Neosho River at Burlington
Kansas · Fishing & wading
Measured at USGS 07182510 — NEOSHO R AT BURLINGTON, KS · NWS forecast point BRLK1
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:15 PM UTC
High and likely stained — not a wading flow
At 1,180 CFS, this gauge is running 403% of normal for late July — above the 293 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 64 years of record (1962–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Burlington
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge BRLK1, issued by WFO TOP. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Major flood 45.0 ft
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Moderate flood 40.0 ft
- 40.2 ft Flood waters reach top of bridge deck.
- 41.5 ft Overflow is very widespread and can reach a width of 2 miles.
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Minor flood 27.0 ft
- 27.0 ft The left, or east, bank of the river floods.
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Action 22.0 ft
- Right now 8.00 ft
12 months of flow at Burlington
Daily values from USGS gauge 07182510. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Burlington
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 41.53 ft | — | Jul 12, 1951 |
| 36.80 ft | — | Jul 21, 1948 |
| 35.10 ft | — | Apr 17, 1945 |
| 35.00 ft | — | Apr 24, 1944 |
| 34.50 ft | — | Jul 2, 1951 |
| 34.30 ft | — | Dec 6, 1944 |
| 32.73 ft | — | May 26, 2019 |
| 32.40 ft | — | May 3, 1951 |
| 32.30 ft | — | Sep 7, 1951 |
| 32.00 ft | — | Apr 13, 1944 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Neosho River at Burlington
This gauge sits on Neosho River at Burlington, Kansas, immediately below John Redmond Reservoir. 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 — 293 CFS for late July, from 64 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 John Redmond Reservoir. A full pool usually means more water is on its way down.
Neosho River at Burlington — common questions
What is the current flow on Neosho River at Burlington?
As of the last reading on this page, Neosho River at Burlington was running 1,180 CFS at a gage height of 8.00 ft, or 403% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 07182510, 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 293 CFS, calculated from 64 years of record (1962–2026). 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 Neosho River at Burlington 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 293 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 John Redmond Reservoir 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 07182510. Flood categories, impact statements and the forecast come from the NOAA / National Weather Service National Water Prediction Service, gauge BRLK1. riverlvl adds the seasonal comparison and plain-English summary; it is not an official source and does not issue warnings.