Elkhorn River at Waterloo
No watches, warnings or advisories are in effect for this area.
Future / Actual / Minor
OWP 2.0 WWA Modal Title
01/11/2021, 10:04 PM UTC through 01/11/2021, 10:04 PM UTC
Sender
Sent
- Downstream gauge unavailableWarning: no valid ratings curve available. Transformations to and from FEET/CFS/KCFS will not happen.
Traces and Thresholds Click to turn on/off display
Observed (OBS) 03/26/2025 11:15 AM CDTRecord: 24.7 ftCATEGORY STAGE 
Major Flooding 21 ft Moderate Flooding 18 ft Minor Flooding 14 ft Action 12 ft Reliability of the Forecast:
NOTE: Forecasts are issued as needed during times of high water, but are not routinely available.
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.
National Water Model Hydrograph
Official NWS streamflow forecasts are produced by NWS hydrologic forecasters for river gauge locations using hydrologic models which are calibrated to that location. This process considers additional guidance and information, including local expertise and experience, to produce the best forecast possible. The NWM output provides supplemental guidance to NWS forecasters and should not be considered an official NWS river forecast.
Flood Impacts
- 29 - Water nears the top of the federal levee.
- 18 - The state highway approaches from Highway 36 north to Highway 30 and Highway 91 will be threatened.
- 17 - King Lake just upstream of Waterloo is threatened.
- 15 - Between Highway 36 and Waterloo some roads near the river may be closed.
- 14 - Along this stretch of the river low-lying flooding is ongoing or close to starting.
- 12.5 - Water begins to impact the Elkhorn Crossing campground near 252nd Street and Bennington Road.
- 8 - The City of Waterloo closes flood gates.
- 4 - 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.
Gauge Location
Recent Crests
| 1. | 6.40 ft | on 02-28-2023 |
| 2. | 4.98 ft | on 02-14-2022 |
| 3. | 6.77 ft | on 09-01-2021 |
| 4. | 7.33 ft | on 01-23-2020 |
| 5. | 24.68 ft | on 03-16-2019 |
Recent Crests
| 1. | 6.40 ft | on 02-28-2023 | |
| 2. | 4.98 ft | on 02-14-2022 | |
| 3. | 6.77 ft | on 09-01-2021 | |
| 4. | 7.33 ft | on 01-23-2020 | |
| 5. | 24.68 ft | on 03-16-2019 | |
| 6. | 13.90 ft | on 06-27-2018 | |
| 7. | 10.17 ft | on 10-07-2017 | |
| 8. | 12.91 ft | on 06-19-2016 | |
| 9. | 9.51 ft | on 06-12-2015 | |
| 10. | 11.47 ft | on 06-21-2014 | |
| 11. | 6.37 ft | on 05-31-2013 | |
| 12. | 7.93 ft | on 05-29-2012 | |
| 13. | 11.95 ft | on 06-20-2011 | |
| 14. | 18.77 ft | on 06-14-2010 | |
| 15. | 9.01 ft | on 06-17-2009 | |
| 16. | 16.15 ft | on 05-31-2008 | |
| 17. | 10.84 ft | on 08-24-2007 | |
| 18. | 6.79 ft | on 03-31-2006 | |
| 19. | 9.80 ft | on 05-12-2005 | |
| 20. | 12.04 ft | on 05-23-2004 | |
| 21. | 10.38 ft | on 04-30-2003 | |
| 22. | 9.75 ft | on 06-12-2002 | |
| 23. | 11.71 ft | on 02-02-2002 | |
| 24. | 9.41 ft | on 05-10-2001 | |
| 25. | 9.11 ft | on 07-07-2000 | |
| 26. | 13.89 ft | on 08-08-1999 | |
| 27. | 13.56 ft | on 09-06-1998 | |
| 28. | 11.56 ft | on 06-21-1997 | |
| 29. | 16.53 ft | on 08-07-1996 | |
| 30. | 12.32 ft | on 05-29-1995 | |
| 31. | 10.29 ft | on 03-06-1994 | |
| 32. | 15.76 ft | on 03-11-1993 | |
| 33. | 11.53 ft | on 06-17-1992 | |
| 34. | 13.41 ft | on 06-06-1991 | |
| 35. | 17.30 ft | on 06-19-1990 | |
| 36. | 8.74 ft | on 09-05-1989 | |
| 37. | 6.55 ft | on 09-29-1988 | |
| 38. | 13.24 ft | on 03-25-1987 | |
| 39. | 12.35 ft | on 03-19-1986 | |
| 40. | 11.71 ft | on 04-27-1985 | |
| 41. | 18.12 ft | on 06-18-1984 | |
| 42. | 12.12 ft | on 06-19-1983 | |
| 43. | 12.65 ft | on 05-20-1982 | |
| 44. | 14.68 ft | on 02-21-1982 | |
| 45. | 7.06 ft | on 06-15-1981 | |
| 46. | 9.43 ft | on 05-28-1980 | |
| 47. | 11.71 ft | on 03-18-1979 | |
| 48. | 17.44 ft | on 03-21-1978 | |
| 49. | 9.42 ft | on 05-28-1977 | |
| 50. | 7.87 ft | on 05-24-1976 | |
| 51. | 9.91 ft | on 06-22-1975 | |
| 52. | 12.23 ft | on 05-19-1974 | |
| 53. | 8.60 ft | on 02-24-1973 | |
| 54. | 9.48 ft | on 07-27-1972 | |
| 55. | 18.22 ft | on 02-22-1971 | |
| 56. | 6.75 ft | on 04-22-1970 | |
| 57. | 12.71 ft | on 06-27-1969 | |
| 58. | 8.70 ft | on 06-26-1968 | |
| 59. | 17.80 ft | on 06-16-1967 | |
| 60. | 15.35 ft | on 02-11-1966 | |
| 61. | 12.75 ft | on 09-30-1965 | |
| 62. | 16.30 ft | on 03-01-1965 | 1 |
| 63. | 13.27 ft | on 06-17-1964 | |
| 64. | 9.83 ft | on 06-25-1963 | |
| 65. | 19.12 ft | on 03-29-1962 | 1 |
| 66. | 10.85 ft | on 06-02-1961 | |
| 67. | 19.11 ft | on 04-02-1960 | |
| 68. | 12.88 ft | on 05-31-1959 | 1 |
| 69. | 15.19 ft | on 08-01-1958 | 1 |
| 70. | 13.08 ft | on 06-17-1957 | 1 |
| 71. | 10.96 ft | on 06-26-1956 | 1 |
| 72. | 10.64 ft | on 07-14-1955 | 1 |
| 73. | 13.38 ft | on 06-22-1954 | 1 |
| 74. | 12.45 ft | on 06-09-1953 | 1 |
| 75. | 12.27 ft | on 03-13-1952 | 1 |
| 76. | 17.05 ft | on 06-07-1940 | 1 |
| 77. | 11.50 ft | on 07-08-1938 | 1 |
| 78. | 9.73 ft | on 06-20-1937 | 1 |
| 79. | 14.23 ft | on 03-08-1936 | 1 |
| 80. | 11.46 ft | on 06-09-1934 | 1 |
| 81. | 11.04 ft | on 07-13-1933 | 1 |
| 82. | 12.19 ft | on 05-07-1932 | 1 |
| 83. | 8.60 ft | on 11-21-1930 | 1 |
| 84. | 13.30 ft | on 05-12-1930 | 1 |
| 85. | 10.72 ft | on 06-19-1929 | 1 |
Historic Crests
| 1. | 24.68 ft | on 03-16-2019 | |
| 2. | 19.12 ft | on 03-29-1962 | 1 |
| 3. | 19.11 ft | on 04-02-1960 | |
| 4. | 18.77 ft | on 06-14-2010 | |
| 5. | 18.22 ft | on 02-22-1971 |
Historic Crests
| 1. | 24.68 ft | on 03-16-2019 | |
| 2. | 19.12 ft | on 03-29-1962 | 1 |
| 3. | 19.11 ft | on 04-02-1960 | |
| 4. | 18.77 ft | on 06-14-2010 | |
| 5. | 18.22 ft | on 02-22-1971 | |
| 6. | 18.12 ft | on 06-18-1984 | |
| 7. | 17.80 ft | on 06-16-1967 | |
| 8. | 17.44 ft | on 03-21-1978 | |
| 9. | 17.30 ft | on 06-19-1990 | |
| 10. | 17.05 ft | on 06-07-1940 | 1 |
| 11. | 16.53 ft | on 08-07-1996 | |
| 12. | 16.30 ft | on 03-01-1965 | 1 |
| 13. | 16.15 ft | on 05-31-2008 | |
| 14. | 15.76 ft | on 03-11-1993 | |
| 15. | 15.35 ft | on 02-11-1966 | |
| 16. | 15.19 ft | on 08-01-1958 | 1 |
| 17. | 14.68 ft | on 02-21-1982 | |
| 18. | 14.23 ft | on 03-08-1936 | 1 |
| 19. | 13.90 ft | on 06-27-2018 | |
| 20. | 13.89 ft | on 08-08-1999 | |
| 21. | 13.56 ft | on 09-06-1998 | |
| 22. | 13.41 ft | on 06-06-1991 | |
| 23. | 13.38 ft | on 06-22-1954 | 1 |
| 24. | 13.30 ft | on 05-12-1930 | 1 |
| 25. | 13.27 ft | on 06-17-1964 | |
| 26. | 13.24 ft | on 03-25-1987 | |
| 27. | 13.08 ft | on 06-17-1957 | 1 |
| 28. | 12.91 ft | on 06-19-2016 | |
| 29. | 12.88 ft | on 05-31-1959 | 1 |
| 30. | 12.75 ft | on 09-30-1965 | |
| 31. | 12.71 ft | on 06-27-1969 | |
| 32. | 12.65 ft | on 05-20-1982 | |
| 33. | 12.45 ft | on 06-09-1953 | 1 |
| 34. | 12.35 ft | on 03-19-1986 | |
| 35. | 12.32 ft | on 05-29-1995 | |
| 36. | 12.27 ft | on 03-13-1952 | 1 |
| 37. | 12.23 ft | on 05-19-1974 | |
| 38. | 12.19 ft | on 05-07-1932 | 1 |
| 39. | 12.12 ft | on 06-19-1983 | |
| 40. | 12.04 ft | on 05-23-2004 | |
| 41. | 11.95 ft | on 06-20-2011 | |
| 42. | 11.71 ft | on 03-18-1979 | |
| 43. | 11.71 ft | on 04-27-1985 | |
| 44. | 11.71 ft | on 02-02-2002 | |
| 45. | 11.56 ft | on 06-21-1997 | |
| 46. | 11.53 ft | on 06-17-1992 | |
| 47. | 11.50 ft | on 07-08-1938 | 1 |
| 48. | 11.47 ft | on 06-21-2014 | |
| 49. | 11.46 ft | on 06-09-1934 | 1 |
| 50. | 11.04 ft | on 07-13-1933 | 1 |
| 51. | 10.96 ft | on 06-26-1956 | 1 |
| 52. | 10.85 ft | on 06-02-1961 | |
| 53. | 10.84 ft | on 08-24-2007 | |
| 54. | 10.72 ft | on 06-19-1929 | 1 |
| 55. | 10.64 ft | on 07-14-1955 | 1 |
| 56. | 10.38 ft | on 04-30-2003 | |
| 57. | 10.29 ft | on 03-06-1994 | |
| 58. | 10.17 ft | on 10-07-2017 | |
| 59. | 9.91 ft | on 06-22-1975 | |
| 60. | 9.83 ft | on 06-25-1963 | |
| 61. | 9.80 ft | on 05-12-2005 | |
| 62. | 9.75 ft | on 06-12-2002 | |
| 63. | 9.73 ft | on 06-20-1937 | 1 |
| 64. | 9.51 ft | on 06-12-2015 | |
| 65. | 9.48 ft | on 07-27-1972 | |
| 66. | 9.43 ft | on 05-28-1980 | |
| 67. | 9.42 ft | on 05-28-1977 | |
| 68. | 9.41 ft | on 05-10-2001 | |
| 69. | 9.11 ft | on 07-07-2000 | |
| 70. | 9.01 ft | on 06-17-2009 | |
| 71. | 8.74 ft | on 09-05-1989 | |
| 72. | 8.70 ft | on 06-26-1968 | |
| 73. | 8.60 ft | on 02-24-1973 | |
| 74. | 8.60 ft | on 11-21-1930 | 1 |
| 75. | 7.93 ft | on 05-29-2012 | |
| 76. | 7.87 ft | on 05-24-1976 | |
| 77. | 7.33 ft | on 01-23-2020 | |
| 78. | 7.06 ft | on 06-15-1981 | |
| 79. | 6.79 ft | on 03-31-2006 | |
| 80. | 6.77 ft | on 09-01-2021 | |
| 81. | 6.75 ft | on 04-22-1970 | |
| 82. | 6.55 ft | on 09-29-1988 | |
| 83. | 6.40 ft | on 02-28-2023 | |
| 84. | 6.37 ft | on 05-31-2013 | |
| 85. | 4.98 ft | on 02-14-2022 |
Vertical Datum Table
| type | NAVD88 |
|---|---|
| major Flooding | 1126.19 ft |
| moderate Flooding | 1123.19 ft |
| minor Flooding | 1119.19 ft |
| action | 1117.19 ft |
| Latest Value | 1107.70 ft |
| Gauge Zero | 1105.19 ft |
Unique Local Info
Collaborative Agencies
The National Weather Service prepares its forecasts and other services in collaboration with agencies like the US Geological Survey, US Bureau of Reclamation, US Army Corps of Engineers, Natural Resource Conservation Service, National Park Service, ALERT Users Group, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and many state and local emergency managers across the country. For details, please click here.