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Illinois River at Ottawa, IL (OTWI2)

Data Type




Inundation Levels
NAVD88 Stage

480.0480.0
479.0479.0
478.0478.0
477.0477.0
476.0476.0
475.0475.0
474.0474.0
Record Crest: 473.72 ft
473.0473.0
472.0472.0
Major Flooding Begins

471.0471.0
470.0470.0
469.0469.0
468.0468.0
Moderate Flooding Begins

467.0467.0
466.0466.0
465.0465.0
464.0464.0
Minor Flooding Begins

463.0463.0
462.0462.0
Near Flooding Begins

461.0461.0
460.0460.0
Below Flooding Begins

* = Extended rating
Weather Forecast Office Chicago, IL North Central River Forecast Center
Hydrograph River at a Glance Download Inundation
Mapping
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Click on mapped inundation to see water depth values for that location, or hold shift and drag to zoom to area.

Current Stage:
460.6 ft at 04/18/2024 13:30:00 UTC
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Inundation Legend
Depth in feet
USGS Gauge Location Gauge Location
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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.

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Map Overlays
Flood Categories (in feet)
Major Flood Stage: 471
Moderate Flood Stage: 467
Flood Stage: 463
Action Stage: 461
Low Stage (in feet): 456.5

Historic Crests
(1) 473.72 ft on 04/19/2013
(2) 472.59 ft on 05/19/2020
(3) 472.21 ft on 09/16/2008
(4) 471.49 ft on 02/22/2018
(5) 470.83 ft on 05/02/2019
Show More Historic Crests

(P): Preliminary values subject to further review.

Recent Crests
(1) 472.59 ft on 05/19/2020
(2) 470.83 ft on 05/02/2019
(3) 471.49 ft on 02/22/2018
(4) 463.65 ft on 10/16/2017
(5) 464.10 ft on 07/23/2017
Show More Recent Crests

(P): Preliminary values subject to further review.

Low Water Records
(1) 458.62 ft on 11/26/2018
(2) 458.65 ft on 01/22/2019
(3) 458.82 ft on 09/03/2017

Graphical representation of flood inundation for NWS flood categories are based on steady state hydraulic modeling of water surface elevations for incremented discharges. Map shows approximate inundation areas for given water surface elevations and should not be used for navigation or permitting or other legal purposes, but strictly as a planning reference tool.
Flood Impacts Collapse
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476 Water reaches the top of the levee at Ottawa High School.
475.5 Backwater causes the Fox River to reach the top of the flood protection wall south of Main Street near Ottawa High School. Water inundates lower-level of residences at Heritage Harbor east of Ottawa.
474.5 Backwater causes the Fox River to reach the top of the levee at Ottawa High School.
474 Structures threatened at Shoreline Boat Club in Ottawa. Main Street at Fox River in Ottawa is threatened and may be closed, blocking the last primary evacuation route for east Ottawa. Water overtops the berm at Waste Water Treatment Plant.
472 West parking lot of St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa is inundated.
471.5 Water reaches top of levee at Ottawa Waste Water Treatment Plant. Backwater causes the Fox River to inundate the YMCA parking lot in Ottawa.
470 Shabbona Street near Ottawa High School is inundated. St. Elizabeth Medical Center property in Ottawa is threatened including the loading dock areas.
469 Backwater causes the Fox River to reach bankfull near the YMCA in Ottawa.
468 River Rescue structure threatened in Ottawa.
467 Green Street near Shoreline Boat Club in Ottawa is inundated, blocking a primary evacuation route for east Ottawa.
466.5 Low-lying sections of Fox River Park in Ottawa are inundated including Hudson Street River Walk. St. Clair Street is threatened in Ottawa.
465.5 Low-lying property near St. Elizabeth Medical Center is threatened. Marquette High School football field threatened.
465 Harbor Walk in Heritage Harbor east of Ottawa is inundated.
464 Backwater causes the Fox River to reach bankfull near St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa.
462.5 Roadway entrance to Allen Park threatened in Ottawa. Allen Park west boat ramp inundated in Ottawa.
461 River Rescue boat dock inundated in Ottawa.
Photos
(1) Gage equipment located on top of levee near mouth of Fox River.
(2) Looking upstream from atop levee 9/3/2009. Gage height 459.80 ft.
(3) Levee at Ottawa High School.
(4) Looking downstream from atop levee 9/3/2009. Gage height 459.80 ft.
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Graphical representation of flood inundation for NWS flood categories are based on steady state hydraulic modeling of water surface elevations for incremented discharges. Map shows approximate inundation areas for given water surface elevations and should not be used for navigation or permitting or other legal purposes, but strictly as a planning reference tool.