Leon River at Belton
Texas · Fishing & wading
Measured at USGS 08102500 — Leon Rv nr Belton, TX · NWS forecast point BLET2
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:00 PM UTC
Up and off-colour — heavier water than usual for wading
At 66 CFS, this gauge is running 127% of normal for late July — above the 52 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 72 years of record (1954–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Belton
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge BLET2, issued by WFO FWD. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
-
Major flood 20.0 ft
- 20.0 ft Major flooding will occur in the city park and the water amusement park.
- 23.0 ft Water will rise into the water recreation park, the city park, and approach the soccer and baseball fields.
- 30.0 ft Water will rise well into the recreation park, over the running trail, and into the soccer and baseball fields. The city water pumping plant will flood.
-
Moderate flood 16.0 ft
- 16.0 ft Moderate flooding will occur along right bank of river. Water will get into the water amusement park, and the city park on right bank.
-
Minor flood 14.0 ft
- 14.0 ft Minor flooding will occur in the city park. Water will begin to flood the water amusement park downstream from the gage.
-
Action 10.0 ft
- 12.0 ft Water will be slightly out of the low banks.
- Right now 3.92 ft
12 months of flow at Belton
Daily values from USGS gauge 08102500. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Belton
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 25.00 ft | 60,000 CFS | Dec 1, 1913 |
| 24.41 ft | 56,500 CFS | Apr 22, 1945 |
| 22.22 ft | 45,500 CFS | May 26, 1944 |
| 21.00 ft | 41,000 CFS | Sep 1, 1921 |
| 20.00 ft | 38,000 CFS | Sep 28, 1936 |
| 17.08 ft | 30,800 CFS | May 18, 1935 |
| 16.58 ft | 29,600 CFS | Apr 25, 1942 |
| 15.95 ft | 28,300 CFS | Mar 13, 1946 |
| 15.35 ft | 26,900 CFS | Oct 6, 1930 |
| 15.05 ft | 27,100 CFS | Oct 2, 1927 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Leon River at Belton
This gauge sits on Leon River at Belton, Texas, immediately below Belton Lake. Flow here is controlled by releases from the dam, so it can change by hundreds of CFS within an hour with no rain anywhere in the basin — check it before you go, not the day before.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 52 CFS for late July, from 72 years of record.
Because the National Weather Service also operates a forecast point here, the page carries the official flood-category ladder and the NWS's own stage-by-stage impact statements.
Reservoir feeding this stretch
Flow at this gauge is set by releases from Belton Lake. A full pool usually means more water is on its way down.
Leon River at Belton — common questions
What is the current flow on Leon River at Belton?
As of the last reading on this page, Leon River at Belton was running 66 CFS at a gage height of 3.92 ft, or 127% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 08102500, which reports every 15 to 60 minutes.
Is that high or low for this time of year?
The USGS median flow for late July at this gauge is 52 CFS, calculated from 72 years of record (1954–2026). Comparing today's reading against that median is the only way a raw CFS number tells you anything — 200 CFS is a drought on one river and a flood on another.
How often does this reading update?
USGS transmits from this gauge every 15 to 60 minutes. This page bakes in the most recent reading when it is rebuilt, then refreshes live from USGS when you open it. Readings are provisional and subject to revision by USGS.
Is Leon River at Belton wadeable right now?
That depends on the reach and on your own judgement — riverlvl will not tell you the water is safe to stand in. What it will tell you is whether today's flow is unusually high or low for the date, against a seasonal median of 52 CFS, which is the single most useful input to that decision. On a dam tailwater like this one, the bigger risk is a sudden generation release, which can raise the river several feet with little warning.
How do releases from Belton Lake affect this stretch?
Directly and quickly. When the dam generates or spills, flow at this gauge climbs — often within an hour, often by an order of magnitude. The reservoir level itself is tracked on lakelvl.com, and the link on this page goes straight to it, so you can see whether the pool is high enough that releases are likely.
Where does this data come from?
Flow and gage height are public-domain USGS data from gauge 08102500. Flood categories, impact statements and the forecast come from the NOAA / National Weather Service National Water Prediction Service, gauge BLET2. riverlvl adds the seasonal comparison and plain-English summary; it is not an official source and does not issue warnings.