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Kansas River at Ft. Riley

Highest listed crest 34.50 ftFlood stage 21.0 ft77 crests since 1951

The Kansas River at Ft. Riley crested at major flood stage 2 times among the 77 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1951 to 2023. The highest, 34.50 ft on July 1, 1951, was major flooding, 13.50 feet above flood stage. 4 other gauges on the Kansas River crested above flood stage within a week of it.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
34.50 ft
July 1, 1951
Flood stage
21.0 ft
Major flooding from 33.0 ft
Crests at major
2
29th of 171 gauges in Kansas
Most recent flood crest
July 26, 1993
27.93 ft, moderate flooding
Location
Geary County
Near Junction City (5.2 mi), Manhattan (12.3 mi)

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Kansas River at Ft. Riley
Action stage17.011Jul 7, 2019The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)21.01Oct 14, 1973Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage26.01Jul 26, 1993Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage33.02Jul 13, 1951Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

77 crests from 1951 to 2023. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Kansas River at Ft. Riley, 1951 to 2023 010203040ft Flood stage 21.0 ftMajor 33.0 ft Jul 1, 1951: 34.50 ft, major floodingJul 13, 1951: 34.50 ft, major floodingJun 23, 1964: 14.88 ft, below flood stage; 17,700 cubic feet per secondJun 29, 1965: 17.40 ft, action stage; 27,500 cubic feet per secondAug 23, 1966: 11.50 ft, below flood stage; 8,950 cubic feet per secondSep 21, 1967: 17.55 ft, action stage; 26,800 cubic feet per secondOct 7, 1967: 18.31 ft, action stage; 29,900 cubic feet per secondJun 12, 1969: 15.94 ft, below flood stage; 21,500 cubic feet per secondOct 4, 1970: 14.03 ft, below flood stage; 15,100 cubic feet per secondMay 23, 1971: 18.46 ft, action stage; 34,300 cubic feet per secondNov 2, 1971: 11.92 ft, below flood stage; 9,520 cubic feet per secondJul 18, 1972: 13.05 ft, below flood stage; 12,600 cubic feet per secondOct 1, 1973: 17.44 ft, action stage; 25,700 cubic feet per secondOct 14, 1973: 23.74 ft, minor flooding; 59,400 cubic feet per secondJun 26, 1975: 14.36 ft, below flood stage; 17,000 cubic feet per secondApr 21, 1976: 12.46 ft, below flood stage; 12,900 cubic feet per secondApr 29, 1976: 13.05 ft, below flood stage; 14,400 cubic feet per secondMay 7, 1976: 11.67 ft, below flood stage; 10,900 cubic feet per secondMay 31, 1976: 8.81 ft, below flood stage; 5,220 cubic feet per secondJul 18, 1976: 9.35 ft, below flood stage; 6,060 cubic feet per secondMar 15, 1978: 11.24 ft, below flood stage; 9,910 cubic feet per secondMar 25, 1978: 10.69 ft, below flood stage; 8,680 cubic feet per secondMay 27, 1978: 9.58 ft, below flood stage; 6,460 cubic feet per secondAug 4, 1978: 9.93 ft, below flood stage; 7,110 cubic feet per secondSep 22, 1978: 11.16 ft, below flood stage; 9,740 cubic feet per secondMar 4, 1979: 13.03 ft, below flood stage; 14,300 cubic feet per secondMar 20, 1979: 14.36 ft, below flood stage; 18,000 cubic feet per secondMar 25, 1979: 16.03 ft, below flood stage; 22,900 cubic feet per secondApr 19, 1979: 10.44 ft, below flood stage; 8,130 cubic feet per secondMay 5, 1979: 9.55 ft, below flood stage; 6,360 cubic feet per secondJun 28, 1979: 8.81 ft, below flood stage; 5,110 cubic feet per secondJul 7, 1979: 10.87 ft, below flood stage; 9,080 cubic feet per secondJul 18, 1979: 11.59 ft, below flood stage; 10,700 cubic feet per secondJul 28, 1979: 10.94 ft, below flood stage; 9,240 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 1980: 16.99 ft, below flood stage; 26,500 cubic feet per secondJul 30, 1981: 11.12 ft, below flood stage; 9,640 cubic feet per secondJul 10, 1982: 16.80 ft, below flood stage; 25,700 cubic feet per secondApr 7, 1983: 11.53 ft, below flood stage; 9,890 cubic feet per secondMay 1, 1984: 14.93 ft, below flood stage; 19,600 cubic feet per secondOct 11, 1985: 16.51 ft, below flood stage; 24,500 cubic feet per secondApr 16, 1987: 17.02 ft, action stage; 25,900 cubic feet per secondOct 3, 1988: 7.31 ft, below flood stage; 3,420 cubic feet per secondSep 10, 1989: 12.37 ft, below flood stage; 11,700 cubic feet per secondAug 17, 1990: 13.90 ft, below flood stage; 15,800 cubic feet per secondJun 6, 1991: 10.39 ft, below flood stage; 7,400 cubic feet per secondJul 24, 1992: 16.40 ft, below flood stage; 23,900 cubic feet per secondJul 26, 1993: 27.93 ft, moderate flooding; 87,600 cubic feet per secondOct 1, 1993: 11.57 ft, below flood stage; 14,300 cubic feet per secondMay 28, 1995: 18.21 ft, action stage; 31,300 cubic feet per secondJun 2, 1996: 14.86 ft, below flood stage; 22,000 cubic feet per secondNov 17, 1997: 12.04 ft, below flood stage; 15,000 cubic feet per secondApr 1, 1998: 14.03 ft, below flood stage; 19,300 cubic feet per secondMay 24, 1999: 18.80 ft, action stage; 33,100 cubic feet per secondMar 26, 2000: 11.45 ft, below flood stage; 13,200 cubic feet per secondFeb 26, 2001: 10.97 ft, below flood stage; 12,200 cubic feet per secondJul 17, 2002: 5.36 ft, below flood stage; 2,790 cubic feet per secondSep 16, 2003: 9.22 ft, below flood stage; 7,430 cubic feet per secondMar 6, 2004: 10.24 ft, below flood stage; 9,070 cubic feet per secondJun 4, 2005: 17.84 ft, action stage; 29,200 cubic feet per secondApr 3, 2006: 7.87 ft, below flood stage; 2,910 cubic feet per secondMay 8, 2007: 17.45 ft, action stage; 28,200 cubic feet per secondJun 17, 2008: 11.96 ft, below flood stage; 10,800 cubic feet per secondApr 28, 2009: 13.97 ft, below flood stage; 14,700 cubic feet per secondJul 23, 2010: 13.90 ft, below flood stage; 16,200 cubic feet per secondJun 4, 2011: 16.97 ft, below flood stage; 26,400 cubic feet per secondApr 17, 2012: 10.27 ft, below flood stage; 7,710 cubic feet per secondAug 3, 2013: 15.91 ft, below flood stage; 22,300 cubic feet per secondJun 12, 2014: 12.35 ft, below flood stage; 12,500 cubic feet per secondMay 29, 2015: 11.34 ft, below flood stage; 10,100 cubic feet per secondMay 28, 2016: 15.84 ft, below flood stage; 22,100 cubic feet per secondMay 26, 2017: 15.07 ft, below flood stage; 19,300 cubic feet per secondSep 7, 2018: 10.73 ft, below flood stage; 8,610 cubic feet per secondJul 7, 2019: 20.82 ft, action stage; 36,800 cubic feet per secondMay 26, 2020: 13.84 ft, below flood stage; 16,000 cubic feet per secondMay 28, 2021: 12.51 ft, below flood stage; 12,600 cubic feet per secondJul 3, 2022: 11.27 ft, below flood stage; 10,200 cubic feet per secondMay 18, 2023: 5.53 ft, below flood stage; 952 cubic feet per second Highest, 34.50 ft, Jul 1, 1951 1960197019801990200020102020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Kansas River at Ft. Riley 1950s: 2 2 1960s: 0 1970s: 1 1980s: 0 1990s: 1 2000s: 0 2010s: 0 2020s: 0 1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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 77 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Kansas River at Ft. Riley
1Jul 1, 195134.50+13.50Major—
2Jul 13, 195134.50+13.50Major—
3Jul 26, 199327.93+6.93Moderate87,600
4Oct 14, 197323.74+2.74Minor59,400
5Jul 7, 201920.82−0.18Action36,800
6May 24, 199918.80−2.20Action33,100
7May 23, 197118.46−2.54Action34,300
8Oct 7, 196718.31−2.69Action29,900
9May 28, 199518.21−2.79Action31,300
10Jun 4, 200517.84−3.16Action29,200
11Sep 21, 196717.55−3.45Action26,800
12May 8, 200717.45−3.55Action28,200
13Oct 1, 197317.44−3.56Action25,700
14Jun 29, 196517.40−3.60Action27,500
15Apr 16, 198717.02−3.98Action25,900
16Mar 31, 198016.99−4.01Below flood stage26,500
17Jun 4, 201116.97−4.03Below flood stage26,400
18Jul 10, 198216.80−4.20Below flood stage25,700
19Oct 11, 198516.51−4.49Below flood stage24,500
20Jul 24, 199216.40−4.60Below flood stage23,900
21Mar 25, 197916.03−4.97Below flood stage22,900
22Jun 12, 196915.94−5.06Below flood stage21,500
23Aug 3, 201315.91−5.09Below flood stage22,300
24May 28, 201615.84−5.16Below flood stage22,100
25May 26, 201715.07−5.93Below flood stage19,300
26May 1, 198414.93−6.07Below flood stage19,600
27Jun 23, 196414.88−6.12Below flood stage17,700
28Jun 2, 199614.86−6.14Below flood stage22,000
29Jun 26, 197514.36−6.64Below flood stage17,000
30Mar 20, 197914.36−6.64Below flood stage18,000
31Oct 4, 197014.03−6.97Below flood stage15,100
32Apr 1, 199814.03−6.97Below flood stage19,300
33Apr 28, 200913.97−7.03Below flood stage14,700
34Aug 17, 199013.90−7.10Below flood stage15,800
35Jul 23, 201013.90−7.10Below flood stage16,200
36May 26, 202013.84−7.16Below flood stage16,000
37Jul 18, 197213.05−7.95Below flood stage12,600
38Apr 29, 197613.05−7.95Below flood stage14,400
39Mar 4, 197913.03−7.97Below flood stage14,300
40May 28, 202112.51−8.49Below flood stage12,600
41Apr 21, 197612.46−8.54Below flood stage12,900
42Sep 10, 198912.37−8.63Below flood stage11,700
43Jun 12, 201412.35−8.65Below flood stage12,500
44Nov 17, 199712.04−8.96Below flood stage15,000
45Jun 17, 200811.96−9.04Below flood stage10,800
46Nov 2, 197111.92−9.08Below flood stage9,520
47May 7, 197611.67−9.33Below flood stage10,900
48Jul 18, 197911.59−9.41Below flood stage10,700
49Oct 1, 199311.57−9.43Below flood stage14,300
50Apr 7, 198311.53−9.47Below flood stage9,890

The worst floods along the Kansas River

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

July 1, 1951: 34.50 ft here, major flooding

  • TopekaKS · Jun 30, 1951 · 33.90 ft · Moderate
  • ManhattanKS · Jun 29, 1951 · 26.76 ft · Moderate
  • LawrenceKS · Jun 30, 1951 · 24.00 ft · Moderate
  • WamegoKS · Jun 30, 1951 · 25.88 ft · Minor

July 13, 1951: 34.50 ft here, major flooding

  • 23rd Street - Kansas City - KSKS · Jul 14, 1951 · 61.30 ft · Major · its highest
  • De SotoKS · Jul 13, 1951 · 37.30 ft · Major · its highest
  • LecomptonKS · Jul 13, 1951 · 30.23 ft · Major · its highest
  • LawrenceKS · Jul 13, 1951 · 29.90 ft · Major
  • TopekaKS · Jul 13, 1951 · 40.80 ft · Moderate
  • ManhattanKS · Jul 13, 1951 · 33.39 ft · Moderate
  • WamegoKS · Jul 13, 1951 · 30.56 ft · Moderate · its highest

July 26, 1993: 27.93 ft here, moderate flooding

  • 23rd Street - Kansas City - KSKS · Jul 28, 1993 · 54.80 ft · Moderate
  • Turner BridgeKS · Jul 27, 1993 · 53.64 ft · Moderate · its highest
  • TopekaKS · Jul 24, 1993 · 34.97 ft · Moderate
  • ManhattanKS · Jul 25, 1993 · 29.92 ft · Moderate
  • WamegoKS · Jul 26, 1993 · 27.33 ft · Moderate
  • LawrenceKS · Jul 27, 1993 · 26.80 ft · Moderate
  • LecomptonKS · Jul 27, 1993 · 24.65 ft · Moderate
  • De SotoKS · Jul 27, 1993 · 26.91 ft · Minor
  • BelvueKS · Jul 26, 1993 · 26.00 ft · Minor · its highest

Gauges on the Kansas River

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

Flood gauges on the Kansas River
23rd Street - Kansas City - KSKS33.061.30 ft, Jul 14, 19511
De SotoKS26.037.30 ft, Jul 13, 19511
Ft. Riley this gaugeKS21.034.50 ft, Jul 1, 19512
LawrenceKS18.029.90 ft, Jul 1, 18442
LecomptonKS17.030.23 ft, Jul 13, 19512
ManhattanKS18.040.00 ft, Jun 1, 18440
TopekaKS26.047.20 ft, Jun 1, 18441
Turner BridgeKS41.053.64 ft, Jul 27, 19930
WamegoKS19.030.56 ft, Jul 13, 19510
BelvueKS20.026.00 ft, Jul 26, 19930
Lake QuiviraKS26.028.14 ft, May 28, 20160

Other gauges in Geary County

Flood gauges in Geary County
Junction City21.028.17 ft, May 9, 20190
Junction City22.035.90 ft, Jul 12, 19510

Geary County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Kansas

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge FTRK1, 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.