Marmaton River at Fort Scott

1. 52.45 ftthis is the record stage level reached on October 3, 1986.
2. 50.50 ftflood waters reach the ground floor of the Burlington Northern Railroad Office on Wall Street.
3. 50.00 ftflood waters begin to spill over the Railroad crossing along Highway 54, or Wall Street, east of Key Industries.
4. 49.00 ftflood waters reach the Fire Station on West Highway 54.
5. 48.50 ftflood waters begin to impact Hills Service Center south of the National Avenue Bridge at the gage site.
6. 48.00 ftflood waters begin to impact the ground floor of the former Red Barn Restaurant, and the Red Ram Motel along West Highway 54. In addition, flood waters begin to impact the Fort Scott RV Park, north of West Highway 54.
7. 47.00 ftflood waters begin to spill over the bridge deck at the Marmaton River, along North National Avenue.
8. 46.60 ftflood waters reach the bottom of the National Avenue Bridge at the gage site.
9. 45.50 ftflood waters begin to affect low areas at the KOA Campground, north of West Highway 54, and Key Industries on Wall Street.
10. 45.00 ftflood waters may reach the ground floor of businesses on West Highway 54 and North National Avenue. In addition, West Highway 54 will close due to flood waters.
11. 44.50 ftflood waters reach the parking lot along Highway 54 West and North National Avenue. Flood waters will also cut off access to the community of Walnut Hill, which is south of Highway 54, and west of National Avenue. In addition, flood waters rise to a depth of six inches at the junction of Highway 54 and Wall Street, east of downtown Fort Scott.
12. 44.00 ftflood waters cause Wall Street at 3rd and Clark to close, which cuts off fire protection on the east side of Fort Scott, Kansas. In addition, Buck Run Creek that flows along Highway 69, floods portions of Clark and Wall Street due to backwater of the Marmaton River.
13. 43.00 ftmajor flood stage. Flood waters impact all Belltown businesses to the ground floor, except Smith & Chambers, but all roads are not accessible to this area.
14. 42.00 ftall roads leading into the Belltown area, north of the Marmaton River are impacted by flood waters, and no access is available.
15. 41.50 ftminor flooding begins in the Belltown area, north of the Marmaton River and west of National Avenue.
16. 40.50 ftflood waters begin to impact low areas on Happy Hollow Road, Maple Road and 2nd Street north and west of downtown Fort Scott.
17. 38.00 ftminor flooding begins along Mill Creek north of town due to backwater effects of the Marmaton River. Flood waters also spill across the field by the Red Barn Restaurant, on the north side of town, at the new Highway 69 Bridge.
18. 34.00 ftflood waters begin to impact the county road, or low water crossing on Mill Creek, between Maple Road and Highway 54, on 205th street, northwest of town. This occurs based on backwater affects on the Marmaton River.

Chance of flooding, September to November

The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 23, 2026.

Most recent crests

• May 6, 2022: 37.90 ft
• July 16, 2021: 40.48 ft
• March 18, 2021: 38.65 ft
• March 13, 2021: 39.51 ft
• May 22, 2019: 43.45 ft
• April 30, 2017: 43.25 ft
• May 24, 2015: 37.33 ft
• August 5, 2013: 40.21 ft
• July 30, 2013: 39.03 ft
• March 21, 2012: 39.75 ft

• DownstreamMarmaton River at Richards
• Little Osage River at Fulton
• Marmaton River at Uniontown
• Marmaton River at Nevada
• Little Osage River at Horton
• East Fork Drywood Creek at Prairie State Park
• Marais Des Cygnes River at Trading Post
• Osage River at Schell City

Forecasts by the Missouri Basin River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued as needed during times of high water, but are not routinely available. Gauge reading may be affected by ice.

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.