Suwannee River at Manatee Springs - Source (in NAVD88)

Highest listed crest 16.00 ftFlood stage 7.0 ft10 crests since 1948

The Suwannee River at Manatee Springs - Source (in NAVD88) crested at major flood stage 3 times among the 10 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1948 to 2024. The highest, 16.00 ft on April 14, 1948, was major flooding, 9.00 feet above flood stage. 8 other gauges on the Suwannee River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 8 at their own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
16.00 ft
April 14, 1948
Flood stage
7.0 ft
Major flooding from 12.5 ft
Crests at major
3
63rd of 237 gauges in Florida
Most recent flood crest
March 26, 2003
8.82 ft, minor flooding
Location
Levy County
Florida

Flood stages

The thresholds the National Weather Service uses for this gauge today, and how many listed crests reached each.

Flood categories, Suwannee River at Manatee Springs - Source (in NAVD88)
Action stage5.01Sep 27, 2024The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)7.01Mar 26, 2003Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage10.05Mar 21, 1991Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage12.53Apr 16, 1984Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

10 crests from 1948 to 2024. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Suwannee River at Manatee Springs - Source (in NAVD88), 1948 to 2024 6810121416ft Flood stage 7.0 ftMajor 12.5 ft Apr 14, 1948: 16.00 ft, major floodingApr 2, 1959: 11.00 ft, moderate floodingApr 21, 1973: 13.00 ft, major floodingMar 24, 1984: 10.70 ft, moderate floodingApr 16, 1984: 12.65 ft, major floodingJan 27, 1986: 10.90 ft, moderate floodingJan 28, 1987: 11.00 ft, moderate floodingMar 21, 1991: 10.91 ft, moderate floodingMar 26, 2003: 8.82 ft, minor floodingSep 27, 2024: 6.90 ft, action stage Highest, 16.00 ft, Apr 14, 1948 19501960197019801990200020102020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Suwannee River at Manatee Springs - Source (in NAVD88) 1940s: 1 1950s: 1 1960s: 0 1970s: 1 1980s: 4 4 1990s: 1 2000s: 1 2010s: 0 2020s: 0 1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  1. These are the crests the local National Weather Service office lists for the gauge: the highest on record and recent crests. Lesser floods between them may be missing, so counts by decade are a floor.
  2. Categories use today's flood stages. Levees, dams and channel changes since a crest can make old and new stages not directly comparable.

Highest crests

Highest listed crests, Suwannee River at Manatee Springs - Source (in NAVD88)
1Apr 14, 194816.00+9.00Major—
2Apr 21, 197313.00+6.00Major—
3Apr 16, 198412.65+5.65Major—
4Apr 2, 195911.00+4.00Moderate—
5Jan 28, 198711.00+4.00Moderate—
6Mar 21, 199110.91+3.91Moderate—
7Jan 27, 198610.90+3.90Moderate—
8Mar 24, 198410.70+3.70Moderate—
9Mar 26, 20038.82+1.82Minor—
10Sep 27, 20246.90−0.10Action—

The worst floods along the Suwannee River

For this gauge's highest crests, the other gauges on the Suwannee River that crested above flood stage within a week.

April 14, 1948: 16.00 ft here, major flooding

April 21, 1973: 13.00 ft here, major flooding

April 16, 1984: 12.65 ft here, major flooding

Gauges on the Suwannee River

Flood gauges sharing the river's name, linked within 80 miles of one another.

Flood gauges on the Suwannee River
Gopher River Confluence (in MHHW)FL1.77.15 ft, Sep 27, 20249
Branford - US 27 (in NAVD88)FL25.038.13 ft, Apr 11, 19482
Dowling Park - CR 250 (in NAVD88)FL47.060.82 ft, Apr 8, 19481
Ellaville - US 90 (in NAVD88)FL53.067.38 ft, Apr 7, 19481
FargoGA104.0112.01 ft, Apr 9, 197313
Fowlers Bluff (in NAVD88)FL5.010.90 ft, Apr 14, 19481
Luraville - SR 51 (in NAVD88)FL35.052.83 ft, Apr 8, 19483
Manatee Springs - Source (in NAVD88) this gaugeFL7.016.00 ft, Apr 14, 19483
Manatee Springs (in NAVD88)FL7.016.00 ft, Apr 14, 19483
Nobles Ferry (in NAVD88)FL56.065.41 ft, Apr 10, 20090
Rock Bluff near Bell - CR 340 (in NAVD88)FL17.023.13 ft, Apr 13, 19480
White Springs (in NAVD88)FL74.087.73 ft, Apr 10, 19731
Benton (in NAVD88)FL93.0101.93 ft, Apr 6, 19739
Suwannee Springs (in NAVD88)FL60.078.20 ft, Apr 12, 19734
Wilcox - US 19 (in NAVD88)FL10.021.13 ft, Apr 14, 19481

Other gauges in Levy County

Flood gauges in Levy County
Fowlers Bluff (in NAVD88)5.010.90 ft, Apr 14, 19481
Manatee Springs (in NAVD88)7.016.00 ft, Apr 14, 19483
Wilcox - US 19 (in NAVD88)10.021.13 ft, Apr 14, 19481
Tide Gauge at Cedar Key (in MHHW)2.26.84 ft, Aug 30, 20231
Tide Gauge at Yankeetown (in MHHW)2.55.48 ft, Aug 30, 20231
Tide Gauge on the Waccasassa River near Gulf Hammock (In MHHW)3.04.90 ft, Aug 30, 20230

Levy County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Florida

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge MSPF1, retrieved October 30, 2026. Stages in feet on the gauge's own datum, not elevation. Crests are as the National Weather Service lists them; preliminary values may be revised.