Is the Des Plaines River flooding?
The Des Plaines River is tracked by 12 USGS streamgauges in Illinois. This page compares each gauge’s live water level against its official National Weather Service flood stage, refreshed every 15 minutes, so you can tell whether the Des Plaines River is running normal, rising toward flood stage, or already flooding. 10 of 12 gauges have both a usable water-level reading and a published minor flood stage. Gauges without a published flood stage show water level and flow only. For nearby rivers, see all Illinois river levels.
River facts
The longest-running gauge on this river is Des Plaines River at Riverside, IL. The highest level ever recorded there was 21.10 ft on 22 January 1916, carrying 6,480 cfs. Peak records there go back to 1914 (112 annual peaks). It is currently at 4.67 ft, 16.4 ft below that record.
| Gauge | Status | Stage | Flood stage | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Plaines River at Russell, IL | Moderate flooding | 9.21 ft | 7 ft | |
| Des Plaines River near Gurnee, IL | Near flood stage | 6.91 ft | 7 ft | |
| Des Plaines River at Algonquin Rd at Des Plaines, IL | Near flood stage | 12.55 ft | 13 ft | |
| Des Plaines River at Lincolnshire, IL | No flooding | 10.71 ft | 12.5 ft | |
| Des Plaines River near Des Plaines, IL | No flooding | 12.85 ft | 15 ft | |
| Des Plaines River at River Forest, IL | No flooding | 8.60 ft | 16 ft | |
| Des Plaines River at Riverside, IL | No flooding | 4.67 ft | 7.5 ft | |
| Des Plaines River at Lyons, IL | No flooding | 14.97 ft | 18 ft | |
| Des Plaines River near Lemont, IL | No flooding | 9.05 ft | 10 ft | |
| Des Plaines River at Route 53 at Joliet, IL | No flooding | 539.47 ft | 541 ft | |
| Des Plaines River at Romeoville, IL | No current data | — | — | — |
| Des Plaines River at Lockport, IL | No current data | — | — | — |