Mississippi River at Canton Lock and Dam 20

1. 110000.0 ftAt this approximate discharge, the Corps will raise the gates out of the water, creating "open river" conditions.
2. 29.30 ftWater reaches the 12,000 volt transformer pad at Lock 20.
3. 27.00 ftWater reaches the top of the lower gates.
4. 26.00 ftThe Lock and Dam 20 Control Center begins flooding at this height.
5. 25.70 ftThe Illinois levee protecting Meyer, IL is overtopped. The town of Meyer begins flooding.
6. 24.50 ftLock and Dam 20 maintenance buildings begin flooding.
7. 20.00 ftFlood waters reach the top of the upper gates.
8. 19.60 ftWater reaches the top of the lock wall, flooding the lock chamber.
9. 18.10 ftRailroad tracks near the campgrounds begin flooding at this height.
10. 18.00 ftNear this level, the lock is closed to navigation. This level will vary with circumstance. Also, the railroad crossing at the east end of Henderson Street floods at this height.
11. 17.50 ftAt this height, the city of Canton will install the flood gates at the railroad opening and at Route B north of town.
12. 17.30 ftState Highway B, or Business U.S. Highway 61, is closed from Missouri Highway 16 in Canton to north of Canton at the levee flood gate near this level.
13. 16.60 ftFront Street leading to the campground and Corps park campgrounds flood at this height.
14. 15.60 ftNorth Front Street and the first 2-3 campsites in Mississippi Park begin flooding at this height.
15. 14.00 ftBoth banks begin to overflow.
16. 9.00 ftAbove 8.7 to 9.2 feet, the Corps will raise the gates out of the water, allowing for "open river" conditions. This corresponds to a discharge of approximately 110,000 cfs.
17. 8.50 ftThe Corps will not allow the pool level to drop below 8.5 feet (higher flows below 100K). At low flows, they allow a 2-foot variation between 11.0 and 13.0 feet. At higher flows below 100K, the range is actually lower, between 8.5 and 10.5 feet. Above 110K cfs, the gates are raised above the water surface, allowing open river conditions.

Chance of flooding, September to November

The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued August 28, 2026.

Most recent crests

• April 20, 2026: 16.03 ft
• May 5, 2023: 18.28 ft
• July 1, 2022: 14.22 ft
• June 8, 2020: 14.06 ft
• April 1, 2020: 17.01 ft
• October 17, 2019: 17.57 ft
• June 2, 2019: 27.11 ft
• October 12, 2018: 21.21 ft
• September 10, 2018: 17.45 ft
• July 3, 2018: 16.68 ft

• UpstreamMississippi River at Gregory Landing
• DownstreamMississippi River at LaGrange
• North Fabius River at Ewing
• Middle Fabius River at Ewing
• Mississippi River at Quincy
• Mississippi River at Quincy Lock and Dam 21
• South Fabius River at Taylor
• Fox River (IA/MO) at Wayland

Forecasts by the North Central River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued routinely year-round. River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 24 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time. River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 48 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time. For the latest navigation status update from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-St. Louis District, <a href="http://www.mvs.usace.army.mil/Missions/Navigation/Status-Reports/">click here.</a>

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.