Little Miami River at Milford
Ohio · Paddling & whitewater
Measured at USGS 03245500 — Little Miami River at Milford OH · NWS forecast point MLGO1
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:30 PM UTC
In its normal runnable range
At 343 CFS, this gauge is running 110% of normal for late July — close to the 312 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 101 years of record (1916–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Milford
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge MLGO1, issued by WFO ILN. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Major flood 27.0 ft
- 27.0 ft This is roughly the FEMA 1 Percent flood elevation. Several streets are under water including Locust, Cash, Elm, Water and Polk. Water also covers portions of Highway 50. The southwest area of south Milford street also floods. Lowland flooding also occurs in Terrace Park along areas east of Miami Avenue.
- 30.5 ft This is equivalent to the flood of record of 1913 with much of Milford between High Street and the river experiencing major flooding. Several streets are under water including Locust, Cash, Elm, Water and Polk. Water also covers portions of Highway 50. Water is several feet deep through this area.
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Moderate flood 22.0 ft
- 23.0 ft Significant lowland flooding occurs along the river in Clermont and Hamilton Counties. Lowland flooding becomes a problem in the Terrace Park area and in Anderson Township, especially along Round Bottom Road. Flooding also occurs in Milford between Main Street and the river itself.
- 24.0 ft Significant flooding can be expected along Round Bottom Road in Anderson Township and in the Terrace Park Country Club area. Flooding will also occur between Main Street and the river in Milford.
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Minor flood 17.0 ft
- 17.0 ft Lowland flooding occurs along the river in Clermont and Hamilton Counties, with flooding of Karl Brown Way near Loveland.
- 19.0 ft Flooding occurs in lowland areas of Milford and Terrace Park, including portions of Round Bottom Road in Anderson Township and Karl Brown Way near the railway underpass, Cones Road and Cox Trailside Parking lot in Loveland.
- 20.0 ft Lowland flooding continues in portions of Clermont and Hamilton Counties, particularly in low areas of Loveland near Karl Brown Way as well as along Cones Road and Cox Trailside Parking lot. Flooding continues along portions of Round Bottom Road in Anderson Township.
- 21.0 ft Flooding can be expected in low areas between Main Street and the river in Milford. Lowland flooding occurs along the river in Clermont and Hamilton Counties.
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Action 13.0 ft
- Right now 5.15 ft
NWS forecast: 5.10 ft by Jul 29, 6:00 AM UTC.
12 months of flow at Milford
Daily values from USGS gauge 03245500. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Milford
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 30.50 ft | — | Mar 27, 1913 |
| 27.30 ft | 84,100 CFS | Jan 22, 1959 |
| 21.81 ft | 43,900 CFS | Jul 18, 2001 |
| 21.69 ft | 49,400 CFS | Apr 16, 1998 |
| 21.28 ft | 43,200 CFS | Mar 19, 2008 |
| 21.18 ft | — | Sep 14, 1979 |
| 20.90 ft | — | Mar 6, 1945 |
| 20.62 ft | — | Jan 5, 2004 |
| 20.43 ft | 38,687 CFS | Feb 25, 2018 |
| 20.10 ft | — | Apr 20, 1940 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Little Miami River at Milford
This gauge measures Little Miami River at Milford, Ohio — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Highest canoe-livery traffic in the Cincinnati metro.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 312 CFS for late July, from 101 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.
Little Miami River at Milford — common questions
What is the current flow on Little Miami River at Milford?
As of the last reading on this page, Little Miami River at Milford was running 343 CFS at a gage height of 5.15 ft, or 110% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 03245500, 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 312 CFS, calculated from 101 years of record (1916–2026). 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.
What is a runnable level on this stretch?
riverlvl deliberately does not publish a runnable range. American Whitewater and the local paddling community maintain the correlations for this reach, and they are the authority. This page gives you the raw inputs — current CFS, gage height, the seasonal median, and the 12-month hydrograph — so you can apply whatever range you trust.
How fast can this gauge come up?
This is a free-flowing gauge, so it rises with rain in the basin. The 12-month chart on this page shows the shape of the past year's rises, which is the best available guide to how flashy this particular reach is.
Where does this data come from?
The flow and gage height come from USGS gauge 03245500, public-domain data from the U.S. Geological Survey. The flood categories, impact statements and forecast come from the National Weather Service's National Water Prediction Service, gauge MLGO1.