River stage
Ithaca, Fall Creek
- River level
- 0.86 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- +0.24 ft
- Recent high
- 2.18 ft
- Recent low
- 0.56 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS FLLN6
- 30-day change
- -0.02 ft
- Average
- 0.88 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 11.16 ft
In brief
The Fall Creek at Ithaca, NY read 0.86 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 4.14 ft below action stage. That is 0.02 ft lower than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge FLLN6
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11.16 ft | 1971-02-21 |
| 2 | 9.52 ft | 1935-07-08 |
| 3 | 9.11 ft | 1977-02-25 |
| 4 | 8.84 ft | 1955-02-22 |
| 5 | 8.76 ft | 1959-01-21 |
| 6 | 8.35 ft | 1981-10-28 |
| 7 | 8.25 ft | 1966-02-11 |
| 8 | 8.20 ft | 1946-03-02 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 6.00 ft
Widespread flooding of unoccupied lands occurs nearest the river. Portions of Lower Creek Road will flood.
- 6.10 ft
This is the crest stage of the April 2005 flood.
- 6.50 ft
Lower Creek Road is inundated between Varna and Etna. Main Street near Etna is flooded. A few properties between Etna and Varna are affected by flooding. If Cayuga Lake is high, water from Fall Creek will flood roads in Stewart Park.
- 7.00 ft
Widespread flooding of properties and some homes occurs between Varna and Etna. If Cayuga Lake is high, water from Fall Creek completely inundates Stewart Park.
- 7.50 ft
This is the crest stage from the January 1996 rain on snowmelt with ice jams flooding.
- 8.00 ft
Flooding will damage several bridges upstream of the gage from Varna to Etna.
- 8.40 ft
Devastating flood of October 1981. Bridges destroyed. Homes evacuated. Swiftwater rescues occurred from Etna to Forest Home. Several streets in Ithaca's Northside neighborhood were flooded.
- 9.50 ft
Catastrophic flood damage occurred from Etna to downtown Ithaca in July of 1935.
- 11.20 ft
Ice jam flood crest from February 1971.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Trout stocking on the Fall Creek
NYSDEC's 2026 spring schedule lists 2 trout releases on the Fall Creek, 2,570 fish in total, the first in the second week of April. Brown Trout at 12-15 inches and 9-10 inches. NYSDEC's published figures for 2025, the most recent season it has confirmed, record 2,520 trout actually released here across 2 visits.
| Species | Fish | When |
|---|---|---|
| Brown Trout | 280 | April - second week |
| Brown Trout | 2,290 | April - second week |
NYSDEC lists a week or a month rather than a date, and notes that actual stocking can differ with fish availability and weather. Released at Groton, Tompkins County. Full New York stocking schedule →
Frequently asked questions
Is the Fall Creek flooding at Ithaca?
No. The Fall Creek at Ithaca is at 0.86 ft, 4.14 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Ithaca?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 5 ft, minor flooding 6 ft, moderate flooding 6.5 ft and major flooding 7 ft.
What is the highest the Fall Creek has been at Ithaca?
The highest crest on record is 11.16 ft, on 1971-02-21.
Is the Fall Creek high or low right now at Ithaca?
At 0.86 ft it is higher than 57% of readings over the last 122 days.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge FLLN6); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 04234000). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.