Rivers in Indiana
Eel River at Bowling Green
Below flood stage
3.92ftStage
Observed Wed, Sep 23, 3:30 AM EDT
- Flood stage
- 15.00 ft
- Record crest
- 30.00 ft1875
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 23.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 20.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 15.00 ft |
| Action | 12.00 ft |
- 30.00 ftRecord flood occurred in August 1875 and was estimated at 30 feet. With the completion of Cagles Mill Dam in 1953, it is unlikely that this height will ever be reached again. The river is nearly 1 mile wide and would submerge SR 46 & 59 by 2 feet. Great rural destruction occurs. Many rural evacuations, all roads in the flood plain and all levees are overtopped. Most river cabins and other structures in the flood plain are swept away. Residents on high ground are isolated.
- 25.00 ftFlood water isolates residents on high ground and begins to cross SR 46 just west of Bowling Green.
- 24.00 ftA very unusual flood. With Cagles Mill Reservoir in full operation since 1953, floods have not reached this level.
- 23.00 ftA large and unusual flood is in progress. Persons living in river cabins need to evacuate. SR 42 east of the Eel River extensively flooded. All county roads in the flood plain are underwater. Some residents on high ground need boats to reach or leave their homes. Levees protecting agricultural lands downstream failed or were overtopped in June 2008.
- 22.00 ftAn unusual flood is in progress. Water covers both lanes of SR 42 east of the Eel River. Many county roads flood extensively. Flood water isolates some farm houses. Water is near the top of most agricultural levees.
- 20.00 ftFlood water, possibly a foot deep, covers SR 42 just east of the Eel River. Several county roads flood extensively. Persons in river cabins move cars and possibly belongings to high ground. Agricultural levees are threatened. Poland-Bowling Green Road is impassable in several places.
- 19.10 ftFlood water covers both lanes of SR 42 just east of the Eel River. Several county roads are flooded. Persons in river cabins may move cars and possibly belongings to high ground. Poland-Bowling Green Road is impassable on the northeast outskirts of Bowling Green.
- 18.00 ftTypical high water after heavy rains. This causes extensive flooding of bottomlands and floods many county roads. Persons living in river cabins are inconvenienced. Campers must move from low ground. Poland-Bowling Green road is impassable.
- 17.00 ftFlood water covers considerable bottomlands and floods a few county roads including the Poland-Bowling Green Road.
- 16.00 ftLowland flooding is occurring along portions of the river. Sonnefield Road at McIntyre Creek is impassable. Water is on portions of Pioneer Road in the vicinity of CR 50 N. This level threatens campers.
- 15.00 ftLowland flooding begins along portions of the Eel River. Water approaches and may be on Sonnefield Road at McIntyre Creek. Lowest campgrounds along the river begin to flood.
- 14.00 ftThe Eel River is at bankfull levels in northeast Clay County. This level does not bother anyone if the river goes down in 1 to 2 days.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 26% |
| Moderate flooding | 11% |
| Major flooding | Under 5% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 22, 2026.
Crest history
214 crests on NOAA’s list since 1875.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | August 1, 1875 | 30.00 ft |
| 2 | March 26, 1913 | 24.80 ft |
| 3 | January 4, 1950 | 23.53 ft |
| 4 | June 7, 2008 | 23.48 ft |
| 5 | June 29, 1957 | 23.39 ft |
| 6 | April 19, 2013 | 22.56 ft |
| 7 | May 8, 1961 | 22.19 ft |
| 8 | March 5, 1963 | 22.04 ft |
| 9 | April 6, 2025 | 21.78 ft |
| 10 | December 30, 1990 | 21.59 ft |
| 11 | January 6, 2005 | 21.58 ft |
| 12 | November 15, 1993 | 21.54 ft |
| 13 | April 4, 2018 | 21.53 ft |
| 14 | May 24, 1968 | 21.52 ft |
| 15 | August 18, 1993 | 21.37 ft |
| 16 | May 28, 1996 | 21.33 ft |
| 17 | May 18, 1943 | 21.32 ft |
| 18 | April 20, 2011 | 21.11 ft |
| 19 | January 19, 1949 | 21.08 ft |
| 20 | June 5, 2008 | 21.03 ft |
| 21 | January 13, 2013 | 20.95 ft |
| 22 | January 23, 1999 | 20.79 ft |
| 23 | May 11, 1943 | 20.78 ft |
| 24 | September 2, 2003 | 20.77 ft |
| 25 | April 1, 1938 | 20.75 ft |
Most recent crests
- June 18, 2026: 16.37 ft
- May 19, 2026: 16.64 ft
- March 4, 2026: 17.38 ft
- April 6, 2025: 21.78 ft
- April 3, 2024: 19.73 ft
- March 4, 2023: 18.84 ft
- March 8, 2022: 19.28 ft
- June 19, 2021: 17.26 ft
- March 19, 2021: 17.24 ft
- May 19, 2020: 18.52 ft
Nearby
Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.
- UpstreamBig Walnut Creek (IN) at Reelsville
- DownstreamWhite River (IN) at Elliston
- Mill Creek (IN) at Cagles Mill
- Mill Creek (IN) at Cagles Mill Lake
- Mill Creek (IN) at Cataract
- White River (IN) at Spencer
- White River (IN) at Worthington
- Wabash River at Terre Haute...US Hwy 150 Eastbound
- Wabash River at Terre Haute Legacy Site
What this means
Forecasts by the Ohio River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued as needed during times of high water, but are not routinely available. Gauge reading affected by reservoir operations.
Sources
Stage, flood stages, impacts and crest history from NOAA’s National Water Prediction Service. Streamflow and the daily record from the U.S. Geological Survey.