National Weather Service Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service

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Weather Forecast Office Indianapolis, IN

Ohio River Forecast Center

Hydrograph

River at a Glance

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About this graph

Tabular Data (UTC)

Tabular Data (EDT)

Datum: NAVD88

Metadata

NOTE: Forecasts are not available for the Cicero Creek at Morse Reservoir. Only observed stages are available for this point.

Vertical datum height surveyed by the USGS

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Upstream Gauge

Downstream Gauge

Flood Categories (in feet)

Major Flood Stage:	0
Moderate Flood Stage:	0
Flood Stage:	0
Action Stage:	0
Low Stage (in feet):	809.44

Historic Crests
(1) 813.44 ft on 04/19/2013
(2) 812.95 ft on 06/28/1957
(3) 812.38 ft on 05/05/2017
(4) 812.06 ft on 01/13/2013
(5) 812.05 ft on 04/04/2018
(6) 811.89 ft on 06/27/2015

(P): Preliminary values subject to further review.

Recent Crests
(1) 812.05 ft on 04/04/2018
(2) 812.38 ft on 05/05/2017
(3) 811.89 ft on 06/27/2015
(4) 813.44 ft on 04/19/2013
(5) 812.06 ft on 01/13/2013
(6) 812.95 ft on 06/28/1957

(P): Preliminary values subject to further review.

Low Water Records
(1) 800.26 ft on 11/19/1999
(2) 800.63 ft on 10/12/2004
(3) 803.91 ft on 10/16/1988
(4) 804.00 ft on 07/19/2012
(5) 804.26 ft on 11/01/1966
Show More Low Water Records

For more information on your flood risk go to www.floodsmart.gov.

Show FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layers

Zoom Level:16

	Gauge Location	Disclaimer
Latitude/Longitude Disclaimer: The gauge location shown in the above map is the approximate location based on the latitude/longitude coordinates provided to the NWS by the gauge owner.

Flood Impacts & Photos

If you notice any errors in the below information, please contact our Webmaster
811.5	Morse Reservoir at an usually high level. This typically occurs following extensive flooding of Cicero Creek.
810.5	Morse Reservoir after after typical flooding of Cicero Creek.
810	Typical level of Morse Reservoir during periods of normal streamflow and rainfall.
809.5	Morse Reservoir is considered full. When level is falling the outlet valve may be opened at any time. When level is rising outlet valve will likely be closed.
806.5	Lake sections north of 236th Street in Cicero average 2 to 3 deep and maybe limited for use except by pontoons and small fishing boats. Submerged points or sandbars are 2 to 5 feet deep. This depth extends up to several hundred feet offshore. Boats during the Summer 2007 got caught on these shallow areas. Several boats received propeller damage.
806.4	Lake sections between 236th Street and Carrigan Road are navigable. The point on the east side of the lake at 216th Street just north of the marina has 2-3 foot water extending several hundred feet out into the lake. The first point south of 236th Street on the west side of the lake extends well out into the lake at normal pool of 810 feet. Normal 5 foot depths a few hundred feet offshore are now 2 feet deep and pose a buoy marked boating hazard.
806.3	The south end of the lake south of Carrigan Road to the dam is all navigable. However, a sandbar on the main body near the first point on the east side of the lake extends over 500 feet out into the lake. This bar averages 5 to 6 foot deep when the lake is 810 feet. Now this sandbar is only 2-3 feet deep and is an unmarked navigation hazard. The "party island" bay in this same lake section averages at best 5 feet deep in many areas. The channel on the west side of the island averages 2-3 feet.
806.2	The "party island" bay in the southeast end of the lake averages at best 5 feet deep in many areas. The channel on the west side of the island averages 2-3 feet deep and is likely a navigation hazard.
803.5	Record low level for so early in the year and the month of July. This level reached during Drought of 2012 on July 17, 2012 and 47 days of record to near low rainfall and near record to record temperatures from June 28-July 8. Level has been adjusted down by 0.5 ft due to subsequent datum change.
Photos (1) 2015 article about the construction of Morse Reservoir. Credit Brad Cook.

Low Water Impacts

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803.7	During the Drought of 2012...all county recreational areas were closed during the middle of July because of low water levels.
806.3	The south end of the lake south of Carrigan Road to the dam is all navigable. However, a sandbar on the main body near the first point on the east side of the lake extends over 500 feet out into the lake. This bar averages 5 to 6 foot deep when the lake is 810 feet. Now this sandbar is only 2-3 feet deep and is an unmarked navigation hazard. The "party island" bay in this same lake section averages at best 5 feet deep in many areas. The channel on the west side of the island averages 2-3 feet and is likely a navigation hazard.
806.4	Lake sections between 236th Street and Carrigan Road are navigable. The point on the east side of the lake at 216th Street just north of the marina has 2-3 foot water extending several hundred feet out into the lake. The first point south of 236th Street on the west side of the lake extends well out into the lake at normal pool of 810 feet. Normal 5 foot depths a few hundred feet offshore are now 2 feet deep and pose a buoy marked boating hazard.
806.5	Lake sections north of 236th Street in Cicero average 2-3 feet deep and maybe limited for use except by pontoons and small fising boats. Submerged points or sandbars are 2-5 feet deep. This depth extends up to several hundred feet offshore. Boats during Summer 2007 got caught on these shallow areas. Several boats received propeller damage.
809.44	Level at which water stops flowing over the spillway at Morse Reservoir.

About This Location

Latitude: 40.074800° N, Longitude: 86.045300° W, Horizontal Datum: NAD83/WGS84

River Stage Reference Frame	Gauge Height	Flood Stage	Uses
NWS stage	0 ft	Not Available	Interpreting hydrographs and NWS watch, warnings, and forecasts, and inundation maps
Vertical Datum	Elevation (gauge height = 0)	Elevation (gauge height = flood stage)	Elevation information source
NAVD88	800.12 ft	Not Available	Survey grade GPS equipment, FEMA flood plain maps, newer USGS topographic maps
NGVD 29	Not Available	Not Available	Older USGS topographic maps, NGVD29 benchmarks
MSL	Not Available	Not Available	Older USGS topographic maps, MSL benchmarks
Other	Not Available	Not Available

Current/Historical Observations:

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Data and Site Info for Morse Reservoir

Additional Information

Historical readings and information courtesy of the former Indianapolis Water Company. Pre-2020 impacts and low water impacts have been adjusted to correspond to NAVD88.

Detailed stream discharges and gage heights as archived by the U.S. Geological Survey may not be available prior to 2020. The only historical river data available is displayed on the NOAA NWS Advanced Hydrologic Prediction System web page (water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=ind).

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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.

NWS Information

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Indianapolis, IN 46241
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Page last modified: 2-Nov-2020 7:30 PM

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