LA CROSSE RIVER AT SPARTA, WI
USGS 05382325 · Wisconsin · reports discharge (live), gauge height
Reading LA CROSSE RIVER AT SPARTA, WI…
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USGS 05382325 · Wisconsin · 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, 8:00 PM CST · provisional USGS data
Above normal for Nov 5 Falling · 24 h Below NWS action stage
Discharge, last 7 days: 169 readings from Oct 29, 9:00 PM CDT to Nov 5, 8:00 PM CST; ranging 164 to 259 ft³/s; latest 196 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, 8:00 PM CST | 196 | 3.97 | 135–187 |
| Nov 5, 7:00 PM CST | 204 | 4.02 | 135–187 |
| Nov 5, 6:00 PM CST | 205 | 4.03 | 135–187 |
| Nov 5, 5:00 PM CST | 207 | 4.04 | 135–187 |
| Nov 5, 4:00 PM CST | 207 | 4.04 | 135–187 |
| Nov 5, 3:00 PM CST | 207 | 4.04 | 135–187 |
| Nov 5, 2:00 PM CST | 207 | 4.04 | 135–187 |
| Nov 5, 1:00 PM CST | 208 | 4.05 | 135–187 |
| Nov 5, 12:00 PM CST | 210 | 4.06 | 135–187 |
| Nov 5, 11:00 AM CST | 211 | 4.06 | 135–187 |
| Nov 5, 10:00 AM CST | 212 | 4.07 | 135–187 |
| Nov 5, 9:00 AM CST | 213 | 4.08 | 135–187 |
| Nov 5, 8:00 AM CST | 214 | 4.08 | 135–187 |
| Nov 5, 7:00 AM CST | 215 | 4.08 | 135–187 |
| Nov 5, 6:00 AM CST | 216 | 4.09 | 135–187 |
| Nov 5, 5:00 AM CST | 216 | 4.09 | 135–187 |
| Nov 5, 4:00 AM CST | 217 | 4.1 | 135–187 |
| Nov 5, 3:00 AM CST | 220 | 4.11 | 135–187 |
| Nov 5, 2:00 AM CST | 221 | 4.12 | 135–187 |
| Nov 5, 1:00 AM CST | 223 | 4.14 | 135–187 |
| Nov 5, 12:00 AM CST | 227 | 4.16 | 135–187 |
| Nov 4, 11:00 PM CST | 230 | 4.18 | 136–185 |
| Nov 4, 10:00 PM CST | 232 | 4.19 | 136–185 |
| Nov 4, 9:00 PM CST | 226 | 4.15 | 136–185 |
| Nov 4, 8:00 PM CST | 226 | 4.15 | 136–185 |
| Nov 4, 7:00 PM CST | 229 | 4.17 | 136–185 |
| Nov 4, 6:00 PM CST | 230 | 4.18 | 136–185 |
| Nov 4, 5:00 PM CST | 232 | 4.19 | 136–185 |
| Nov 4, 4:00 PM CST | 234 | 4.2 | 136–185 |
| Nov 4, 3:00 PM CST | 234 | 4.2 | 136–185 |
| Nov 4, 2:00 PM CST | 235 | 4.2 | 136–185 |
| Nov 4, 1:00 PM CST | 235 | 4.21 | 136–185 |
| Nov 4, 12:00 PM CST | 236 | 4.21 | 136–185 |
| Nov 4, 11:00 AM CST | 237 | 4.22 | 136–185 |
| Nov 4, 10:00 AM CST | 238 | 4.22 | 136–185 |
| Nov 4, 9:00 AM CST | 239 | 4.23 | 136–185 |
| Nov 4, 8:00 AM CST | 242 | 4.24 | 136–185 |
| Nov 4, 7:00 AM CST | 244 | 4.26 | 136–185 |
| Nov 4, 6:00 AM CST | 244 | 4.26 | 136–185 |
| Nov 4, 5:00 AM CST | 244 | 4.26 | 136–185 |
| Nov 4, 4:00 AM CST | 245 | 4.27 | 136–185 |
| Nov 4, 3:00 AM CST | 245 | 4.26 | 136–185 |
| Nov 4, 2:00 AM CST | 244 | 4.26 | 136–185 |
| Nov 4, 1:00 AM CST | 245 | 4.26 | 136–185 |
| Nov 4, 12:00 AM CST | 245 | 4.27 | 136–185 |
| Nov 3, 11:00 PM CST | 246 | 4.27 | 136–186 |
| Nov 3, 10:00 PM CST | 247 | 4.28 | 136–186 |
| Nov 3, 9:00 PM CST | 252 | 4.3 | 136–186 |
| Nov 3, 8:00 PM CST | 259 | 4.34 | 136–186 |
| Nov 3, 7:00 PM CST | 242 | 4.24 | 136–186 |
| Nov 3, 6:00 PM CST | 243 | 4.25 | 136–186 |
| Nov 3, 5:00 PM CST | 246 | 4.27 | 136–186 |
| Nov 3, 4:00 PM CST | 248 | 4.28 | 136–186 |
| Nov 3, 3:00 PM CST | 249 | 4.29 | 136–186 |
| Nov 3, 2:00 PM CST | 246 | 4.27 | 136–186 |
| Nov 3, 1:00 PM CST | 238 | 4.22 | 136–186 |
| Nov 3, 12:00 PM CST | 228 | 4.16 | 136–186 |
| Nov 3, 11:00 AM CST | 217 | 4.1 | 136–186 |
| Nov 3, 10:00 AM CST | 219 | 4.11 | 136–186 |
| Nov 3, 9:00 AM CST | 230 | 4.18 | 136–186 |
| Nov 3, 8:00 AM CST | 219 | 4.11 | 136–186 |
| Nov 3, 7:00 AM CST | 218 | 4.1 | 136–186 |
| Nov 3, 6:00 AM CST | 216 | 4.1 | 136–186 |
| Nov 3, 5:00 AM CST | 215 | 4.09 | 136–186 |
| Nov 3, 4:00 AM CST | 212 | 4.07 | 136–186 |
| Nov 3, 3:00 AM CST | 206 | 4.03 | 136–186 |
| Nov 3, 2:00 AM CST | 204 | 4.02 | 136–186 |
| Nov 3, 1:00 AM CST | 203 | 4.01 | 136–186 |
| Nov 3, 12:00 AM CST | 212 | 4.07 | 136–186 |
| Nov 2, 11:00 PM CST | 202 | 4 | 137–184 |
| Nov 2, 10:00 PM CST | 183 | 3.89 | 137–184 |
| Nov 2, 9:00 PM CST | 182 | 3.88 | 137–184 |
| Nov 2, 8:00 PM CST | 183 | 3.89 | 137–184 |
| Nov 2, 7:00 PM CST | 184 | 3.9 | 137–184 |
| Nov 2, 6:00 PM CST | 192 | 3.95 | 137–184 |
| Nov 2, 5:00 PM CST | 178 | 3.86 | 137–184 |
| Nov 2, 4:00 PM CST | 169 | 3.8 | 137–184 |
| Nov 2, 3:00 PM CST | 168 | 3.79 | 137–184 |
| Nov 2, 2:00 PM CST | 167 | 3.78 | 137–184 |
| Nov 2, 1:00 PM CST | 167 | 3.78 | 137–184 |
| Nov 2, 12:00 PM CST | 167 | 3.78 | 137–184 |
| Nov 2, 11:00 AM CST | 166 | 3.78 | 137–184 |
| Nov 2, 10:00 AM CST | 167 | 3.78 | 137–184 |
| Nov 2, 9:00 AM CST | 167 | 3.78 | 137–184 |
| Nov 2, 8:00 AM CST | 166 | 3.78 | 137–184 |
| Nov 2, 7:00 AM CST | 166 | 3.78 | 137–184 |
| Nov 2, 6:00 AM CST | 166 | 3.78 | 137–184 |
| Nov 2, 5:00 AM CST | 167 | 3.78 | 137–184 |
| Nov 2, 4:00 AM CST | 167 | 3.78 | 137–184 |
| Nov 2, 3:00 AM CST | 166 | 3.78 | 137–184 |
| Nov 2, 2:00 AM CST | 167 | 3.78 | 137–184 |
| Nov 2, 1:00 AM CST | 168 | 3.79 | 137–184 |
| Nov 2, 12:00 AM CST | 167 | 3.78 | 137–184 |
| Nov 1, 11:00 PM CST | 168 | 3.79 | 135–186 |
| Nov 1, 10:00 PM CST | 168 | 3.79 | 135–186 |
| Nov 1, 9:00 PM CST | 169 | 3.8 | 135–186 |
| Nov 1, 8:00 PM CST | 169 | 3.8 | 135–186 |
| Nov 1, 7:00 PM CST | 168 | 3.79 | 135–186 |
| Nov 1, 6:00 PM CST | 168 | 3.79 | 135–186 |
| Nov 1, 5:00 PM CST | 168 | 3.79 | 135–186 |
| Nov 1, 4:00 PM CST | 167 | 3.79 | 135–186 |
| Nov 1, 3:00 PM CST | 168 | 3.79 | 135–186 |
| Nov 1, 2:00 PM CST | 167 | 3.78 | 135–186 |
| Nov 1, 1:00 PM CST | 165 | 3.77 | 135–186 |
| Nov 1, 12:00 PM CST | 164 | 3.77 | 135–186 |
| Nov 1, 11:00 AM CST | 165 | 3.77 | 135–186 |
| Nov 1, 10:00 AM CST | 166 | 3.78 | 135–186 |
| Nov 1, 9:00 AM CST | 167 | 3.79 | 135–186 |
| Nov 1, 8:00 AM CST | 166 | 3.78 | 135–186 |
| Nov 1, 7:00 AM CST | 166 | 3.78 | 135–186 |
| Nov 1, 6:00 AM CST | 166 | 3.78 | 135–186 |
| Nov 1, 5:00 AM CST | 167 | 3.78 | 135–186 |
| Nov 1, 4:00 AM CST | 166 | 3.78 | 135–186 |
| Nov 1, 3:00 AM CST | 167 | 3.78 | 135–186 |
| Nov 1, 2:00 AM CST | 167 | 3.78 | 135–186 |
| Nov 1, 1:00 AM CST | 168 | 3.79 | 135–186 |
| Nov 1, 1:00 AM CDT | 168 | 3.79 | 135–186 |
| Nov 1, 12:00 AM CDT | 168 | 3.79 | 135–186 |
| Oct 31, 11:00 PM CDT | 168 | 3.79 | 143–187 |
| Oct 31, 10:00 PM CDT | 169 | 3.79 | 143–187 |
| Oct 31, 9:00 PM CDT | 169 | 3.8 | 143–187 |
| Oct 31, 8:00 PM CDT | 169 | 3.8 | 143–187 |
| Oct 31, 7:00 PM CDT | 168 | 3.79 | 143–187 |
| Oct 31, 6:00 PM CDT | 168 | 3.79 | 143–187 |
| Oct 31, 5:00 PM CDT | 168 | 3.79 | 143–187 |
| Oct 31, 4:00 PM CDT | 167 | 3.78 | 143–187 |
| Oct 31, 3:00 PM CDT | 167 | 3.79 | 143–187 |
| Oct 31, 2:00 PM CDT | 166 | 3.78 | 143–187 |
| Oct 31, 1:00 PM CDT | 166 | 3.78 | 143–187 |
| Oct 31, 12:00 PM CDT | 167 | 3.78 | 143–187 |
| Oct 31, 11:00 AM CDT | 167 | 3.78 | 143–187 |
| Oct 31, 10:00 AM CDT | 167 | 3.78 | 143–187 |
| Oct 31, 9:00 AM CDT | 167 | 3.78 | 143–187 |
| Oct 31, 8:00 AM CDT | 167 | 3.78 | 143–187 |
| Oct 31, 7:00 AM CDT | 168 | 3.79 | 143–187 |
| Oct 31, 6:00 AM CDT | 166 | 3.78 | 143–187 |
| Oct 31, 5:00 AM CDT | 168 | 3.79 | 143–187 |
| Oct 31, 4:00 AM CDT | 167 | 3.78 | 143–187 |
| Oct 31, 3:00 AM CDT | 167 | 3.78 | 143–187 |
| Oct 31, 2:00 AM CDT | 168 | 3.79 | 143–187 |
| Oct 31, 1:00 AM CDT | 168 | 3.79 | 143–187 |
| Oct 31, 12:00 AM CDT | 169 | 3.8 | 143–187 |
| Oct 30, 11:00 PM CDT | 168 | 3.79 | 140–188 |
| Oct 30, 10:00 PM CDT | 168 | 3.79 | 140–188 |
| Oct 30, 9:00 PM CDT | 167 | 3.79 | 140–188 |
| Oct 30, 8:00 PM CDT | 169 | 3.79 | 140–188 |
| Oct 30, 7:00 PM CDT | 169 | 3.8 | 140–188 |
| Oct 30, 6:00 PM CDT | 168 | 3.79 | 140–188 |
| Oct 30, 5:00 PM CDT | 168 | 3.79 | 140–188 |
| Oct 30, 4:00 PM CDT | 169 | 3.79 | 140–188 |
| Oct 30, 3:00 PM CDT | 167 | 3.79 | 140–188 |
| Oct 30, 2:00 PM CDT | 167 | 3.78 | 140–188 |
| Oct 30, 1:00 PM CDT | 166 | 3.78 | 140–188 |
| Oct 30, 12:00 PM CDT | 166 | 3.78 | 140–188 |
| Oct 30, 11:00 AM CDT | 167 | 3.78 | 140–188 |
| Oct 30, 10:00 AM CDT | 166 | 3.78 | 140–188 |
| Oct 30, 9:00 AM CDT | 167 | 3.78 | 140–188 |
| Oct 30, 8:00 AM CDT | 167 | 3.78 | 140–188 |
| Oct 30, 7:00 AM CDT | 168 | 3.79 | 140–188 |
| Oct 30, 6:00 AM CDT | 168 | 3.79 | 140–188 |
| Oct 30, 5:00 AM CDT | 170 | 3.8 | 140–188 |
| Oct 30, 4:00 AM CDT | 170 | 3.8 | 140–188 |
| Oct 30, 3:00 AM CDT | 170 | 3.8 | 140–188 |
| Oct 30, 2:00 AM CDT | 171 | 3.81 | 140–188 |
| Oct 30, 1:00 AM CDT | 171 | 3.81 | 140–188 |
| Oct 30, 12:00 AM CDT | 172 | 3.82 | 140–188 |
| Oct 29, 11:00 PM CDT | 173 | 3.82 | 138–191 |
| Oct 29, 10:00 PM CDT | 174 | 3.83 | 138–191 |
| Oct 29, 9:00 PM CDT | 175 | 3.83 | 138–191 |
Map of USGS gauge 05382325 and the river around it
Where LA CROSSE RIVER AT SPARTA, WI sits, with 2 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. Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin rule: 68°F.
Normal for Nov 5: 135–187 ft³/s (middle half of 31 years of record). Now: 196 ft³/s, above normal.
Above normal for this date. 196 ft³/s is between the 75th and 90th percentiles of daily mean flow for Nov 5 at this gauge over 31 years of record (1993–2026): 10th 130, 25th 135, median 158, 75th 187, 90th 261 ft³/s.
Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 123 ft³/s, highest 403 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).
Falling over 24 hours: discharge down 13.3%, from 226 to 196 ft³/s. 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.
This gauge is on our page for la Crosse River, but no agency page we read lists its species.
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 3.97 ft stage, 196 ft³/s at Nov 5, 8:00 PM CST (NWS gauge SPAW3; its stage datum can differ from the USGS gauge height).
Forecasts are not available. Only observed stages are available for this point.
Open the NWS gauge page · What the categories mean (National Weather Service)
Checked Nov 5, 8:43 PM CST; 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.