Current River Level

Red circles show where to locate current cfs discharge rate for the Niobrara River using the USGS Sparks Nebraska gauge web site data.

USGS Image

Most (>70%) of the water in the Niobrara comes from the High Plains, Ogallala, Aquifer making it unlike most streams that are fed by rainfall or surface runoff. River flow rates can vary depending on upstream withdrawal rather than rainfall and runoff. Irrigation demand in the summer months leaves less water available to flow downstream. Extreme drought conditions in the region this summer are causing increased demand for irrigation resulting in lower water levels for recreation.

Real-time river gauging station information for Niobrara National Scenic River is provided on line by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) from their Sparks, Nebraska gauge located near Berry Bridge. Click here to visit their web site. Scroll down to the third graph and table for the current cubic foot per second (cfs) discharge rate.

To translate the cfs information to floating conditions, use the back arrow on your browser to return to the chart below. The image on the right shows a cfs reading of 540 which indicates acceptable boating conditions.

Sparks, NE USGS Gauge Reading	Recreation Quality
600 - 900 cfs	Optimal boating conditions
> 800 cfs	Whitewater optimal at Class II-III rapids
460 - 600	Acceptable boating conditions
340 - 460	Boatable, but low quality conditions
<340	Unboatable* (extremely low quality conditions)

*Unboatable means there may be occasions where vessels run aground in shallow water causing users to get out of or off of their vessel, move a short distance to a deeper channel, and then re-board.