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Kickapoo River at La Farge

Highest listed crest 19.42 ftFlood stage 12.0 ft24 crests since 1946

The Kickapoo River at La Farge crested at major flood stage 5 times among the 24 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1946 to 2026. The highest, 19.42 ft on August 29, 2018, was major flooding, 7.42 feet above flood stage. 6 other gauges on the Kickapoo River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 5 at their own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
19.42 ft
August 29, 2018
Flood stage
12.0 ft
Major flooding from 14.0 ft
Crests at major
5
16th of 143 gauges in Wisconsin
Most recent flood crest
April 5, 2026
12.46 ft, minor flooding
Location
Vernon County
Wisconsin

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Kickapoo River at La Farge
Action stage9.07Jun 2, 2000The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)12.010Apr 5, 2026Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage13.02Jul 20, 2019Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage14.05Aug 29, 2018Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

24 crests from 1946 to 2026. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Kickapoo River at La Farge, 1946 to 2026 101214161820ft Flood stage 12.0 ftMajor 14.0 ft Jan 6, 1946: 12.03 ft, minor flooding; 5,730 cubic feet per secondJul 21, 1951: 12.32 ft, minor flooding; 6,600 cubic feet per secondApr 4, 1956: 12.35 ft, minor flooding; 6,750 cubic feet per secondMar 27, 1961: 12.70 ft, minor flooding; 7,040 cubic feet per secondFeb 9, 1966: 13.67 ft, moderate flooding; 9,910 cubic feet per secondJun 16, 1967: 12.34 ft, minor flooding; 6,010 cubic feet per secondJul 1, 1978: 14.92 ft, major flooding; 14,300 cubic feet per secondApr 4, 1981: 11.87 ft, action stage; 4,010 cubic feet per secondSep 21, 1983: 11.62 ft, action stage; 2,580 cubic feet per secondJun 17, 1984: 12.69 ft, minor flooding; 3,710 cubic feet per secondSep 16, 1992: 11.47 ft, action stage; 2,520 cubic feet per secondMay 3, 1993: 11.14 ft, action stage; 2,390 cubic feet per secondFeb 20, 1994: 11.80 ft, action stageJun 18, 1996: 11.51 ft, action stage; 2,410 cubic feet per secondJun 2, 2000: 10.28 ft, action stage; 1,990 cubic feet per secondAug 19, 2007: 12.84 ft, minor flooding; 2,550 cubic feet per secondJun 9, 2008: 15.78 ft, major flooding; 22,100 cubic feet per secondAug 14, 2010: 12.62 ft, minor flooding; 3,740 cubic feet per secondSep 22, 2016: 14.17 ft, major flooding; 8,290 cubic feet per secondJul 21, 2017: 15.16 ft, major flooding; 14,364 cubic feet per secondAug 29, 2018: 19.42 ft, major floodingJul 20, 2019: 13.06 ft, moderate flooding; 3,630 cubic feet per secondJul 15, 2024: 12.57 ft, minor floodingApr 5, 2026: 12.46 ft, minor flooding; 2,878 cubic feet per second Highest, 19.42 ft, Aug 29, 2018 1960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Kickapoo River at La Farge 1940s: 1 1950s: 2 1960s: 3 1970s: 1 1980s: 1 1990s: 0 2000s: 2 2010s: 5 5 2020s: 2 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, Kickapoo River at La Farge
1Aug 29, 201819.42+7.42Major—
2Jun 9, 200815.78+3.78Major22,100
3Jul 21, 201715.16+3.16Major14,364
4Jul 1, 197814.92+2.92Major14,300
5Sep 22, 201614.17+2.17Major8,290
6Feb 9, 196613.67+1.67Moderate9,910
7Jul 20, 201913.06+1.06Moderate3,630
8Aug 19, 200712.84+0.84Minor2,550
9Mar 27, 196112.70+0.70Minor7,040
10Jun 17, 198412.69+0.69Minor3,710
11Aug 14, 201012.62+0.62Minor3,740
12Jul 15, 202412.57+0.57Minor—
13Apr 5, 202612.46+0.46Minor2,878
14Apr 4, 195612.35+0.35Minor6,750
15Jun 16, 196712.34+0.34Minor6,010
16Jul 21, 195112.32+0.32Minor6,600
17Jan 6, 194612.03+0.03Minor5,730
18Apr 4, 198111.87−0.13Action4,010
19Feb 20, 199411.80−0.20Action—
20Sep 21, 198311.62−0.38Action2,580
21Jun 18, 199611.51−0.49Action2,410
22Sep 16, 199211.47−0.53Action2,520
23May 3, 199311.14−0.86Action2,390
24Jun 2, 200010.28−1.72Action1,990

The worst floods along the Kickapoo River

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

August 29, 2018: 19.42 ft here, major flooding

  • OntarioWI · Aug 28, 2018 · 28.50 ft · Major · its highest
  • ViolaWI · Aug 29, 2018 · 23.72 ft · Major · its highest
  • ReadstownWI · Aug 29, 2018 · 23.17 ft · Major · its highest
  • Gays MillsWI · Aug 29, 2018 · 22.31 ft · Major · its highest
  • Soldiers GroveWI · Aug 29, 2018 · 21.06 ft · Major
  • SteubenWI · Aug 30, 2018 · 19.84 ft · Major · its highest

June 9, 2008: 15.78 ft here, major flooding

  • OntarioWI · Jun 8, 2008 · 21.96 ft · Major
  • ViolaWI · Jun 9, 2008 · 21.25 ft · Major
  • Soldiers GroveWI · Jun 9, 2008 · 21.21 ft · Major
  • Gays MillsWI · Jun 9, 2008 · 20.44 ft · Major
  • ReadstownWI · Jun 9, 2008 · 19.65 ft · Major
  • SteubenWI · Jun 10, 2008 · 19.16 ft · Major

July 21, 2017: 15.16 ft here, major flooding

  • ViolaWI · Jul 21, 2017 · 20.25 ft · Major
  • ReadstownWI · Jul 21, 2017 · 18.77 ft · Major
  • Gays MillsWI · Jul 22, 2017 · 18.08 ft · Major
  • SteubenWI · Jul 22, 2017 · 15.98 ft · Major
  • Soldiers GroveWI · Jul 21, 2017 · 17.75 ft · Moderate

Gauges on the Kickapoo River

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

Flood gauges on the Kickapoo River
Gays MillsWI13.022.31 ft, Aug 29, 20186
La Farge this gaugeWI12.019.42 ft, Aug 29, 20185
OntarioWI16.028.50 ft, Aug 28, 20189
ReadstownWI11.023.17 ft, Aug 29, 20187
Soldiers GroveWI13.021.63 ft, Jul 22, 19515
SteubenWI12.019.84 ft, Aug 30, 20185
ViolaWI14.023.72 ft, Aug 29, 20186
WiltonWI6.07.35 ft, Apr 4, 20260

Other gauges in Vernon County

Flood gauges in Vernon County
Readstown11.023.17 ft, Aug 29, 20187
Viola14.023.72 ft, Aug 29, 20186
Lock and Dam 8 - Genoa631.0638.40 ft, Apr 22, 19653

Vernon County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Wisconsin

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge LAFW3, 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.