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Wakarusa River near Lawrence

Highest listed crest 31.59 ftFlood stage 23.0 ft127 crests since 1951

The Wakarusa River near Lawrence crested above flood stage 62 times among the 127 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1951 to 2021. The highest, 31.59 ft on July 12, 1951, was moderate flooding, 8.59 feet above flood stage.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
31.59 ft
July 12, 1951; 24,200 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
23.0 ft
Major flooding from 45.0 ft
Crests at major
0
62 above flood stage
Most recent flood crest
August 17, 2019
23.02 ft, minor flooding
Location
Douglas County
Near Lawrence (3.3 mi)

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Wakarusa River near Lawrence
Action stage18.042May 27, 2021The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)23.019Aug 17, 2019Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage25.043Aug 1, 2019Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage45.00—Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

127 crests from 1951 to 2021. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Wakarusa River near Lawrence, 1951 to 2021 01020304050ft Flood stage 23.0 ftMajor 45.0 ft Jul 12, 1951: 31.59 ft, moderate flooding; 24,200 cubic feet per secondMar 13, 1961: 17.92 ft, below flood stage; 2,970 cubic feet per secondMar 27, 1961: 27.32 ft, moderate flooding; 7,960 cubic feet per secondApr 9, 1961: 24.49 ft, minor flooding; 5,940 cubic feet per secondMay 6, 1961: 27.30 ft, moderate flooding; 7,940 cubic feet per secondMay 23, 1961: 27.56 ft, moderate flooding; 8,160 cubic feet per secondSep 13, 1961: 28.29 ft, moderate flooding; 8,950 cubic feet per secondSep 24, 1961: 16.88 ft, below flood stage; 2,610 cubic feet per secondOct 11, 1961: 22.42 ft, action stage; 4,450 cubic feet per secondNov 2, 1961: 28.12 ft, moderate flooding; 8,720 cubic feet per secondNov 16, 1961: 21.19 ft, action stage; 3,800 cubic feet per secondJan 28, 1962: 18.15 ft, action stage; 2,600 cubic feet per secondFeb 1, 1962: 20.58 ft, action stage; 3,530 cubic feet per secondMar 21, 1962: 22.93 ft, action stage; 4,760 cubic feet per secondSep 25, 1962: 19.57 ft, action stage; 3,130 cubic feet per secondMar 5, 1963: 15.89 ft, below flood stage; 1,980 cubic feet per secondJun 19, 1964: 23.02 ft, minor flooding; 5,010 cubic feet per secondJun 23, 1964: 21.76 ft, action stage; 4,280 cubic feet per secondSep 4, 1964: 18.54 ft, action stage; 2,920 cubic feet per secondMar 17, 1965: 20.18 ft, action stage; 3,470 cubic feet per secondJun 6, 1965: 28.52 ft, moderate flooding; 9,780 cubic feet per secondJun 10, 1965: 19.52 ft, action stage; 3,210 cubic feet per secondJun 14, 1965: 24.11 ft, minor flooding; 5,370 cubic feet per secondJun 29, 1965: 26.55 ft, moderate flooding; 7,250 cubic feet per secondSep 22, 1965: 25.76 ft, moderate flooding; 6,510 cubic feet per secondJun 13, 1966: 15.15 ft, below flood stage; 1,840 cubic feet per secondApr 2, 1967: 19.11 ft, action stage; 3,040 cubic feet per secondApr 14, 1967: 19.65 ft, action stage; 3,260 cubic feet per secondJun 12, 1967: 28.90 ft, moderate flooding; 10,800 cubic feet per secondJun 21, 1967: 30.86 ft, moderate flooding; 2,280 cubic feet per secondJun 25, 1967: 23.28 ft, minor flooding; 4,940 cubic feet per secondOct 8, 1967: 23.04 ft, minor flooding; 4,820 cubic feet per secondOct 16, 1967: 18.23 ft, action stage; 2,730 cubic feet per secondApr 23, 1968: 25.28 ft, moderate flooding; 6,120 cubic feet per secondJun 22, 1968: 19.36 ft, action stage; 3,140 cubic feet per secondJun 27, 1968: 29.87 ft, moderate flooding; 12,300 cubic feet per secondJul 26, 1968: 27.67 ft, moderate flooding; 8,500 cubic feet per secondJul 31, 1968: 26.54 ft, moderate flooding; 7,240 cubic feet per secondAug 4, 1968: 27.59 ft, moderate flooding; 8,380 cubic feet per secondAug 10, 1968: 30.26 ft, moderate flooding; 14,200 cubic feet per secondOct 18, 1968: 19.88 ft, action stage; 3,350 cubic feet per secondApr 18, 1969: 19.10 ft, action stage; 3,040 cubic feet per secondApr 28, 1969: 28.17 ft, moderate flooding; 8,700 cubic feet per secondJul 9, 1969: 26.65 ft, moderate flooding; 7,140 cubic feet per secondJul 20, 1969: 18.37 ft, action stage; 2,610 cubic feet per secondApr 19, 1970: 22.49 ft, action stage; 4,300 cubic feet per secondJun 4, 1970: 27.83 ft, moderate flooding; 8,290 cubic feet per secondJun 12, 1970: 20.82 ft, action stage; 2,900 cubic feet per secondSep 23, 1970: 23.44 ft, minor flooding; 4,110 cubic feet per secondJan 3, 1971: 19.70 ft, action stage; 2,560 cubic feet per secondFeb 27, 1971: 20.28 ft, action stage; 2,730 cubic feet per secondDec 15, 1971: 18.53 ft, action stage; 2,670 cubic feet per secondApr 21, 1972: 22.79 ft, action stage; 4,440 cubic feet per secondMay 1, 1972: 25.94 ft, moderate flooding; 6,500 cubic feet per secondMay 7, 1972: 21.62 ft, action stage; 3,860 cubic feet per secondNov 14, 1972: 18.84 ft, action stage; 2,770 cubic feet per secondDec 30, 1972: 21.43 ft, action stage; 3,620 cubic feet per secondFeb 2, 1973: 28.15 ft, moderate flooding; 7,620 cubic feet per secondMar 7, 1973: 27.29 ft, moderate flooding; 7,000 cubic feet per secondMar 11, 1973: 24.02 ft, minor flooding; 4,910 cubic feet per secondMar 20, 1973: 24.17 ft, minor flooding; 5,000 cubic feet per secondMar 25, 1973: 28.98 ft, moderate flooding; 6,790 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 1973: 28.40 ft, moderate flooding; 6,440 cubic feet per secondApr 17, 1973: 28.07 ft, moderate flooding; 6,240 cubic feet per secondMay 2, 1973: 24.36 ft, minor flooding; 4,280 cubic feet per secondMay 7, 1973: 29.31 ft, moderate flooding; 7,020 cubic feet per secondMay 23, 1973: 24.99 ft, minor flooding; 4,600 cubic feet per secondMay 27, 1973: 22.99 ft, action stage; 3,700 cubic feet per secondJul 20, 1973: 30.50 ft, moderate flooding; 7,850 cubic feet per secondSep 28, 1973: 30.82 ft, moderate flooding; 8,070 cubic feet per secondOct 11, 1973: 31.01 ft, moderate flooding; 8,210 cubic feet per secondNov 20, 1973: 25.37 ft, moderate flooding; 4,780 cubic feet per secondDec 4, 1973: 30.65 ft, moderate flooding; 7,960 cubic feet per secondJan 19, 1974: 20.32 ft, action stage; 2,800 cubic feet per secondMay 14, 1974: 25.87 ft, moderate flooding; 5,040 cubic feet per secondJun 9, 1974: 24.58 ft, minor flooding; 4,230 cubic feet per secondNov 3, 1974: 26.10 ft, moderate flooding; 5,150 cubic feet per secondJun 11, 1975: 19.32 ft, action stage; 2,500 cubic feet per secondMay 24, 1976: 13.84 ft, below flood stage; 1,120 cubic feet per secondJun 21, 1977: 26.03 ft, moderate flooding; 5,820 cubic feet per secondJun 26, 1977: 22.88 ft, action stage; 4,100 cubic feet per secondSep 13, 1977: 22.67 ft, action stage; 4,000 cubic feet per secondNov 9, 1977: 24.01 ft, minor flooding; 4,660 cubic feet per secondJun 28, 1979: 17.18 ft, below flood stage; 1,740 cubic feet per secondMar 30, 1980: 15.35 ft, below flood stage; 1,450 cubic feet per secondJul 27, 1981: 26.77 ft, moderate flooding; 5,770 cubic feet per secondJun 15, 1982: 19.35 ft, action stage; 3,330 cubic feet per secondMay 1, 1983: 20.06 ft, action stage; 3,530 cubic feet per secondJun 21, 1984: 23.76 ft, minor flooding; 4,590 cubic feet per secondSep 29, 1985: 17.94 ft, below flood stage; 2,950 cubic feet per secondOct 10, 1985: 25.06 ft, moderate flooding; 4,980 cubic feet per secondMar 18, 1987: 19.43 ft, action stage; 3,240 cubic feet per secondJun 30, 1988: 28.55 ft, moderate flooding; 9,230 cubic feet per secondSep 8, 1989: 14.04 ft, below flood stage; 1,740 cubic feet per secondMay 16, 1990: 24.18 ft, minor flooding; 4,790 cubic feet per secondJun 16, 1991: 17.03 ft, below flood stage; 2,540 cubic feet per secondMar 20, 1992: 14.76 ft, below flood stage; 2,060 cubic feet per secondJul 10, 1993: 26.00 ft, moderate flooding; 5,320 cubic feet per secondJul 22, 1993: 24.03 ft, minor floodingApr 28, 1994: 20.46 ft, action stage; 3,110 cubic feet per secondMay 17, 1995: 24.22 ft, minor flooding; 4,250 cubic feet per secondJun 6, 1996: 27.15 ft, moderate flooding; 6,770 cubic feet per secondApr 11, 1997: 18.66 ft, action stage; 3,190 cubic feet per secondJul 30, 1998: 17.34 ft, below flood stage; 2,790 cubic feet per secondOct 5, 1998: 28.20 ft, moderate floodingJun 20, 2000: 9.73 ft, below flood stage; 761 cubic feet per secondApr 10, 2001: 13.32 ft, below flood stage; 1,620 cubic feet per secondMay 25, 2002: 14.70 ft, below flood stage; 1,900 cubic feet per secondAug 31, 2003: 9.64 ft, below flood stage; 845 cubic feet per secondAug 28, 2004: 23.18 ft, minor flooding; 4,220 cubic feet per secondJun 11, 2005: 18.02 ft, action stage; 2,700 cubic feet per secondApr 30, 2006: 14.40 ft, below flood stage; 2,030 cubic feet per secondMay 7, 2007: 20.16 ft, action stage; 3,750 cubic feet per secondMar 17, 2008: 15.15 ft, below flood stage; 2,170 cubic feet per secondMay 16, 2009: 20.85 ft, action stage; 4,330 cubic feet per secondMay 20, 2010: 18.50 ft, action stage; 3,500 cubic feet per secondFeb 27, 2011: 15.03 ft, below flood stage; 2,530 cubic feet per secondFeb 29, 2012: 7.87 ft, below flood stage; 603 cubic feet per secondMay 31, 2013: 13.58 ft, below flood stage; 2,140 cubic feet per secondJun 10, 2014: 11.78 ft, below flood stage; 1,650 cubic feet per secondJun 10, 2015: 19.95 ft, action stage; 3,950 cubic feet per secondMay 27, 2016: 25.06 ft, moderate floodingAug 22, 2017: 24.73 ft, minor floodingAug 1, 2019: 28.90 ft, moderate flooding; 10,000 cubic feet per secondAug 17, 2019: 23.02 ft, minor floodingAug 27, 2020: 16.80 ft, below flood stage; 2,500 cubic feet per secondMay 27, 2021: 20.09 ft, action stage; 3,830 cubic feet per second Highest, 31.59 ft, Jul 12, 1951 1960197019801990200020102020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Wakarusa River near Lawrence 1950s: 1 1960s: 23 23 1970s: 23 1980s: 4 1990s: 6 2000s: 1 2010s: 4 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 127 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Wakarusa River near Lawrence
1Jul 12, 195131.59+8.59Moderate24,200
2Oct 11, 197331.01+8.01Moderate8,210
3Jun 21, 196730.86+7.86Moderate2,280
4Sep 28, 197330.82+7.82Moderate8,070
5Dec 4, 197330.65+7.65Moderate7,960
6Jul 20, 197330.50+7.50Moderate7,850
7Aug 10, 196830.26+7.26Moderate14,200
8Jun 27, 196829.87+6.87Moderate12,300
9May 7, 197329.31+6.31Moderate7,020
10Mar 25, 197328.98+5.98Moderate6,790
11Jun 12, 196728.90+5.90Moderate10,800
12Aug 1, 201928.90+5.90Moderate10,000
13Jun 30, 198828.55+5.55Moderate9,230
14Jun 6, 196528.52+5.52Moderate9,780
15Mar 31, 197328.40+5.40Moderate6,440
16Sep 13, 196128.29+5.29Moderate8,950
17Oct 5, 199828.20+5.20Moderate—
18Apr 28, 196928.17+5.17Moderate8,700
19Feb 2, 197328.15+5.15Moderate7,620
20Nov 2, 196128.12+5.12Moderate8,720
21Apr 17, 197328.07+5.07Moderate6,240
22Jun 4, 197027.83+4.83Moderate8,290
23Jul 26, 196827.67+4.67Moderate8,500
24Aug 4, 196827.59+4.59Moderate8,380
25May 23, 196127.56+4.56Moderate8,160
26Mar 27, 196127.32+4.32Moderate7,960
27May 6, 196127.30+4.30Moderate7,940
28Mar 7, 197327.29+4.29Moderate7,000
29Jun 6, 199627.15+4.15Moderate6,770
30Jul 27, 198126.77+3.77Moderate5,770
31Jul 9, 196926.65+3.65Moderate7,140
32Jun 29, 196526.55+3.55Moderate7,250
33Jul 31, 196826.54+3.54Moderate7,240
34Nov 3, 197426.10+3.10Moderate5,150
35Jun 21, 197726.03+3.03Moderate5,820
36Jul 10, 199326.00+3.00Moderate5,320
37May 1, 197225.94+2.94Moderate6,500
38May 14, 197425.87+2.87Moderate5,040
39Sep 22, 196525.76+2.76Moderate6,510
40Nov 20, 197325.37+2.37Moderate4,780
41Apr 23, 196825.28+2.28Moderate6,120
42Oct 10, 198525.06+2.06Moderate4,980
43May 27, 201625.06+2.06Moderate—
44May 23, 197324.99+1.99Minor4,600
45Aug 22, 201724.73+1.73Minor—
46Jun 9, 197424.58+1.58Minor4,230
47Apr 9, 196124.49+1.49Minor5,940
48May 2, 197324.36+1.36Minor4,280
49May 17, 199524.22+1.22Minor4,250
50May 16, 199024.18+1.18Minor4,790

Gauges on the Wakarusa River

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

Flood gauges on the Wakarusa River
WakarusaKS15.028.60 ft, May 8, 20071
Lawrence this gaugeKS23.031.59 ft, Jul 12, 19510

Other gauges in Douglas County

Flood gauges in Douglas County
Lawrence18.029.90 ft, Jul 1, 18442

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge LAWK1, 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.