Meramec River at Sullivan
Missouri · Tubing & floating
Measured at USGS 07013000 — Meramec River near Steelville, MO · NWS forecast point SEEM7
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:15 PM UTC
Up and moving — a faster float than usual
At 290 CFS, this gauge is running 155% of normal for late July — above the 187 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 103 years of record (1923–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Sullivan
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge SEEM7, issued by WFO LSX. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Major flood 25.0 ft
- 25.4 ft Water reaches the base of the railroad bridge at the gauging site.
- 27.0 ft The front porch of the office at Lucky Clover campgrounds begins flooding.
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Moderate flood 20.0 ft
- 20.0 ft A levee along the left bank upsstream of the Highway 19 bridge is overtopped near this height, flooding the campgrounds at Lucky Clover Resort.
- 21.0 ft Water begins flooding the lodge rooms at The Rafting Company near this height.
- 22.0 ft At Lucky Clover campgrounds...the pavilion is flooded and the campgrounds are evacuated and closed.
- 23.0 ft Water begins flooding the cottages at The Rafting Company campgrounds near this height.
- 24.0 ft The store and the pool at the Rafting Company just south of the Highway 19 bridge begins to flood.
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Minor flood 12.0 ft
- 12.0 ft Agricultural and recreational areas along the right bank flood. At Adventure Outdoors west of Steelville, the store begins to flood near this height.
- 14.0 ft Near this height, roads to the Lucky Clover campgrounds begin to flood.
- 16.5 ft Near this height, Missouri Route TT will be closed in both directions.
- 16.9 ft Near this height, Missouri State Route O will be closed in both directions.
- 18.5 ft Campgrounds at Bird's Nest Lodge begin to flood.
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Action 10.0 ft
- Right now 1.61 ft
12 months of flow at Sullivan
Daily values from USGS gauge 07013000. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Sullivan
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 28.71 ft | 62,200 CFS | May 1, 2017 |
| 28.23 ft | 59,300 CFS | Nov 6, 2024 |
| 27.22 ft | 55,800 CFS | Jul 27, 1998 |
| 26.84 ft | 52,700 CFS | Mar 19, 2008 |
| 26.50 ft | 60,000 CFS | Aug 20, 1915 |
| 26.15 ft | 51,200 CFS | Jun 18, 1985 |
| 25.60 ft | — | Dec 4, 1982 |
| 24.87 ft | 44,700 CFS | Dec 29, 2015 |
| 24.20 ft | 47,000 CFS | Jun 9, 1945 |
| 24.10 ft | 55,000 CFS | Oct 27, 1919 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Meramec River at Sullivan
This gauge measures Meramec River at Sullivan, Missouri — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Closest float river to St. Louis; floods fast.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 187 CFS for late July, from 103 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.
Meramec River at Sullivan — common questions
What is the current flow on Meramec River at Sullivan?
As of the last reading on this page, Meramec River at Sullivan was running 290 CFS at a gage height of 1.61 ft, or 155% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 07013000, 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 187 CFS, calculated from 103 years of record (1923–2026). 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 flow is good for tubing Meramec River?
riverlvl does not publish a recommended tubing range — that call belongs to the outfitters and the local authorities who know this stretch. What this page gives you is the objective input: today's flow, the seasonal median for the same date, and where the reading sits in the 12-month record. Local outfitters generally publish their own cutoffs, and they close when the river is up.
Does rain upstream change this reading quickly?
Yes. This is a free-flowing gauge, so it responds directly to rain in the basin upstream. Flashy rises of several feet in a few hours are normal on rivers like this after a heavy storm, which is why the reading is worth checking the morning you go.
What does gage height mean versus CFS?
Gage height is how high the water surface is above the gauge's own zero point, in feet — a local measure, not depth and not elevation. CFS is cubic feet per second, the volume of water moving past the gauge. Flood stages are set in gage height; float and paddling conditions are usually discussed in CFS.