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Spring River near Quapaw

Highest listed crest 46.15 ftFlood stage 20.0 ft200 crests since 1895

The Spring River near Quapaw crested at major flood stage 15 times among the 200 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1895 to 2026. The highest, 46.15 ft on September 26, 1993, was major flooding, 26.15 feet above flood stage. 1 other gauge on the Spring River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 1 at its own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
46.15 ft
September 26, 1993; 230,000 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
20.0 ft
Major flooding from 30.0 ft
Crests at major
15
12th of 92 gauges in Oklahoma
Most recent flood crest
June 27, 2026
23.11 ft, minor flooding
Location
Ottawa County
Near Miami (7.6 mi)

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Spring River near Quapaw
Action stage20.00—The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)20.058Jun 27, 2026Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage24.032May 1, 2019Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage30.015May 7, 2022Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

200 crests from 1895 to 2026. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Spring River near Quapaw, 1895 to 2026 1020304050ft Flood stage 20.0 ftMajor 30.0 ft Dec 1, 1895: 43.00 ft, major floodingMar 13, 1935: 30.00 ft, major floodingJul 24, 1940: 11.60 ft, below flood stage; 8,480 cubic feet per secondApr 16, 1941: 20.40 ft, minor flooding; 26,300 cubic feet per secondApr 20, 1941: 29.66 ft, moderate flooding; 63,200 cubic feet per secondSep 9, 1941: 19.11 ft, below flood stage; 22,600 cubic feet per secondOct 6, 1941: 27.92 ft, moderate flooding; 50,300 cubic feet per secondOct 17, 1941: 20.36 ft, minor flooding; 25,900 cubic feet per secondOct 26, 1941: 18.56 ft, below flood stage; 21,400 cubic feet per secondNov 1, 1941: 29.31 ft, moderate flooding; 56,200 cubic feet per secondApr 9, 1942: 20.27 ft, minor flooding; 25,700 cubic feet per secondMay 11, 1942: 28.20 ft, moderate floodingJun 21, 1942: 17.58 ft, below flood stage; 19,100 cubic feet per secondSep 7, 1942: 17.90 ft, below flood stage; 19,800 cubic feet per secondSep 19, 1942: 19.22 ft, below flood stage; 23,300 cubic feet per secondDec 27, 1942: 22.18 ft, minor flooding; 30,800 cubic feet per secondMay 11, 1943: 28.20 ft, moderate flooding; 54,500 cubic feet per secondMay 19, 1943: 43.40 ft, major flooding; 190,000 cubic feet per secondMay 24, 1943: 19.60 ft, below flood stage; 24,300 cubic feet per secondJun 5, 1943: 18.70 ft, below flood stage; 21,800 cubic feet per secondMar 19, 1944: 17.27 ft, below flood stage; 20,000 cubic feet per secondApr 11, 1944: 19.62 ft, below flood stage; 26,200 cubic feet per secondJun 21, 1944: 22.77 ft, minor flooding; 36,100 cubic feet per secondMar 20, 1945: 19.37 ft, below flood stage; 25,600 cubic feet per secondApr 16, 1945: 29.60 ft, moderate flooding; 67,900 cubic feet per secondApr 22, 1945: 19.56 ft, below flood stage; 28,000 cubic feet per secondMay 17, 1945: 18.52 ft, below flood stage; 24,600 cubic feet per secondMay 28, 1945: 20.26 ft, minor flooding; 30,200 cubic feet per secondJun 7, 1945: 22.20 ft, minor flooding; 36,600 cubic feet per secondJun 18, 1945: 19.17 ft, below flood stage; 26,800 cubic feet per secondSep 25, 1945: 26.81 ft, moderate flooding; 54,300 cubic feet per secondMay 31, 1946: 22.26 ft, minor flooding; 37,000 cubic feet per secondApr 11, 1947: 19.78 ft, below flood stage; 28,600 cubic feet per secondApr 26, 1947: 26.46 ft, moderate flooding; 53,000 cubic feet per secondJun 23, 1948: 30.20 ft, major flooding; 74,600 cubic feet per secondJun 27, 1948: 21.85 ft, minor floodingJul 27, 1948: 21.85 ft, minor flooding; 35,600 cubic feet per secondJan 24, 1949: 16.83 ft, below flood stage; 20,100 cubic feet per secondFeb 16, 1949: 17.16 ft, below flood stage; 21,300 cubic feet per secondJan 14, 1950: 16.19 ft, below flood stage; 18,200 cubic feet per secondJul 10, 1950: 17.22 ft, below flood stage; 20,600 cubic feet per secondJul 19, 1950: 18.50 ft, below flood stage; 24,000 cubic feet per secondAug 6, 1950: 16.88 ft, below flood stage; 19,900 cubic feet per secondAug 29, 1950: 27.59 ft, moderate flooding; 54,800 cubic feet per secondFeb 21, 1951: 21.52 ft, minor flooding; 33,800 cubic feet per secondJun 22, 1951: 17.97 ft, below flood stage; 23,500 cubic feet per secondJun 30, 1951: 20.80 ft, minor flooding; 31,600 cubic feet per secondJul 5, 1951: 18.62 ft, below flood stage; 25,200 cubic feet per secondJul 11, 1951: 16.83 ft, below flood stage; 20,300 cubic feet per secondSep 13, 1951: 18.23 ft, below flood stage; 24,100 cubic feet per secondNov 12, 1951: 18.09 ft, below flood stage; 24,100 cubic feet per secondNov 16, 1951: 16.56 ft, below flood stage; 20,000 cubic feet per secondFeb 3, 1952: 19.72 ft, below flood stage; 28,900 cubic feet per secondApr 24, 1953: 12.90 ft, below flood stage; 11,500 cubic feet per secondSep 30, 1954: 12.34 ft, below flood stage; 9,400 cubic feet per secondJun 28, 1955: 20.20 ft, minor flooding; 29,800 cubic feet per secondJul 24, 1956: 14.10 ft, below flood stage; 12,700 cubic feet per secondMay 25, 1957: 25.40 ft, moderate flooding; 49,700 cubic feet per secondJun 3, 1957: 20.59 ft, minor flooding; 32,100 cubic feet per secondJun 11, 1957: 27.00 ft, moderate flooding; 56,000 cubic feet per secondJun 15, 1957: 21.80 ft, minor flooding; 36,300 cubic feet per secondMar 24, 1958: 16.87 ft, below flood stage; 20,400 cubic feet per secondJul 12, 1958: 20.20 ft, minor flooding; 30,800 cubic feet per secondJul 18, 1958: 16.28 ft, below flood stage; 18,700 cubic feet per secondJul 25, 1958: 21.70 ft, minor flooding; 36,000 cubic feet per secondMar 5, 1959: 17.14 ft, below flood stage; 20,200 cubic feet per secondOct 3, 1959: 25.35 ft, moderate flooding; 49,600 cubic feet per secondOct 13, 1959: 21.80 ft, minor flooding; 34,900 cubic feet per secondMay 6, 1960: 19.09 ft, below flood stage; 25,900 cubic feet per secondMar 9, 1961: 25.03 ft, moderate floodingMay 1, 1961: 17.83 ft, below flood stage; 23,800 cubic feet per secondMay 9, 1961: 29.12 ft, moderate flooding; 66,200 cubic feet per secondMay 23, 1961: 16.47 ft, below flood stage; 19,900 cubic feet per secondSep 13, 1961: 17.25 ft, below flood stage; 22,000 cubic feet per secondSep 22, 1962: 17.66 ft, below flood stage; 23,500 cubic feet per secondJun 16, 1963: 11.59 ft, below flood stage; 8,480 cubic feet per secondApr 5, 1964: 17.10 ft, below flood stage; 21,700 cubic feet per secondJun 14, 1964: 25.03 ft, moderate flooding; 49,100 cubic feet per secondApr 4, 1965: 22.25 ft, minor flooding; 37,900 cubic feet per secondJun 7, 1966: 13.73 ft, below flood stage; 12,800 cubic feet per secondJun 29, 1967: 16.13 ft, below flood stage; 18,900 cubic feet per secondJul 6, 1967: 16.70 ft, below flood stage; 21,200 cubic feet per secondFeb 3, 1968: 18.00 ft, below flood stage; 24,400 cubic feet per secondMar 20, 1968: 17.04 ft, below flood stage; 22,400 cubic feet per secondMay 25, 1968: 17.28 ft, below flood stage; 22,500 cubic feet per secondMar 25, 1969: 17.80 ft, below flood stage; 24,400 cubic feet per secondMay 2, 1970: 24.20 ft, moderate flooding; 44,300 cubic feet per secondSep 7, 1971: 13.34 ft, below flood stage; 11,900 cubic feet per secondDec 15, 1971: 19.22 ft, below flood stage; 28,100 cubic feet per secondSep 8, 1972: 16.04 ft, below flood stage; 18,500 cubic feet per secondOct 22, 1972: 18.32 ft, below flood stage; 25,400 cubic feet per secondNov 2, 1972: 24.69 ft, moderate flooding; 47,900 cubic feet per secondNov 13, 1972: 19.87 ft, below flood stage; 30,000 cubic feet per secondJan 22, 1973: 20.10 ft, minor flooding; 30,700 cubic feet per secondMar 7, 1973: 17.84 ft, below flood stage; 23,900 cubic feet per secondMar 11, 1973: 22.26 ft, minor flooding; 38,100 cubic feet per secondMar 26, 1973: 19.84 ft, below flood stage; 29,900 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 1973: 19.14 ft, below flood stage; 27,800 cubic feet per secondApr 16, 1973: 19.94 ft, below flood stage; 30,200 cubic feet per secondApr 23, 1973: 19.41 ft, below flood stage; 28,600 cubic feet per secondMay 7, 1973: 22.02 ft, minor flooding; 37,200 cubic feet per secondNov 26, 1973: 23.44 ft, minor flooding; 42,700 cubic feet per secondDec 5, 1973: 21.17 ft, minor flooding; 34,200 cubic feet per secondDec 24, 1973: 16.11 ft, below flood stage; 18,800 cubic feet per secondMar 12, 1974: 30.24 ft, major flooding; 78,400 cubic feet per secondJun 9, 1974: 24.63 ft, moderate flooding; 48,600 cubic feet per secondNov 5, 1974: 26.41 ft, moderate flooding; 57,000 cubic feet per secondJan 31, 1975: 19.69 ft, below flood stage; 29,400 cubic feet per secondFeb 23, 1975: 17.37 ft, below flood stage; 22,200 cubic feet per secondMar 28, 1975: 18.59 ft, below flood stage; 25,800 cubic feet per secondApr 21, 1976: 15.81 ft, below flood stage; 18,700 cubic feet per secondJun 25, 1976: 17.60 ft, below flood stage; 22,900 cubic feet per secondJul 4, 1976: 32.94 ft, major flooding; 104,000 cubic feet per secondJun 22, 1977: 21.39 ft, minor flooding; 35,400 cubic feet per secondSep 29, 1977: 17.82 ft, below flood stage; 23,500 cubic feet per secondMar 25, 1978: 19.43 ft, below flood stage; 29,400 cubic feet per secondMay 22, 1979: 19.76 ft, below flood stage; 30,600 cubic feet per secondNov 21, 1979: 21.74 ft, minor flooding; 37,800 cubic feet per secondJun 15, 1981: 14.75 ft, below flood stage; 15,800 cubic feet per secondJan 31, 1982: 17.29 ft, below flood stage; 22,700 cubic feet per secondJun 17, 1982: 15.65 ft, below flood stage; 18,200 cubic feet per secondApr 6, 1983: 16.69 ft, below flood stage; 20,900 cubic feet per secondApr 26, 1983: 21.04 ft, minor flooding; 35,200 cubic feet per secondMay 1, 1983: 19.30 ft, below flood stage; 29,000 cubic feet per secondJul 5, 1983: 17.07 ft, below flood stage; 22,000 cubic feet per secondOct 21, 1983: 18.94 ft, below flood stage; 27,800 cubic feet per secondMar 4, 1984: 18.43 ft, below flood stage; 26,200 cubic feet per secondMar 19, 1984: 19.97 ft, below flood stage; 31,300 cubic feet per secondApr 22, 1984: 16.40 ft, below flood stage; 20,000 cubic feet per secondJan 1, 1985: 21.60 ft, minor flooding; 37,300 cubic feet per secondFeb 24, 1985: 33.59 ft, major flooding; 105,000 cubic feet per secondMar 4, 1985: 16.72 ft, below flood stage; 21,000 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 1985: 20.05 ft, minor flooding; 31,600 cubic feet per secondMay 13, 1985: 16.09 ft, below flood stage; 19,300 cubic feet per secondJun 23, 1985: 20.61 ft, minor flooding; 33,600 cubic feet per secondAug 22, 1985: 18.12 ft, below flood stage; 25,200 cubic feet per secondNov 15, 1985: 25.73 ft, moderate flooding; 54,700 cubic feet per secondNov 20, 1985: 26.24 ft, moderate flooding; 57,200 cubic feet per secondDec 2, 1985: 18.24 ft, below flood stage; 25,600 cubic feet per secondDec 11, 1985: 18.49 ft, below flood stage; 26,400 cubic feet per secondApr 8, 1986: 18.30 ft, below flood stage; 25,700 cubic feet per secondOct 2, 1986: 33.11 ft, major flooding; 101,000 cubic feet per secondFeb 16, 1987: 18.48 ft, below flood stage; 26,300 cubic feet per secondMar 2, 1987: 21.25 ft, minor flooding; 35,900 cubic feet per secondNov 25, 1987: 23.08 ft, minor flooding; 43,100 cubic feet per secondDec 21, 1987: 20.86 ft, minor flooding; 34,500 cubic feet per secondDec 28, 1987: 18.57 ft, below flood stage; 26,600 cubic feet per secondApr 2, 1988: 19.16 ft, below flood stage; 28,500 cubic feet per secondNov 12, 1988: 13.43 ft, below flood stage; 12,500 cubic feet per secondMar 16, 1990: 24.50 ft, moderate flooding; 49,200 cubic feet per secondMay 19, 1990: 22.04 ft, minor flooding; 39,000 cubic feet per secondMay 28, 1990: 23.47 ft, minor flooding; 44,800 cubic feet per secondJan 16, 1991: 15.77 ft, below flood stage; 18,100 cubic feet per secondMay 18, 1993: 21.41 ft, minor flooding; 31,344 cubic feet per secondSep 26, 1993: 46.15 ft, major flooding; 230,000 cubic feet per secondApr 12, 1994: 34.43 ft, major flooding; 107,000 cubic feet per secondNov 21, 1994: 22.04 ft, minor flooding; 36,600 cubic feet per secondMay 8, 1995: 23.51 ft, minor flooding; 40,400 cubic feet per secondJun 11, 1995: 29.98 ft, moderate flooding; 73,800 cubic feet per secondOct 7, 1998: 25.50 ft, moderate flooding; 51,900 cubic feet per secondApr 27, 1999: 25.20 ft, moderate flooding; 50,400 cubic feet per secondMay 5, 1999: 26.20 ft, moderate flooding; 53,400 cubic feet per secondFeb 25, 2001: 20.90 ft, minor flooding; 34,600 cubic feet per secondMay 10, 2002: 24.45 ft, moderate flooding; 50,500 cubic feet per secondMar 5, 2004: 20.99 ft, minor flooding; 38,600 cubic feet per secondApr 25, 2004: 19.68 ft, below flood stageJan 7, 2005: 23.82 ft, minor flooding; 49,500 cubic feet per secondJun 13, 2007: 34.03 ft, major flooding; 105,000 cubic feet per secondJul 3, 2007: 20.60 ft, minor floodingSep 10, 2007: 21.34 ft, minor flooding; 36,000 cubic feet per secondMar 20, 2008: 28.33 ft, moderate flooding; 68,300 cubic feet per secondApr 12, 2008: 28.64 ft, moderate flooding; 70,100 cubic feet per secondMay 8, 2008: 22.80 ft, minor flooding; 41,900 cubic feet per secondJun 14, 2008: 20.65 ft, minor flooding; 33,500 cubic feet per secondOct 10, 2009: 27.94 ft, moderate floodingMar 26, 2010: 20.71 ft, minor floodingApr 26, 2011: 25.11 ft, moderate flooding; 52,600 cubic feet per secondMay 24, 2011: 23.99 ft, minor flooding; 48,100 cubic feet per secondMay 2, 2012: 20.57 ft, minor floodingJun 1, 2013: 22.89 ft, minor floodingAug 1, 2013: 18.96 ft, below flood stageMay 25, 2015: 21.03 ft, minor flooding; 35,708 cubic feet per secondJun 19, 2015: 19.91 ft, below flood stage; 31,803 cubic feet per secondJul 10, 2015: 20.10 ft, minor flooding; 32,450 cubic feet per secondNov 28, 2015: 19.17 ft, below flood stage; 29,361 cubic feet per secondDec 14, 2015: 19.53 ft, below flood stage; 30,549 cubic feet per secondDec 29, 2015: 39.77 ft, major floodingMay 1, 2017: 34.57 ft, major flooding; 109,559 cubic feet per secondMay 20, 2017: 19.64 ft, below flood stage; 30,912 cubic feet per secondFeb 25, 2018: 22.17 ft, minor flooding; 39,849 cubic feet per secondMay 1, 2019: 24.07 ft, moderate flooding; 47,307 cubic feet per secondMay 23, 2019: 33.96 ft, major flooding; 109,000 cubic feet per secondJun 18, 2019: 18.79 ft, below flood stage; 28,107 cubic feet per secondJun 24, 2019: 23.43 ft, minor flooding; 44,719 cubic feet per secondJan 12, 2020: 20.09 ft, minor flooding; 32,415 cubic feet per secondMar 19, 2020: 22.55 ft, minor flooding; 41,289 cubic feet per secondMay 7, 2022: 31.98 ft, major flooding; 90,933 cubic feet per secondApr 21, 2025: 21.72 ft, minor flooding; 38,192 cubic feet per secondJun 8, 2026: 23.91 ft, minor flooding; 46,639 cubic feet per secondJun 27, 2026: 23.11 ft, minor flooding; 43,439 cubic feet per second Highest, 46.15 ft, Sep 26, 1993 1900192019401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Spring River near Quapaw 1890s: 1 1900s: 0 1910s: 0 1920s: 0 1930s: 1 1940s: 20 20 1950s: 12 1960s: 4 1970s: 13 1980s: 11 1990s: 12 2000s: 12 2010s: 13 2020s: 6 1890s1900s1910s1920s1930s1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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 200 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Spring River near Quapaw
1Sep 26, 199346.15+26.15Major230,000
2May 19, 194343.40+23.40Major190,000
3Dec 1, 189543.00+23.00Major—
4Dec 29, 201539.77+19.77Major—
5May 1, 201734.57+14.57Major109,559
6Apr 12, 199434.43+14.43Major107,000
7Jun 13, 200734.03+14.03Major105,000
8May 23, 201933.96+13.96Major109,000
9Feb 24, 198533.59+13.59Major105,000
10Oct 2, 198633.11+13.11Major101,000
11Jul 4, 197632.94+12.94Major104,000
12May 7, 202231.98+11.98Major90,933
13Mar 12, 197430.24+10.24Major78,400
14Jun 23, 194830.20+10.20Major74,600
15Mar 13, 193530.00+10.00Major—
16Jun 11, 199529.98+9.98Moderate73,800
17Apr 20, 194129.66+9.66Moderate63,200
18Apr 16, 194529.60+9.60Moderate67,900
19Nov 1, 194129.31+9.31Moderate56,200
20May 9, 196129.12+9.12Moderate66,200
21Apr 12, 200828.64+8.64Moderate70,100
22Mar 20, 200828.33+8.33Moderate68,300
23May 11, 194228.20+8.20Moderate—
24May 11, 194328.20+8.20Moderate54,500
25Oct 10, 200927.94+7.94Moderate—
26Oct 6, 194127.92+7.92Moderate50,300
27Aug 29, 195027.59+7.59Moderate54,800
28Jun 11, 195727.00+7.00Moderate56,000
29Sep 25, 194526.81+6.81Moderate54,300
30Apr 26, 194726.46+6.46Moderate53,000
31Nov 5, 197426.41+6.41Moderate57,000
32Nov 20, 198526.24+6.24Moderate57,200
33May 5, 199926.20+6.20Moderate53,400
34Nov 15, 198525.73+5.73Moderate54,700
35Oct 7, 199825.50+5.50Moderate51,900
36May 25, 195725.40+5.40Moderate49,700
37Oct 3, 195925.35+5.35Moderate49,600
38Apr 27, 199925.20+5.20Moderate50,400
39Apr 26, 201125.11+5.11Moderate52,600
40Mar 9, 196125.03+5.03Moderate—
41Jun 14, 196425.03+5.03Moderate49,100
42Nov 2, 197224.69+4.69Moderate47,900
43Jun 9, 197424.63+4.63Moderate48,600
44Mar 16, 199024.50+4.50Moderate49,200
45May 10, 200224.45+4.45Moderate50,500
46May 2, 197024.20+4.20Moderate44,300
47May 1, 201924.07+4.07Moderate47,307
48May 24, 201123.99+3.99Minor48,100
49Jun 8, 202623.91+3.91Minor46,639
50Jan 7, 200523.82+3.82Minor49,500

The worst floods along the Spring River

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

September 26, 1993: 46.15 ft here, major flooding

  • WacoMO · Sep 26, 1993 · 34.06 ft · Major · its highest

May 19, 1943: 43.40 ft here, major flooding

  • WacoMO · May 19, 1943 · 30.94 ft · Moderate

December 29, 2015: 39.77 ft here, major flooding

  • Baxter SpringsKS · Dec 28, 2015 · 31.80 ft · Major · its highest
  • CarthageMO · Dec 27, 2015 · 20.33 ft · Major · its highest
  • WacoMO · Dec 28, 2015 · 30.82 ft · Moderate
  • LaRussellMO · Dec 27, 2015 · 15.70 ft · Minor

Gauges on the Spring River

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

Flood gauges on the Spring River
LaRussellMO8.016.85 ft, May 20, 19790
CarthageMO10.020.33 ft, Dec 27, 20151
WacoMO19.034.06 ft, Sep 26, 19931
Baxter SpringsKS14.031.80 ft, Dec 28, 20151
Quapaw this gaugeOK20.046.15 ft, Sep 26, 199315

Other gauges in Ottawa County

Flood gauges in Ottawa County
Commerce15.034.03 ft, Jul 16, 19519

Ottawa County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Oklahoma

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge QUAO2, 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.