of Waterloo is threatened.
15 ft
Between Highway 36 and Waterloo some roads near the river may be closed.
14 ft
Along this stretch of the river low-lying flooding is ongoing or close to starting.
12.5 ft
Water begins to impact the Elkhorn Crossing campground near 252nd Street and Bennington Road.
8 ft
The City of Waterloo closes flood gates.
4 ft
At this level the Papio NRD closes the following river access sites: Elkhorn Crossing, near West Maple Road, near West Dodge Road, and West Center Road.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 15, 2019 | 24.68 ft | 117,000 cfs |
| Mar 28, 1962 | 19.12 ft | 50,200 cfs |
| Apr 1, 1960 | 19.11 ft | 46,900 cfs |
About This Gauge
Get Flood Alerts for Elkhorn 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 Elkhorn River at Waterloo?
The Elkhorn River at Waterloo gauge is maintained by USGS (site 06800500) 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 Elkhorn River at Waterloo?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Elkhorn River at Waterloo is 14 feet. Action stage begins at 12 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 18 feet, and major flooding at 21 feet.
How do I get alerts when Elkhorn River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Elkhorn River at Waterloo 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 Elkhorn River at Waterloo gauge located?
The gauge is located in Douglas County, Nebraska at coordinates 41.2933°N, 96.2839°W. USGS site number: 06800500. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
More Gauges on Elkhorn River
On This River
Upstream: Elkhorn River near Winslow
More Resources
Source & Notes
Data provided by: Observations courtesy of the USGS
- 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.
- Stage may be affected by ice.