ST. JOSEPH RIVER AT ELKHART, IN
USGS 04101000 · Indiana · reports discharge (live), gauge height
Reading ST. JOSEPH RIVER AT ELKHART, IN…
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USGS 04101000 · Indiana · reports discharge (live), gauge height
What the agencies suggest
Carry a pocket thermometer to monitor water temperatureNational Park Service
General guidance from the readings and the published lines named above, not a fishing forecast. Local rules and closures come first.
Reading Nov 5, 9:30 PM EST · provisional USGS data
Normal for Nov 5 Steady · 24 h Below NWS action stage
Discharge, last 7 days: 169 readings from Oct 29, 10:30 PM EDT to Nov 5, 9:30 PM EST; ranging 1,580 to 2,340 ft³/s; latest 1,640 ft³/s; shaded band: typical range (25th–75th percentile) for each date.
USGS provisional data may be revised. Source: USGS instantaneous values.
| Time | Discharge (ft³/s) | Gauge height (ft) | Normal, 25th–75th (ft³/s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 5, 9:30 PM EST | 1,640 | 18.6 | 1,610–3,170 |
| Nov 5, 8:30 PM EST | 1,640 | 18.6 | 1,610–3,170 |
| Nov 5, 7:30 PM EST | 1,680 | 18.6 | 1,610–3,170 |
| Nov 5, 6:30 PM EST | 1,680 | 18.6 | 1,610–3,170 |
| Nov 5, 5:30 PM EST | 1,750 | 18.7 | 1,610–3,170 |
| Nov 5, 4:30 PM EST | 1,750 | 18.7 | 1,610–3,170 |
| Nov 5, 3:30 PM EST | 1,760 | 18.7 | 1,610–3,170 |
| Nov 5, 2:30 PM EST | 1,750 | 18.7 | 1,610–3,170 |
| Nov 5, 1:30 PM EST | 1,650 | 18.6 | 1,610–3,170 |
| Nov 5, 12:30 PM EST | 1,650 | 18.6 | 1,610–3,170 |
| Nov 5, 11:30 AM EST | 1,690 | 18.6 | 1,610–3,170 |
| Nov 5, 10:30 AM EST | 1,760 | 18.7 | 1,610–3,170 |
| Nov 5, 9:30 AM EST | 1,820 | 18.7 | 1,610–3,170 |
| Nov 5, 8:30 AM EST | 1,750 | 18.7 | 1,610–3,170 |
| Nov 5, 7:30 AM EST | 1,580 | 18.5 | 1,610–3,170 |
| Nov 5, 6:30 AM EST | 1,690 | 18.6 | 1,610–3,170 |
| Nov 5, 5:30 AM EST | 1,770 | 18.7 | 1,610–3,170 |
| Nov 5, 4:30 AM EST | 1,830 | 18.7 | 1,610–3,170 |
| Nov 5, 3:30 AM EST | 1,830 | 18.7 | 1,610–3,170 |
| Nov 5, 2:30 AM EST | 1,810 | 18.7 | 1,610–3,170 |
| Nov 5, 1:30 AM EST | 1,650 | 18.6 | 1,610–3,170 |
| Nov 5, 12:30 AM EST | 1,700 | 18.6 | 1,610–3,170 |
| Nov 4, 11:30 PM EST | 1,830 | 18.7 | 1,610–3,130 |
| Nov 4, 10:30 PM EST | 1,830 | 18.7 | 1,610–3,130 |
| Nov 4, 9:30 PM EST | 1,750 | 18.7 | 1,610–3,130 |
| Nov 4, 8:30 PM EST | 1,740 | 18.6 | 1,610–3,130 |
| Nov 4, 7:30 PM EST | 1,750 | 18.7 | 1,610–3,130 |
| Nov 4, 6:30 PM EST | 1,810 | 18.7 | 1,610–3,130 |
| Nov 4, 5:30 PM EST | 1,870 | 18.8 | 1,610–3,130 |
| Nov 4, 4:30 PM EST | 1,870 | 18.8 | 1,610–3,130 |
| Nov 4, 3:30 PM EST | 1,870 | 18.8 | 1,610–3,130 |
| Nov 4, 2:30 PM EST | 1,790 | 18.7 | 1,610–3,130 |
| Nov 4, 1:30 PM EST | 1,770 | 18.7 | 1,610–3,130 |
| Nov 4, 12:30 PM EST | 1,770 | 18.7 | 1,610–3,130 |
| Nov 4, 11:30 AM EST | 1,790 | 18.7 | 1,610–3,130 |
| Nov 4, 10:30 AM EST | 1,880 | 18.8 | 1,610–3,130 |
| Nov 4, 9:30 AM EST | 1,900 | 18.8 | 1,610–3,130 |
| Nov 4, 8:30 AM EST | 1,900 | 18.8 | 1,610–3,130 |
| Nov 4, 7:30 AM EST | 1,900 | 18.8 | 1,610–3,130 |
| Nov 4, 6:30 AM EST | 1,790 | 18.7 | 1,610–3,130 |
| Nov 4, 5:30 AM EST | 1,750 | 18.7 | 1,610–3,130 |
| Nov 4, 4:30 AM EST | 1,750 | 18.7 | 1,610–3,130 |
| Nov 4, 3:30 AM EST | 1,750 | 18.7 | 1,610–3,130 |
| Nov 4, 2:30 AM EST | 1,740 | 18.6 | 1,610–3,130 |
| Nov 4, 1:30 AM EST | 1,740 | 18.6 | 1,610–3,130 |
| Nov 4, 12:30 AM EST | 1,740 | 18.6 | 1,610–3,130 |
| Nov 3, 11:30 PM EST | 1,740 | 18.6 | 1,560–3,180 |
| Nov 3, 10:30 PM EST | 1,760 | 18.7 | 1,560–3,180 |
| Nov 3, 9:30 PM EST | 1,870 | 18.8 | 1,560–3,180 |
| Nov 3, 8:30 PM EST | 1,870 | 18.8 | 1,560–3,180 |
| Nov 3, 7:30 PM EST | 1,870 | 18.8 | 1,560–3,180 |
| Nov 3, 6:30 PM EST | 1,790 | 18.7 | 1,560–3,180 |
| Nov 3, 5:30 PM EST | 1,620 | 18.5 | 1,560–3,180 |
| Nov 3, 4:30 PM EST | 1,650 | 18.6 | 1,560–3,180 |
| Nov 3, 3:30 PM EST | 1,860 | 18.7 | 1,560–3,180 |
| Nov 3, 2:30 PM EST | 1,880 | 18.8 | 1,560–3,180 |
| Nov 3, 1:30 PM EST | 1,880 | 18.8 | 1,560–3,180 |
| Nov 3, 12:30 PM EST | 1,860 | 18.7 | 1,560–3,180 |
| Nov 3, 11:30 AM EST | 1,840 | 18.7 | 1,560–3,180 |
| Nov 3, 10:30 AM EST | 1,840 | 18.7 | 1,560–3,180 |
| Nov 3, 9:30 AM EST | 1,830 | 18.7 | 1,560–3,180 |
| Nov 3, 8:30 AM EST | 1,780 | 18.7 | 1,560–3,180 |
| Nov 3, 7:30 AM EST | 1,790 | 18.7 | 1,560–3,180 |
| Nov 3, 6:30 AM EST | 1,790 | 18.7 | 1,560–3,180 |
| Nov 3, 5:30 AM EST | 1,790 | 18.7 | 1,560–3,180 |
| Nov 3, 4:30 AM EST | 1,790 | 18.7 | 1,560–3,180 |
| Nov 3, 3:30 AM EST | 1,780 | 18.7 | 1,560–3,180 |
| Nov 3, 2:30 AM EST | 1,750 | 18.7 | 1,560–3,180 |
| Nov 3, 1:30 AM EST | 1,750 | 18.7 | 1,560–3,180 |
| Nov 3, 12:30 AM EST | 1,750 | 18.7 | 1,560–3,180 |
| Nov 2, 11:30 PM EST | 1,750 | 18.7 | 1,560–2,990 |
| Nov 2, 10:30 PM EST | 1,760 | 18.7 | 1,560–2,990 |
| Nov 2, 9:30 PM EST | 1,890 | 18.8 | 1,560–2,990 |
| Nov 2, 8:30 PM EST | 1,920 | 18.8 | 1,560–2,990 |
| Nov 2, 7:30 PM EST | 1,900 | 18.8 | 1,560–2,990 |
| Nov 2, 6:30 PM EST | 1,900 | 18.8 | 1,560–2,990 |
| Nov 2, 5:30 PM EST | 1,900 | 18.8 | 1,560–2,990 |
| Nov 2, 4:30 PM EST | 1,750 | 18.7 | 1,560–2,990 |
| Nov 2, 3:30 PM EST | 1,750 | 18.7 | 1,560–2,990 |
| Nov 2, 2:30 PM EST | 2,080 | 18.9 | 1,560–2,990 |
| Nov 2, 1:30 PM EST | 2,180 | 19 | 1,560–2,990 |
| Nov 2, 12:30 PM EST | 1,940 | 18.8 | 1,560–2,990 |
| Nov 2, 11:30 AM EST | 2,340 | 19.1 | 1,560–2,990 |
| Nov 2, 10:30 AM EST | 1,590 | 18.5 | 1,560–2,990 |
| Nov 2, 9:30 AM EST | 1,870 | 18.8 | 1,560–2,990 |
| Nov 2, 8:30 AM EST | 1,860 | 18.7 | 1,560–2,990 |
| Nov 2, 7:30 AM EST | 1,860 | 18.7 | 1,560–2,990 |
| Nov 2, 6:30 AM EST | 1,840 | 18.7 | 1,560–2,990 |
| Nov 2, 5:30 AM EST | 1,790 | 18.7 | 1,560–2,990 |
| Nov 2, 4:30 AM EST | 1,780 | 18.7 | 1,560–2,990 |
| Nov 2, 3:30 AM EST | 1,790 | 18.7 | 1,560–2,990 |
| Nov 2, 2:30 AM EST | 1,780 | 18.7 | 1,560–2,990 |
| Nov 2, 1:30 AM EST | 1,790 | 18.7 | 1,560–2,990 |
| Nov 2, 12:30 AM EST | 1,790 | 18.7 | 1,560–2,990 |
| Nov 1, 11:30 PM EST | 1,790 | 18.7 | 1,670–2,880 |
| Nov 1, 10:30 PM EST | 1,790 | 18.7 | 1,670–2,880 |
| Nov 1, 9:30 PM EST | 1,790 | 18.7 | 1,670–2,880 |
| Nov 1, 8:30 PM EST | 1,750 | 18.7 | 1,670–2,880 |
| Nov 1, 7:30 PM EST | 1,890 | 18.8 | 1,670–2,880 |
| Nov 1, 6:30 PM EST | 1,770 | 18.7 | 1,670–2,880 |
| Nov 1, 5:30 PM EST | 1,840 | 18.7 | 1,670–2,880 |
| Nov 1, 4:30 PM EST | 1,990 | 18.9 | 1,670–2,880 |
| Nov 1, 3:30 PM EST | 1,790 | 18.7 | 1,670–2,880 |
| Nov 1, 2:30 PM EST | 1,770 | 18.7 | 1,670–2,880 |
| Nov 1, 1:30 PM EST | 1,820 | 18.7 | 1,670–2,880 |
| Nov 1, 12:30 PM EST | 1,820 | 18.7 | 1,670–2,880 |
| Nov 1, 11:30 AM EST | 1,810 | 18.7 | 1,670–2,880 |
| Nov 1, 10:30 AM EST | 1,810 | 18.7 | 1,670–2,880 |
| Nov 1, 9:30 AM EST | 1,810 | 18.7 | 1,670–2,880 |
| Nov 1, 8:30 AM EST | 1,870 | 18.8 | 1,670–2,880 |
| Nov 1, 7:30 AM EST | 1,780 | 18.7 | 1,670–2,880 |
| Nov 1, 6:30 AM EST | 1,740 | 18.6 | 1,670–2,880 |
| Nov 1, 5:30 AM EST | 1,750 | 18.7 | 1,670–2,880 |
| Nov 1, 4:30 AM EST | 1,750 | 18.7 | 1,670–2,880 |
| Nov 1, 3:30 AM EST | 1,750 | 18.7 | 1,670–2,880 |
| Nov 1, 2:30 AM EST | 1,750 | 18.7 | 1,670–2,880 |
| Nov 1, 1:30 AM EST | 1,740 | 18.6 | 1,670–2,880 |
| Nov 1, 1:30 AM EDT | 1,740 | 18.6 | 1,670–2,880 |
| Nov 1, 12:30 AM EDT | 1,740 | 18.6 | 1,670–2,880 |
| Oct 31, 11:30 PM EDT | 1,740 | 18.6 | 1,640–2,810 |
| Oct 31, 10:30 PM EDT | 1,740 | 18.6 | 1,640–2,810 |
| Oct 31, 9:30 PM EDT | 1,750 | 18.7 | 1,640–2,810 |
| Oct 31, 8:30 PM EDT | 1,750 | 18.7 | 1,640–2,810 |
| Oct 31, 7:30 PM EDT | 1,750 | 18.7 | 1,640–2,810 |
| Oct 31, 6:30 PM EDT | 1,750 | 18.7 | 1,640–2,810 |
| Oct 31, 5:30 PM EDT | 1,780 | 18.7 | 1,640–2,810 |
| Oct 31, 4:30 PM EDT | 1,820 | 18.7 | 1,640–2,810 |
| Oct 31, 3:30 PM EDT | 1,780 | 18.7 | 1,640–2,810 |
| Oct 31, 2:30 PM EDT | 1,720 | 18.6 | 1,640–2,810 |
| Oct 31, 1:30 PM EDT | 1,720 | 18.6 | 1,640–2,810 |
| Oct 31, 12:30 PM EDT | 1,760 | 18.7 | 1,640–2,810 |
| Oct 31, 11:30 AM EDT | 1,860 | 18.7 | 1,640–2,810 |
| Oct 31, 10:30 AM EDT | 1,870 | 18.8 | 1,640–2,810 |
| Oct 31, 9:30 AM EDT | 1,870 | 18.8 | 1,640–2,810 |
| Oct 31, 8:30 AM EDT | 1,870 | 18.8 | 1,640–2,810 |
| Oct 31, 7:30 AM EDT | 1,870 | 18.8 | 1,640–2,810 |
| Oct 31, 6:30 AM EDT | 1,840 | 18.7 | 1,640–2,810 |
| Oct 31, 5:30 AM EDT | 1,810 | 18.7 | 1,640–2,810 |
| Oct 31, 4:30 AM EDT | 1,810 | 18.7 | 1,640–2,810 |
| Oct 31, 3:30 AM EDT | 1,810 | 18.7 | 1,640–2,810 |
| Oct 31, 2:30 AM EDT | 1,720 | 18.6 | 1,640–2,810 |
| Oct 31, 1:30 AM EDT | 1,680 | 18.6 | 1,640–2,810 |
| Oct 31, 12:30 AM EDT | 1,690 | 18.6 | 1,640–2,810 |
| Oct 30, 11:30 PM EDT | 1,750 | 18.7 | 1,550–2,890 |
| Oct 30, 10:30 PM EDT | 1,790 | 18.7 | 1,550–2,890 |
| Oct 30, 9:30 PM EDT | 1,810 | 18.7 | 1,550–2,890 |
| Oct 30, 8:30 PM EDT | 1,810 | 18.7 | 1,550–2,890 |
| Oct 30, 7:30 PM EDT | 1,810 | 18.7 | 1,550–2,890 |
| Oct 30, 6:30 PM EDT | 1,820 | 18.7 | 1,550–2,890 |
| Oct 30, 5:30 PM EDT | 1,830 | 18.7 | 1,550–2,890 |
| Oct 30, 4:30 PM EDT | 1,830 | 18.7 | 1,550–2,890 |
| Oct 30, 3:30 PM EDT | 1,860 | 18.7 | 1,550–2,890 |
| Oct 30, 2:30 PM EDT | 1,900 | 18.8 | 1,550–2,890 |
| Oct 30, 1:30 PM EDT | 1,900 | 18.8 | 1,550–2,890 |
| Oct 30, 12:30 PM EDT | 1,900 | 18.8 | 1,550–2,890 |
| Oct 30, 11:30 AM EDT | 1,920 | 18.8 | 1,550–2,890 |
| Oct 30, 10:30 AM EDT | 1,810 | 18.7 | 1,550–2,890 |
| Oct 30, 9:30 AM EDT | 1,750 | 18.7 | 1,550–2,890 |
| Oct 30, 8:30 AM EDT | 1,740 | 18.6 | 1,550–2,890 |
| Oct 30, 7:30 AM EDT | 1,750 | 18.7 | 1,550–2,890 |
| Oct 30, 6:30 AM EDT | 1,750 | 18.7 | 1,550–2,890 |
| Oct 30, 5:30 AM EDT | 1,840 | 18.7 | 1,550–2,890 |
| Oct 30, 4:30 AM EDT | 1,880 | 18.8 | 1,550–2,890 |
| Oct 30, 3:30 AM EDT | 1,900 | 18.8 | 1,550–2,890 |
| Oct 30, 2:30 AM EDT | 1,920 | 18.8 | 1,550–2,890 |
| Oct 30, 1:30 AM EDT | 1,880 | 18.8 | 1,550–2,890 |
| Oct 30, 12:30 AM EDT | 1,880 | 18.8 | 1,550–2,890 |
| Oct 29, 11:30 PM EDT | 1,880 | 18.8 | 1,610–2,930 |
| Oct 29, 10:30 PM EDT | 1,890 | 18.8 | 1,610–2,930 |
Map of USGS gauge 04101000 and the river around it
Where ST. JOSEPH RIVER AT ELKHART, IN sits, with 5 other gauges on the same river and our water's map point.
No current water-temperature reading at this gauge, so no temperature guidance is given. Take a stream thermometer. Indiana DNR publishes no water-temperature line for trout anglers that we found. The lines below are the National Park Service's, federal guidance, not a Indiana rule: 68°F.
Normal for Nov 5: 1,610–3,170 ft³/s (middle half of 79 years of record). Now: 1,640 ft³/s, normal.
Normal for this date. 1,640 ft³/s is between the 25th and 75th percentiles of daily mean flow for Nov 5 at this gauge over 79 years of record (1948–2026): 10th 1,240, 25th 1,610, median 2,100, 75th 3,170, 90th 3,910 ft³/s.
Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 564 ft³/s, highest 6,970 ft³/s.
Classes as USGS labels them (hyswap: flow categories (WDFN_stats schema) (U.S. Geological Survey) ); percentiles from the USGS daily statistics (U.S. Geological Survey) (approved daily means; the reading is provisional and instantaneous).
Steady over 24 hours (−6.3% discharge). Rising or falling means a change of more than 10% in discharge (or 0.2 ft of gauge height) over 24 hours; our rule of thumb, not a USGS class.
Species the agency lists for Saint Joseph River: Steelhead.
Source: Lake Michigan tributaries stocked with Skamania steelhead (Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish & Wildlife).
Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
Flood categories: action stage, minor, moderate and major flooding (National Weather Service)Turn Around Don't Drown. “A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult.” No flow number makes a crossing safe; if in doubt, stay out.
Turn Around Don't Drown (National Weather Service)Guidance from the readings above and the published thresholds named with each line; not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access. Local rules and closures come first.
Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
NWS observed 18.6 ft stage, 1,640 ft³/s at Nov 5, 8:30 PM EST (NWS gauge EKMI3; its stage datum can differ from the USGS gauge height).
Forecasts are issued as needed during times of high water, but are not routinely available.
Open the NWS gauge page · What the categories mean (National Weather Service)
Checked Nov 5, 9:48 PM EST; readings refresh at most every 15 minutes and statistics daily. Provisional USGS data can be revised. Conditions change: re-check before you go. This is general guidance, not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access.