WichitaPaddler.com - Water Level and Flow Information

*** Flatwater Rivers ***
(Remember, all rivers have hazards. Especially at higher levels. Strainers become much more hazardous with swifter current. Don't paddle alone on any river.)

USGS Arkansas River, KS ( I )

07140000 ARKANSAS R NR KINSLEY, KS

07141220 ARKANSAS R NR LARNED, KS

07141300 ARKANSAS R AT GREAT BEND, KS

07142680 ARKANSAS R NR NICKERSON, KS

07143330 ARKANSAS R NR HUTCHINSON, KS

07143375 ARKANSAS R NR MAIZE, KS - 53rd St. N. Bridge (Accurate for spillway (I-III) if no water is being diverted down the floodway.) (Spillway can be greater than this gage, if the L. Ark is being diverted down the floodway.)

07144301 FLOODWAY AT ARKANSAS R AT WICHITA, KS - Zoo Blvd Bridge over Floodway (Amount being diverted down the floodway - can include overflow from both rivers.)

07144200 L ARKANSAS R AT VALLEY CENTER, KS (dumps into Arkansas R. at downtown Wichita)(only accurate if none is overflowing in Big Ditch)

07144300 ARKANSAS R AT WICHITA, KS - S. Broadway Bridge (First gage below confluence of Little Arkansas.)

07144550 ARKANSAS R AT DERBY, KS - 83rd St. S or Washington Bridge in Derby (After the confluence of the floodway.) (Use this gage for Goat Ranch floats.)

07145500 NINNESCAH R NR PECK, KS - (dumps into Arkansas R. just above Oxford)

07145700 SLATE C AT WELLINGTON, KS - (dumps into Arkansas R. below Rainbow Bend, above Geuda Springs)

07146500 ARKANSAS R AT ARKANSAS CITY, KS - U.S 166 Bridge in Arkansas City (This is upstream from the confluence of the Walnut.)

07147900 WALNUT R AT ARKANSAS CITY, KS - (dumps into Arkansas R. just below Arkansas City gage)

USGS Little Arkansas River ( I )

07143665 L ARKANSAS R AT ALTA MILLS, KS

07143672 L ARKANSAS R AT HWY 50 NR HALSTEAD, KS

07143680 L ARKANSAS R AT HALSTEAD, KS

07144100 L ARKANSAS R NR SEDGWICK, KS - (Water Temperature, PH, etc.)

07144200 L ARKANSAS R AT VALLEY CENTER, KS (Accurate for local float if no water is being diverted down the floodway.)

07144201 FLOODWAY AT L ARKANSAS R AT VALLEY (Amount being diverted down the floodway.)

USGS Kansas (KAW) River ( I )

USGS List Grouped by Major River Basin

06879100 KANSAS R AT FORT RILEY, KS

06887500 KANSAS R AT WAMEGO, KS

06888350 KANSAS R NR BELVUE, KS

06889000 KANSAS R AT TOPEKA, KS

06891000 KANSAS R AT LECOMPTON, KS

06892350 KANSAS R AT DESOTO, KS

*** Flatwater with a Rocks, Riffles, Eddies and Lots of Strainers ***
(These rivers are a step up and many think they are much more fun. Some of these rivers are populated with rental canoes in the summertime. Medium length boats work well on these rivers. Longer touring boats present a challenge in some of the tight turns. The paddler must be able to maintain good boat control without the aid of a rudder or skeg. Helmets are recommended for all boaters but are seldom seen on the river. Kayakers should think very seriously about wearing helmets do to the frequent shallow rocky river bottoms. Strainers and other obstacles become much more hazardous at higher levels and with swifter current. Don't boat alone or after dark.)

Some gages are listed for rainfall reference and do not mean that public access or public water is available. Except for the big three, Kansas rivers belong to the landowners. Use caution not to trespass on private property in Kansas.

USGS Walnut River - Kansas (Same area as Grouse Creek ( I+ ))

07147800 WALNUT R AT WINFIELD, KS

07147900 WALNUT R AT ARKANSAS CITY, KS

USGS Otter Creek - Kansas (Same area as Fall River ( I-II ) upstream of lake)

07167500 OTTER C AT CLIMAX, KS

USGS Fall River at Fredonia, KS (below the dam)

07169500 FALL R AT FREDONIA, KS

USGS Caney River, KS

07172000 CANEY R NR ELGIN, KS

USGS Elk River, KS

07169800 ELK R AT ELK FALLS, KS

USGS Smoky Hill River, KS

06860000 SMOKY HILL R AT ELKADER, KS

06861000 SMOKY HILL R NR ARNOLD, KS

06862700 SMOKY HILL R NR SCHOENCHEN, KS

06863000 SMOKY HILL R AT PFEIFER, KS

06864050 SMOKY HILL R NR BUNKER HILL, KS

06864500 SMOKY HILL R AT ELLSWORTH, KS - above Kanoplis Lake

06865500 SMOKY HILL R NR LANGLEY, KS - below Kanoplis Lake

06866500 SMOKY HILL R NR MENTOR, KS

06870200 SMOKY HILL R AT NEW CAMBRIA, KS

06877600 SMOKY HILL R AT ENTERPRISE, KS

06878000 CHAPMAN C NR CHAPMAN, KS

USGS Mill Creek, KS

06888500 MILL C NR PAXICO, KS

USGS - Illinois River, OK ( I-II )

07196500 Illinois River near Tahlequah, OK

USGS - Current River, MO ( I-II )

07064533 Current River above Akers, MO

07067000 Current River at Van Buren, MO

07068000 Current River at Doniphan, MO

USGS - Jacks Fork, MO ( I-II )

07065200 Jacks Fork near Mountain View, MO

07065495 Jacks Fork at Alley Spring, MO

07066000 Jacks Fork at Eminence, MO

USGS - North Fork White River, MO ( I-II )

07057500 North Fork River near Tecumseh, MO

USGS - Eleven Point River, MO & AR (I-II)

07071500 Eleven Point River near Bardley, MO

07072000 Eleven Point River near Ravenden Springs, AR - includes Precipitation

USGS - Buffalo National River, AR ( I-II )

07055646 Buffalo River near Boxley, AR

07055660 Buffalo River at Ponca, AR

07056000 Buffalo River near St. Joe, AR

07056700 Buffalo River near Harriet, AR

Buffalo National River Hydrologic Data System

USGS - Spring River, AR (I-II)

07069190 Mammoth Spring at Mammoth Spring, AR

07069305 Spring River at Town Branch Bridge at Hardy, AR - includes Precipitation

USGS - Spring River - Near Baxter Springs, KS

07185700 Spring River at La Russell, MO

07185765 Spring River at Carthage, MO

07185910 North Fork Spring River near Purcell, MO

07186000 Spring River near Waco, MO

07187600 SPRING R NR BAXTER SPRINGS, KS

07188000 Spring River near Quapaw, OK

*** Whitewater Rivers ***
(Training, helmets, whitewater equipment and whitewater skills are required. Touring boats are never suitable for these rivers. When the water runs, it is almost always cold.)

USGS - Mulberry River, AR - ( II )

07252000 Mulberry River near Mulberry. AR

Turner Bend Private Gage

USGS - Frog Bayou, AR - ( II )

07251500 Frog Bayou at Rudy, AR

USGS - Cadron Creek, AR ( I-II+ )

07261000 Cadron Creek near Guy, AR

USGS - Lee Creek, OK & AR - II+

07249800 Lee Creek at Short, OK

USGS - Big Piney Creek, AR - II+

07257006 Big Piney Creek at Highway 164 near Dover, AR

USGS - St. Francis River, MO - II-IV