Rivers in Kansas
Cottonwood River near Plymouth
Below flood stage
3.08ftStage
Observed Mon, Sep 28, 3:00 AM CDT
- Flood stage
- 32.00 ft
- Record crest
- 37.80 ft1951
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 37.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 34.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 32.00 ft |
| Action | 30.00 ft |
- 37.00 ftMajor flooding can be expected. Water levels may reach to 4 feet above the ground floors of structures 2.25 miles west of the gage site from Road A. At half a mile north of gage, water levels may reach as high as 1/2 the distance to the electric meters on utility poles.
- 34.00 ftRoad A becomes completely inundated near the river gage site, south of Hwy 50. Expect flooding of crops and fields.
- 33.00 ftMore sections along Road A floods especially at the low water crossings.
- 32.00 ftMinor flooding occurs along both banks. Road A near the gage site becomes flooded especially south of the river.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 29% |
| Moderate flooding | 16% |
| Major flooding | Under 5% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 25, 2026.
Crest history
112 crests on NOAA’s list since 1951.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | July 11, 1951 | 37.80 ft |
| 2 | November 2, 1998 | 36.78 ft |
| 3 | June 10, 1965 | 35.70 ft |
| 4 | June 5, 1965 | 35.70 ft |
| 5 | October 10, 1985 | 35.45 ft |
| 6 | June 9, 1965 | 35.43 ft |
| 7 | May 10, 1993 | 35.00 ft |
| 8 | June 6, 1965 | 34.83 ft |
| 9 | October 11, 1973 | 34.72 ft |
| 10 | May 9, 2019 | 34.51 ft |
| 11 | June 27, 1969 | 34.48 ft |
| 12 | April 27, 1969 | 34.22 ft |
| 13 | June 4, 2025 | 34.11 ft |
| 14 | May 22, 2019 | 34.08 ft |
| 15 | June 3, 1971 | 34.03 ft |
| 16 | June 28, 1969 | 34.00 ft |
| 17 | June 15, 2010 | 33.91 ft |
| 18 | October 9, 2018 | 33.86 ft |
| 19 | June 14, 2005 | 33.85 ft |
| 20 | May 27, 2016 | 33.82 ft |
| 21 | May 9, 2009 | 33.79 ft |
| 22 | July 22, 1993 | 33.75 ft |
| 23 | June 22, 1967 | 33.74 ft |
| 24 | August 23, 1985 | 33.70 ft |
| 25 | June 19, 1975 | 33.64 ft |
Most recent crests
- June 26, 2026: 29.47 ft
- February 15, 2026: 30.02 ft
- September 2, 2025: 30.31 ft
- June 18, 2025: 25.54 ft
- June 7, 2025: 27.82 ft
- June 4, 2025: 34.11 ft
- June 9, 2024: 31.84 ft
- December 25, 2023: 15.39 ft
- June 6, 2022: 32.26 ft
- June 28, 2021: 27.66 ft
Nearby
Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.
What this means
Forecasts by the Arkansas-Red Basin RFC. Forecasts are issued as needed during times of high water, but are not routinely available. River forecasts for this location take into account past and future precipitation. Forecast stages may be different if forecast future rainfall does not occur. Stage may be affected by ice during winter months.
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.