Sac River at Stockton
Missouri · Fishing & wading
Measured at USGS 06919020 — Sac River at Hwy J below Stockton, MO · NWS forecast point SJZM7
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:45 PM UTC
ABOVE ACTION STAGE
At 16.36 ft, Sac River at Stockton is at or above the National Weather Service action stage of 15.5 ft. The impact statements below are the NWS's own descriptions for this gauge.
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Stockton
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge SJZM7, issued by WFO SGF. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Moderate flood 45.0 ft
- 45.0 ft Approximate level where Highway J bridge at the gage site floods.
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Minor flood 17.5 ft · 6,750 CFS
- 20.0 ft Approximate level where low lying areas near the river flood.
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Action 15.5 ft reached
- Right now 16.36 ft
12 months of flow at Stockton
Daily values from USGS gauge 06919020. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Stockton
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 23.86 ft | — | Dec 27, 2015 |
| 23.71 ft | 13,300 CFS | Sep 25, 1993 |
| 23.51 ft | — | Feb 23, 1985 |
| 22.44 ft | — | Apr 11, 1994 |
| 22.36 ft | — | Apr 30, 2017 |
| 21.75 ft | — | Oct 5, 1998 |
| 21.59 ft | 10,590 CFS | May 21, 2019 |
| 21.47 ft | 10,438 CFS | May 5, 2022 |
| 21.32 ft | 10,264 CFS | May 1, 2019 |
| 21.26 ft | 10,100 CFS | Apr 10, 2008 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Sac River at Stockton
This gauge sits on Sac River at Stockton, Missouri, immediately below Stockton 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 — 959 CFS for late July, from 52 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 Stockton Lake. A full pool usually means more water is on its way down.
Sac River at Stockton — common questions
What is the current flow on Sac River at Stockton?
As of the last reading on this page, Sac River at Stockton was running 5,350 CFS at a gage height of 16.36 ft, or 558% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 06919020, 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 959 CFS, calculated from 52 years of record (1974–2026). 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 Sac River at Stockton 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 959 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 Stockton 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 06919020. Flood categories, impact statements and the forecast come from the NOAA / National Weather Service National Water Prediction Service, gauge SJZM7. riverlvl adds the seasonal comparison and plain-English summary; it is not an official source and does not issue warnings.