South Sulphur River at Cooper
Texas · Fishing & wading
Measured at USGS 07342500 — S Sulphur Rv nr Cooper, TX · NWS forecast point COPT2
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:15 PM UTC
Below normal — good wading, low and clear
At 5.0 CFS, this gauge is running 88% of normal for late July — close to the 5.7 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 34 years of record (1992–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Cooper
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge COPT2, issued by WFO FWD. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Major flood 25.0 ft
- 25.0 ft Major out of banks flooding is occurring along the river reach. Several rural roads are underwater. Farm and ranch land near the river is flooded.
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Moderate flood 20.0 ft
- 20.0 ft Moderate out of bank flooding will occur along the river reach. A few rural roads will be flooded. Moderate flooding will occur on farm and ranch land adjacent to the river.
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Minor flood 16.0 ft
- 16.0 ft Minor out of bank flooding will occur. A few rural roads will begin to flood. Minor flooding will occur to farm and ranch land adjacent to the river.
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Action 14.0 ft
- Right now 1.55 ft
NWS forecast: 1.60 ft by Jul 29, 6:00 AM UTC.
12 months of flow at Cooper
Daily values from USGS gauge 07342500. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Cooper
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 27.21 ft | 47,200 CFS | May 13, 1982 |
| 26.15 ft | 42,500 CFS | Dec 10, 1971 |
| 26.02 ft | 30,500 CFS | Apr 30, 1966 |
| 26.00 ft | 23,800 CFS | Apr 29, 1953 |
| 25.77 ft | 31,500 CFS | May 7, 1969 |
| 25.68 ft | 23,800 CFS | Feb 2, 1975 |
| 25.37 ft | 23,200 CFS | Apr 27, 1957 |
| 25.36 ft | 23,200 CFS | Nov 6, 1957 |
| 25.16 ft | 21,700 CFS | Mar 28, 1977 |
| 25.09 ft | 18,300 CFS | Feb 13, 1950 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About South Sulphur River at Cooper
This gauge sits on South Sulphur River at Cooper, Texas, immediately below Cooper Lake (Jim Chapman 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 — 5.7 CFS for late July, from 34 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 Cooper Lake (Jim Chapman Lake). A full pool usually means more water is on its way down.
South Sulphur River at Cooper — common questions
What is the current flow on South Sulphur River at Cooper?
As of the last reading on this page, South Sulphur River at Cooper was running 5.0 CFS at a gage height of 1.55 ft, or 88% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 07342500, 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 5.7 CFS, calculated from 34 years of record (1992–2026). 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 South Sulphur River at Cooper 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 5.7 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 Cooper Lake (Jim Chapman 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 07342500. Flood categories, impact statements and the forecast come from the NOAA / National Weather Service National Water Prediction Service, gauge COPT2. riverlvl adds the seasonal comparison and plain-English summary; it is not an official source and does not issue warnings.