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St. Marys River at Decatur

Highest listed crest 26.92 ftFlood stage 17.0 ft195 crests since 1933

The St. Marys River at Decatur crested at major flood stage 7 times among the 195 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1933 to 2021. The highest, 26.92 ft on July 9, 2003, was major flooding, 9.92 feet above flood stage. 1 other gauge on the St. Marys River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 1 at its own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
26.92 ft
July 9, 2003; 15,000 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
17.0 ft
Major flooding from 24.0 ft
Crests at major
7
21st of 206 gauges in Indiana
Most recent flood crest
May 11, 2021
18.85 ft, minor flooding
Location
Adams County
Near Decatur (1.4 mi), Bluffton (14.2 mi)

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, St. Marys River at Decatur
Action stage13.00—The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)17.0124May 11, 2021Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage20.064Apr 28, 2019Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage24.07Jun 18, 2015Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

195 crests from 1933 to 2021. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the St. Marys River at Decatur, 1933 to 2021 16182022242628ft Flood stage 17.0 ftMajor 24.0 ft May 14, 1933: 19.50 ft, minor flooding; 4,860 cubic feet per secondMay 7, 1935: 18.10 ft, minor flooding; 3,940 cubic feet per secondJan 16, 1937: 22.00 ft, moderate flooding; 8,580 cubic feet per secondApr 10, 1938: 21.10 ft, moderate flooding; 6,740 cubic feet per secondMar 14, 1939: 22.10 ft, moderate flooding; 8,800 cubic feet per secondApr 21, 1940: 19.30 ft, minor flooding; 4,710 cubic feet per secondApr 12, 1942: 19.50 ft, minor flooding; 4,860 cubic feet per secondMay 18, 1943: 23.40 ft, moderate flooding; 12,000 cubic feet per secondApr 12, 1944: 22.00 ft, moderate flooding; 8,580 cubic feet per secondJun 21, 1945: 18.50 ft, minor flooding; 4,180 cubic feet per secondDec 31, 1945: 17.30 ft, minor flooding; 3,480 cubic feet per secondJan 31, 1947: 17.80 ft, minor flooding; 3,910 cubic feet per secondMay 3, 1947: 18.10 ft, minor flooding; 4,130 cubic feet per secondJun 2, 1947: 20.30 ft, moderate flooding; 5,620 cubic feet per secondJun 7, 1947: 18.40 ft, minor flooding; 4,370 cubic feet per secondFeb 19, 1948: 17.10 ft, minor flooding; 3,400 cubic feet per secondMar 22, 1948: 20.43 ft, moderate flooding; 5,740 cubic feet per secondApr 15, 1948: 19.00 ft, minor flooding; 4,900 cubic feet per secondJan 19, 1949: 18.16 ft, minor flooding; 4,000 cubic feet per secondJan 29, 1949: 17.64 ft, minor flooding; 3,650 cubic feet per secondFeb 15, 1949: 18.29 ft, minor flooding; 4,060 cubic feet per secondMay 22, 1949: 17.81 ft, minor flooding; 3,760 cubic feet per secondJan 5, 1950: 20.19 ft, moderate flooding; 5,510 cubic feet per secondJan 11, 1950: 20.93 ft, moderate flooding; 6,410 cubic feet per secondJan 16, 1950: 20.30 ft, moderate flooding; 5,620 cubic feet per secondJan 27, 1950: 20.91 ft, moderate flooding; 6,410 cubic feet per secondFeb 15, 1950: 23.60 ft, moderate flooding; 10,800 cubic feet per secondMar 28, 1950: 18.72 ft, minor flooding; 4,180 cubic feet per secondNov 21, 1950: 17.40 ft, minor flooding; 3,340 cubic feet per secondDec 7, 1950: 20.61 ft, moderate flooding; 5,990 cubic feet per secondJan 4, 1951: 17.23 ft, minor flooding; 3,220 cubic feet per secondFeb 23, 1951: 20.16 ft, moderate flooding; 5,510 cubic feet per secondJan 21, 1952: 17.43 ft, minor flooding; 4,180 cubic feet per secondJan 27, 1952: 19.36 ft, minor flooding; 4,740 cubic feet per secondMar 13, 1952: 20.40 ft, moderate flooding; 5,740 cubic feet per secondApr 25, 1952: 17.42 ft, minor flooding; 3,340 cubic feet per secondMar 4, 1953: 17.60 ft, minor flooding; 3,460 cubic feet per secondJan 6, 1955: 17.46 ft, minor flooding; 3,580 cubic feet per secondMar 4, 1955: 21.57 ft, moderate flooding; 7,740 cubic feet per secondNov 17, 1955: 17.69 ft, minor flooding; 3,700 cubic feet per secondApr 8, 1957: 21.49 ft, moderate flooding; 7,700 cubic feet per secondApr 21, 1957: 19.02 ft, minor flooding; 4,500 cubic feet per secondJul 1, 1957: 17.76 ft, minor flooding; 3,800 cubic feet per secondDec 8, 1957: 17.16 ft, minor flooding; 3,530 cubic feet per secondDec 21, 1957: 18.02 ft, minor flooding; 3,900 cubic feet per secondJun 14, 1958: 20.49 ft, moderate flooding; 6,170 cubic feet per secondJul 16, 1958: 17.48 ft, minor flooding; 3,650 cubic feet per secondJan 23, 1959: 18.85 ft, minor flooding; 4,410 cubic feet per secondFeb 10, 1959: 24.22 ft, major flooding; 11,300 cubic feet per secondApr 29, 1959: 21.98 ft, moderate flooding; 8,400 cubic feet per secondFeb 11, 1960: 18.49 ft, minor flooding; 4,200 cubic feet per secondMar 23, 1961: 17.04 ft, minor flooding; 3,450 cubic feet per secondApr 19, 1961: 17.51 ft, minor flooding; 3,650 cubic feet per secondApr 26, 1961: 21.80 ft, moderate flooding; 8,100 cubic feet per secondJan 27, 1962: 20.00 ft, moderate flooding; 5,510 cubic feet per secondFeb 27, 1962: 17.64 ft, minor flooding; 3,700 cubic feet per secondMar 8, 1963: 20.58 ft, moderate flooding; 6,310 cubic feet per secondMar 15, 1964: 18.56 ft, minor flooding; 4,270 cubic feet per secondApr 7, 1964: 19.96 ft, minor flooding; 5,510 cubic feet per secondApr 23, 1964: 20.66 ft, moderate flooding; 6,450 cubic feet per secondMar 5, 1965: 17.31 ft, minor flooding; 3,570 cubic feet per secondDec 11, 1966: 21.92 ft, moderate flooding; 5,910 cubic feet per secondMar 12, 1967: 17.26 ft, minor flooding; 3,130 cubic feet per secondMar 29, 1967: 18.68 ft, minor flooding; 3,710 cubic feet per secondFeb 3, 1968: 21.97 ft, moderate flooding; 5,950 cubic feet per secondDec 29, 1968: 17.48 ft, minor flooding; 3,200 cubic feet per secondJan 19, 1969: 17.56 ft, minor flooding; 3,230 cubic feet per secondJan 31, 1969: 20.46 ft, moderate flooding; 4,790 cubic feet per secondFeb 3, 1970: 18.45 ft, minor flooding; 3,600 cubic feet per secondApr 20, 1970: 18.02 ft, minor flooding; 3,420 cubic feet per secondFeb 23, 1971: 18.43 ft, minor flooding; 3,580 cubic feet per secondApr 13, 1972: 18.41 ft, minor flooding; 3,900 cubic feet per secondApr 17, 1972: 18.83 ft, minor flooding; 4,120 cubic feet per secondApr 23, 1972: 22.42 ft, moderate flooding; 7,470 cubic feet per secondNov 3, 1972: 17.35 ft, minor flooding; 3,440 cubic feet per secondNov 15, 1972: 18.64 ft, minor flooding; 4,020 cubic feet per secondMar 16, 1973: 19.04 ft, minor flooding; 4,220 cubic feet per secondDec 28, 1973: 18.00 ft, minor flooding; 3,700 cubic feet per secondJan 22, 1974: 22.86 ft, moderate flooding; 9,860 cubic feet per secondApr 5, 1974: 18.83 ft, minor flooding; 4,110 cubic feet per secondFeb 26, 1975: 20.17 ft, moderate flooding; 5,630 cubic feet per secondFeb 14, 1976: 19.16 ft, minor flooding; 4,430 cubic feet per secondFeb 18, 1976: 22.26 ft, moderate flooding; 8,090 cubic feet per secondMar 5, 1976: 19.16 ft, minor flooding; 4,430 cubic feet per secondDec 19, 1977: 22.32 ft, moderate flooding; 8,160 cubic feet per secondMar 23, 1978: 23.55 ft, moderate flooding; 10,100 cubic feet per secondApr 7, 1978: 18.45 ft, minor flooding; 4,160 cubic feet per secondMar 5, 1979: 22.59 ft, moderate flooding; 8,560 cubic feet per secondDec 25, 1979: 17.47 ft, minor flooding; 3,640 cubic feet per secondMar 11, 1980: 18.52 ft, minor flooding; 4,210 cubic feet per secondJun 4, 1980: 22.69 ft, moderate flooding; 8,710 cubic feet per secondJun 15, 1981: 21.48 ft, moderate flooding; 7,000 cubic feet per secondJun 26, 1981: 18.69 ft, minor flooding; 4,310 cubic feet per secondJan 5, 1982: 17.49 ft, minor flooding; 3,650 cubic feet per secondFeb 24, 1982: 20.42 ft, moderate flooding; 5,810 cubic feet per secondMar 14, 1982: 24.40 ft, major flooding; 10,900 cubic feet per secondMay 2, 1983: 17.54 ft, minor flooding; 3,680 cubic feet per secondDec 12, 1983: 17.28 ft, minor flooding; 3,250 cubic feet per secondFeb 13, 1984: 17.30 ft, minor flooding; 3,750 cubic feet per secondMar 17, 1984: 18.03 ft, minor flooding; 4,080 cubic feet per secondMar 21, 1984: 18.79 ft, minor flooding; 4,480 cubic feet per secondMar 26, 1984: 17.93 ft, minor flooding; 4,030 cubic feet per secondApr 23, 1984: 17.08 ft, minor flooding; 3,660 cubic feet per secondJan 2, 1985: 17.26 ft, minor flooding; 3,540 cubic feet per secondFeb 25, 1985: 24.31 ft, major flooding; 10,300 cubic feet per secondApr 1, 1985: 17.38 ft, minor flooding; 3,660 cubic feet per secondMar 19, 1986: 17.73 ft, minor flooding; 3,770 cubic feet per secondApr 5, 1989: 19.05 ft, minor flooding; 4,540 cubic feet per secondMay 26, 1989: 20.32 ft, moderate flooding; 5,690 cubic feet per secondFeb 17, 1990: 18.20 ft, minor flooding; 4,020 cubic feet per secondFeb 23, 1990: 20.22 ft, moderate flooding; 5,600 cubic feet per secondMay 17, 1990: 20.48 ft, moderate flooding; 5,840 cubic feet per secondJul 26, 1990: 18.83 ft, minor flooding; 4,400 cubic feet per secondDec 23, 1990: 17.73 ft, minor flooding; 3,910 cubic feet per secondDec 31, 1990: 23.81 ft, moderate flooding; 9,580 cubic feet per secondApr 19, 1992: 18.94 ft, minor flooding; 4,460 cubic feet per secondJul 17, 1992: 24.13 ft, major flooding; 10,400 cubic feet per secondSep 11, 1992: 19.62 ft, minor flooding; 5,050 cubic feet per secondNov 13, 1992: 20.10 ft, moderate floodingJan 5, 1993: 18.80 ft, minor floodingMar 9, 1993: 18.79 ft, minor floodingJul 5, 1993: 21.11 ft, moderate floodingJul 19, 1993: 17.75 ft, minor floodingJan 28, 1994: 19.07 ft, minor floodingApr 13, 1994: 20.14 ft, moderate floodingApr 11, 1995: 18.36 ft, minor floodingJan 21, 1996: 20.95 ft, moderate floodingMay 29, 1996: 21.12 ft, moderate floodingJun 10, 1996: 17.65 ft, minor floodingJul 19, 1996: 19.25 ft, minor floodingDec 24, 1996: 18.00 ft, minor floodingMar 1, 1997: 21.84 ft, moderate floodingJun 4, 1997: 21.99 ft, moderate floodingFeb 19, 1998: 17.80 ft, minor floodingMar 22, 1998: 17.64 ft, minor floodingApr 10, 1998: 20.50 ft, moderate floodingJul 24, 1998: 17.64 ft, minor floodingAug 6, 1998: 17.99 ft, minor floodingJan 25, 1999: 23.13 ft, moderate floodingMar 1, 1999: 18.20 ft, minor floodingJun 15, 2000: 18.96 ft, minor floodingFeb 10, 2001: 17.17 ft, minor floodingDec 18, 2001: 17.62 ft, minor floodingFeb 2, 2002: 18.22 ft, minor floodingMar 31, 2002: 19.99 ft, minor floodingMar 15, 2003: 17.52 ft, minor floodingMay 11, 2003: 21.54 ft, moderate floodingJul 9, 2003: 26.92 ft, major flooding; 15,000 cubic feet per secondAug 5, 2003: 20.75 ft, moderate floodingSep 27, 2003: 18.19 ft, minor floodingJan 6, 2004: 19.49 ft, minor floodingJun 14, 2004: 20.68 ft, moderate floodingAug 31, 2004: 17.67 ft, minor flooding; 4,016 cubic feet per secondJan 6, 2005: 21.61 ft, moderate floodingJan 14, 2005: 24.20 ft, major flooding; 10,800 cubic feet per secondFeb 9, 2005: 17.82 ft, minor floodingFeb 15, 2005: 17.88 ft, minor floodingApr 24, 2005: 17.52 ft, minor floodingDec 30, 2005: 18.91 ft, minor floodingDec 5, 2006: 18.00 ft, minor floodingJan 1, 2007: 18.09 ft, minor floodingJan 7, 2007: 18.96 ft, minor floodingJan 16, 2007: 20.96 ft, moderate floodingMar 3, 2007: 19.18 ft, minor floodingMar 18, 2007: 18.22 ft, minor floodingMar 24, 2007: 18.60 ft, minor floodingApr 27, 2007: 18.02 ft, minor flooding; 4,285 cubic feet per secondDec 14, 2007: 18.80 ft, minor floodingFeb 8, 2008: 23.60 ft, moderate flooding; 10,000 cubic feet per secondMar 7, 2008: 17.23 ft, minor floodingMar 20, 2008: 18.46 ft, minor floodingDec 28, 2008: 17.80 ft, minor floodingFeb 12, 2009: 21.86 ft, moderate flooding; 7,890 cubic feet per secondMar 9, 2009: 21.88 ft, moderate flooding; 7,910 cubic feet per secondApr 6, 2009: 18.82 ft, minor flooding; 4,940 cubic feet per secondMar 14, 2010: 17.34 ft, minor flooding; 3,800 cubic feet per secondFeb 19, 2011: 19.53 ft, minor flooding; 5,550 cubic feet per secondMar 3, 2011: 22.49 ft, moderate flooding; 8,620 cubic feet per secondApr 29, 2011: 21.01 ft, moderate flooding; 6,980 cubic feet per secondMay 26, 2011: 19.65 ft, minor flooding; 5,661 cubic feet per secondNov 30, 2011: 20.14 ft, moderate flooding; 6,110 cubic feet per secondDec 6, 2011: 18.85 ft, minor flooding; 4,970 cubic feet per secondJan 18, 2012: 18.23 ft, minor flooding; 4,450 cubic feet per secondApr 12, 2013: 20.39 ft, moderate flooding; 6,350 cubic feet per secondDec 26, 2013: 18.68 ft, minor flooding; 4,820 cubic feet per secondFeb 25, 2014: 19.83 ft, minor flooding; 5,830 cubic feet per secondJun 18, 2015: 25.11 ft, major flooding; 12,100 cubic feet per secondJun 28, 2015: 21.21 ft, moderate flooding; 7,190 cubic feet per secondDec 29, 2015: 19.73 ft, minor flooding; 5,733 cubic feet per secondMar 15, 2016: 17.23 ft, minor flooding; 3,717 cubic feet per secondMay 26, 2017: 21.68 ft, moderate flooding; 7,700 cubic feet per secondFeb 25, 2018: 18.17 ft, minor flooding; 4,400 cubic feet per secondApr 28, 2019: 21.58 ft, moderate flooding; 7,590 cubic feet per secondJan 12, 2020: 18.92 ft, minor flooding; 5,030 cubic feet per secondMay 11, 2021: 18.85 ft, minor flooding; 4,970 cubic feet per second Highest, 26.92 ft, Jul 9, 2003 19401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, St. Marys River at Decatur 1930s: 5 1940s: 17 1950s: 28 1960s: 18 1970s: 21 1980s: 20 1990s: 31 2000s: 35 35 2010s: 18 2020s: 2 1930s1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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

The 50 highest of 195 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, St. Marys River at Decatur
1Jul 9, 200326.92+9.92Major15,000
2Jun 18, 201525.11+8.11Major12,100
3Mar 14, 198224.40+7.40Major10,900
4Feb 25, 198524.31+7.31Major10,300
5Feb 10, 195924.22+7.22Major11,300
6Jan 14, 200524.20+7.20Major10,800
7Jul 17, 199224.13+7.13Major10,400
8Dec 31, 199023.81+6.81Moderate9,580
9Feb 15, 195023.60+6.60Moderate10,800
10Feb 8, 200823.60+6.60Moderate10,000
11Mar 23, 197823.55+6.55Moderate10,100
12May 18, 194323.40+6.40Moderate12,000
13Jan 25, 199923.13+6.13Moderate—
14Jan 22, 197422.86+5.86Moderate9,860
15Jun 4, 198022.69+5.69Moderate8,710
16Mar 5, 197922.59+5.59Moderate8,560
17Mar 3, 201122.49+5.49Moderate8,620
18Apr 23, 197222.42+5.42Moderate7,470
19Dec 19, 197722.32+5.32Moderate8,160
20Feb 18, 197622.26+5.26Moderate8,090
21Mar 14, 193922.10+5.10Moderate8,800
22Jan 16, 193722.00+5.00Moderate8,580
23Apr 12, 194422.00+5.00Moderate8,580
24Jun 4, 199721.99+4.99Moderate—
25Apr 29, 195921.98+4.98Moderate8,400
26Feb 3, 196821.97+4.97Moderate5,950
27Dec 11, 196621.92+4.92Moderate5,910
28Mar 9, 200921.88+4.88Moderate7,910
29Feb 12, 200921.86+4.86Moderate7,890
30Mar 1, 199721.84+4.84Moderate—
31Apr 26, 196121.80+4.80Moderate8,100
32May 26, 201721.68+4.68Moderate7,700
33Jan 6, 200521.61+4.61Moderate—
34Apr 28, 201921.58+4.58Moderate7,590
35Mar 4, 195521.57+4.57Moderate7,740
36May 11, 200321.54+4.54Moderate—
37Apr 8, 195721.49+4.49Moderate7,700
38Jun 15, 198121.48+4.48Moderate7,000
39Jun 28, 201521.21+4.21Moderate7,190
40May 29, 199621.12+4.12Moderate—
41Jul 5, 199321.11+4.11Moderate—
42Apr 10, 193821.10+4.10Moderate6,740
43Apr 29, 201121.01+4.01Moderate6,980
44Jan 16, 200720.96+3.96Moderate—
45Jan 21, 199620.95+3.95Moderate—
46Jan 11, 195020.93+3.93Moderate6,410
47Jan 27, 195020.91+3.91Moderate6,410
48Aug 5, 200320.75+3.75Moderate—
49Jun 14, 200420.68+3.68Moderate—
50Apr 23, 196420.66+3.66Moderate6,450

The worst floods along the St. Marys River

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

July 9, 2003: 26.92 ft here, major flooding

  • Fort WayneIN · Jul 9, 2003 · 21.20 ft · Major · its highest

June 18, 2015: 25.11 ft here, major flooding

  • Fort WayneIN · Jun 19, 2015 · 19.88 ft · Major
  • RockfordOH · Jun 18, 2015 · 14.68 ft · Minor · its highest

March 14, 1982: 24.40 ft here, major flooding

Gauges on the St. Marys River

In USGS station-number order, which runs downstream within a river basin.

Flood gauges on the St. Marys River
RockfordOH13.014.68 ft, Jun 18, 20150
Decatur this gaugeIN17.026.92 ft, Jul 9, 20037
Fort WayneIN14.021.20 ft, Jul 9, 20034

Other gauges in Adams County

Flood gauges in Adams County
Linn Grove11.014.76 ft, Jul 8, 20030

Adams County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Indiana

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge DCRI3, 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.