Niobrara River near Sparks, Nebr.
Is Niobrara River near Sparks, Nebr. flooding right now?
Niobrara River near Sparks, Nebr. measured 2.86 ft on 2026-09-11 00:45:00 UTC. That observation was 3.1 ft below its 6 ft flood stage. This is the latest available reading, not a guarantee of current conditions.
Gauge height
2.86 ft
Streamflow
824 cfs
Minor flooding here begins at 6 ft, with major flooding at 16 ft. The highest crest on record was 12.17 ft on Wed, Feb 5, 2014.
Streamflow outlook
Flood stages at this gauge
| Category | Stage | Current distance |
|---|---|---|
| Action | 5 ft | 2.1 ft below |
| Minor flood | 6 ft | 3.1 ft below |
| Moderate flood | 12 ft | 9.1 ft below |
| Major flood | 16 ft | 13.1 ft below |
Highest crests on record
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| 12.17 ft | 2014-02-05 |
| 10.31 ft | 2018-02-21 |
| 10.06 ft | 1973-02-07 |
| 9.23 ft | 1994-02-07 |
| 8.9 ft | 2005-01-17 |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Distance | County |
|---|---|---|
| Tyler Falls at Ft Niobrara NWR near Valentine, Nebr. | 3.2 mi | Cherry County |
| Big Beaver Creek at Nebr Hwy 12 near Valentine, Nebr. | 5.5 mi | Cherry County |
| Niobrara River at Cornell Bridge near Valentine, Nebr. | 6.1 mi | Cherry County |
| Niobrara River at Borman Bridge near Valentine, Nebr. | 8.7 mi | Cherry County |
| Minnechaduza Creek at U.S. Hwy 83 at Valentine, Nebr. | 10.2 mi | Cherry County |
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Provisional data: Real-time readings are provisional and subject to revision by the USGS — sensors can be affected by ice, debris, or equipment malfunction. Do not rely on this site for decisions involving personal safety; follow official guidance from the National Weather Service and local authorities.