Sangamon River Flow Today
As of October 2, 2026 at 3:45 AM, the Sangamon River is flowing at 644 cfs near Oakford, IL — 110% of normal for the date and up 6% in 24 hours. 6 of 6 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 25 to 644 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Sangamon River map
See the Sangamon River on a live map
Every gauge, dam and paddle run on the river, one tap each:
- Gauges now — which reaches are high or low
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Sangamon River conditions today
Where the river is running versus normal, what’s rising or dropping, and what it means for a trip — built from the live USGS readings below.
At Oakford, the Sangamon River is running 644 cfs — 110% of normal, up 6% since yesterday. Along the river, 4 of 5 reporting gauges are above normal (the typical gauge is at 193% of normal).
In the last 24 hours the river is rising at Decatur (+333%) and Monticello (+31%).
Highest against normal: Monticello at 958%. Lowest: Oakford at 110%.
How the Sangamon River compares to normal
Every reporting gauge from the top of the river to the bottom: bar length is today’s flow, colour is percent of normal for the date.
Flow along the river, upstream to downstream
- Fisher693 ft 25 cfs327%
- Monticello646 ft 103 cfs958%
- Decatur618 ft 63 cfs
- Riverton519 ft 166 cfs193%
- Petersburg489 ft 210 cfs113%
- Oakford457 ft 644 cfs110%
Bar length uses a square-root scale so small headwater flows stay visible next to big downstream ones. Colour: <50% 50–90 90–110 110–150 150%+ of normal.
Where every gauge sits
One dot per Sangamon River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (193%).
Sangamon River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sangamon River At Fisher IL
Oct 2, 4:15 AM · USGS 05570910 |
25 cfs | 327% | +20% | 4.80 ft | · | 693 ft |
|
Sangamon River At Monticello IL
Oct 2, 4:00 AM · USGS 05572000 |
103 cfs | 958% | +31% | 5.48 ft | · | 646 ft |
|
Sangamon River At Rt 48 At Decatur IL
Oct 2, 3:45 AM · USGS 05573540 |
63 cfs | · | +333% | 2.41 ft | · | 618 ft |
|
Sangamon River At Riverton IL
Oct 2, 3:45 AM · USGS 05576500 |
166 cfs | 193% | +11% | 2.72 ft | 20.3 ft below | 519 ft |
|
Sangamon River At Petersburg IL
Oct 2, 3:15 AM · USGS 05578000 |
210 cfs | 113% | +8% | 4.59 ft | 18.4 ft below | 489 ft |
|
Sangamon River Near Oakford IL
Oct 2, 3:45 AM · USGS 05583000 |
644 cfs | 110% | +6% | 3.68 ft | 467.3 ft below | 457 ft |
USGS provisional data. Readings are in each gauge’s local time; gauges silent for more than 3 days are marked “Last reported”. Tap any gauge for its hydrograph, forecast and history.
Dams & reservoirs on the Sangamon River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Sangamon River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
Sangamon River
The Sangamon River is a 246-mile-long tributary of the Illinois River. The river has a rich history, having been used by Native Americans for hunting and fishing. The river was also an important transportation route in the 19th century, with steamboats and barges carrying goods up and down the river.
The river's hydrology is influenced by several reservoirs and dams, including the Sangchris Lake Dam and the Lake Decatur Dam. These structures help regulate the river's flow and provide water for municipal and agricultural use.
Recreational activities on the Sangamon River include fishing, boating, and swimming. The river is also popular for hiking and camping, with several state parks located along its banks.
Agricultural use of the Sangamon River is significant, with farmers using the river's water for irrigation and livestock watering. However, agricultural runoff can also pose a threat to the river's water quality, leading to issues such as nutrient pollution and algal blooms.
About the Sangamon River
How is the Sangamon River flowing right now?
As of October 2, 2026, the Sangamon River is flowing at 644 cfs near Oakford, IL, about 110% of normal for the date. Across its 6 USGS gauges, current flows range from 25 to 644 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Sangamon River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Sangamon River is at 193% of normal for the date. Above 100% means higher than the historical average for this calendar day; below 100% means lower. The profile above shows which reaches are high or low.
What is flood stage on the Sangamon River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Riverton (23.0 ft), Petersburg (23.0 ft), Oakford (471.0 ft). The table shows how far each gauge is below its flood stage right now.
Where does the data come from?
Discharge and gage height are from the USGS National Water Information System; flood stages from the National Weather Service. The history chart sums every monitored gauge on the river.
Can I get alerts for a gauge?
Yes — open any gauge from the table, favorite it in the Snoflo app and set a flow threshold.