Des Plaines River at Riverside

1. 13.50 ftWater reaches the top of the west bank levees in Lyons and McCook.
2. 12.00 ftWater reaches the top of the levees in Lyons and McCook.
3. 11.50 ftWidespread inundation of industrial property and structures north of the river in McCook. Numerous residences threatened near the river in Lyons.
4. 11.00 ftStructures threatened at Brookfield Zoo.
5. 10.50 ftResidences threatened between river and 39th Street in Riverside. Without flood protection from levees, widespread inundation of industrial property and structures would occur north of the river in McCook.
6. 10.00 ftUS-34 (Ogden Avenue) threatened along the River in Lyons.
7. 9.50 ftParking areas at Brookfield Zoo threatened. Industrial parking area near the river and I-55 is threatened.
8. 9.00 ftResidences threatened near the confluence of Des Plaines River and Salt Creek.
9. 8.50 ftIL-171 (1st Avenue) threatened near Brookfield Zoo. Water may begin to overflow into the Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal near Willow Springs.
10. 8.00 ftPark areas are inundated near the confluence of Des Plaines River and Salt Creek.
11. 7.50 ftLow-lying sections of Miller Meadow, Indian Gardens, Cermak Woods, Ottawa Trail Woods, and other forest land along the river are inundated.
12. 7.00 ftWater begins to overflow banks in adjacent forest preserve areas.
13. 4.00 ftWithout flood protection from levees, water would begin to bypass the main river channel through Chicago Portage toward the Chicago River Basin and areas once covered by Mud Lake.

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

• May 18, 2020: 10.00 ft
• April 30, 2020: 7.33 ft
• May 1, 2019: 8.37 ft
• February 4, 2019: 7.03 ft
• June 23, 2018: 7.73 ft
• February 21, 2018: 8.05 ft
• October 15, 2017: 8.60 ft
• July 22, 2017: 8.07 ft
• July 15, 2017: 7.71 ft
• May 1, 2017: 7.50 ft

• UpstreamDes Plaines River at River Forest
• DownstreamDes Plaines River at Lyons
• Summit Conduit at Summit
• Mainstream Deep Tunnel at McCook Reservoir
• Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal at Stickney
• Salt Creek (IL) at Western Springs
• Addison Creek at Bellwood
• Salt Creek (IL) at Oak Brook

Forecasts by the North Central River Forecast Center. 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. The stages/flows that will occur may be different if future rainfall is different than forecast.

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.