River Conditions
Illustrated map of Grand Traverse Bay

River stage

Niagara, Menominee River

River level
4.64 ft
Status
Below flood stage
7-day change
-0.03 ft
Recent high
7.49 ft
Recent low
4.48 ft

Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS NIAW3

30-day change
+0.02 ft
Average
5.33 ft
Readings
122
Data span
122 days
Record crest
16.22 ft

In brief

The Menominee River at Niagara, WI read 4.64 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 5.36 ft below action stage. That is 0.02 ft higher than 30 days earlier.

Source: National Weather Service gauge NIAW3

River level timeline

4.04.44.75.05.3SEP 13SEP 18SEP 23SEP 28OCT 03OCT 08OCT 13HIGH 4.88LOW 4.484.65 ftLAST READING

Stage threshold profile

Action stage 10.00 ftMinor flooding 13.00 ftModerate flooding 15.00 ftMajor flooding 16.00 ft CURRENT 4.64 ft

Highest crests on record

RankCrestDate
1 16.22 ft 2002-04-19
2 15.42 ft 2023-04-16
3 15.11 ft 1996-04-27
4 14.76 ft 2026-04-21
5 14.52 ft 2019-04-24
6 13.48 ft 2013-05-03
7 13.21 ft 2004-04-21
8 12.37 ft 1997-04-06

Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.

What happens at each level

  1. 5.00 ft

    5.0 feet or 1000 cfs, is considered the low-end of ideal conditions for rafting downstream.

  2. 7.50 ft

    7.5 feet or 3000 cfs is considered the top end for the ideal range for local rafting companies downstream.

  3. 10.00 ft

    Which is bankfull stage, there is flooding of lowland. Piers Gorge rapids downstream become active.

  4. 11.50 ft

    Near 8200 cfs, Piers Gorge downstream considered high for local rafting companies.

  5. 13.00 ft

    Water approaches the parking lot of the Union Protestant Church.

  6. 14.50 ft

    In the city of Niagara, water begins to cover the Niagara boat landing on Tyler Road, and water approaches homes along Sherman Street.

  7. 15.00 ft

    Flood waters reach the Aurora Fire Protection station. Waters begin to approach United Methodist church on River Street in Niagara.

  8. 15.50 ft

    Water is covering adjacent parks in both Kingsford and Niagara. River Road in Aurora is covered with water. In Niagara, flood waters are affecting the United Methodist Church on River Street.

  9. 16.00 ft

    The Kingsford and Niagara Parks are flooded. In Niagara, flood waters affect Sherman Street and the former Stora Enso Mill, and the United Methodist Church on River Street. In Southern Dickinson County Michigan, water is covering Highway 577, and a trailer park in the city of Quinnesec is flooded. River Road in Aurora is covered by flood waters.

Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.

Trout stocking on the Menominee River

Wisconsin DNR stocked the Menominee River 4 times in 2025, 75,138 fish in total. RAINBOW TROUT and MUSKELLUNGE and CHINOOK SALMON at YEARLING and LARGE FINGERLING. Wisconsin DNR's published figures for 2025, the most recent season it has confirmed, record 22,321 trout actually released here across 4 visits.

SpeciesFish SizeWhen
RAINBOW TROUT 11,139 YEARLING None
MUSKELLUNGE 1,500 LARGE FINGERLING None
CHINOOK SALMON 51,317 SMALL FINGERLING None
RAINBOW TROUT 11,182 YEARLING None

Wisconsin DNR lists a week or a month rather than a date, and counts fish as an estimate. Full Wisconsin stocking schedule →

Frequently asked questions

Is the Menominee River flooding at Niagara?

No. The Menominee River at Niagara is at 4.64 ft, 5.36 ft below action stage.

What is the flood stage at Niagara?

The National Weather Service sets action stage 10 ft, minor flooding 13 ft, moderate flooding 15 ft and major flooding 16 ft.

What is the highest the Menominee River has been at Niagara?

The highest crest on record is 16.22 ft, on 2002-04-19.

Is the Menominee River high or low right now at Niagara?

At 4.64 ft it is higher than 11% of readings over the last 122 days.

Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge NIAW3); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 04065106). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.