Water Resources Program fact sheet
Missouri Geological Survey Director: Carey Bridges, RG
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The Sac River streamgage near Dadeville is owned by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and funded in cooperation with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Stage (water-surface elevation) measurements are made and recorded at 15-minute intervals and transmitted to the USGS office every hour. Stage and streamflow values are displayed in near real-time.

The Sac River is a stream rising near Springfield in the Ozark Highlands Section of Missouri, flowing north until it reaches the Osage River. A portion of the river is impounded by Stockton Lake. This river was named for the Sauk people who lived in this part of the state in the early 19th century (Meyers).

The streamgage is located at the State Highway 245 bridge over the Sac River near Dadeville in Dade County and consists of a shelter, a data collection platform, an electronic pressure transducer to measure stage, a crest stage gage to automatically record crest height during high water events and a wire weight gage used to manually verify electronic measurements. Learn how a USGS streamgage works.

Streamgage Information

  • Streamgage Drainage Area: 257 square miles
  • 10-Digit Hydrologic Unit Code: 1029010602
  • Area of HUC10 Basin: 280 square miles
  • Gage Location: 37°26'35.3", -93°41'05.6"  (Dade County)
  • Gage Datum: 869.78 feet above NGVD29

USGS Tools

  • Average Discharge (cubic feet per second): June 1, 1966 to present
  • Observation Gage Height (feet): Oct. 1, 1988 to present
  • Peak: Gage Height, Discharge (feet, cubic feet per second) 27.56, 36,1000 (Sept. 25, 1993)
  • Average Suspended Sediment Discharge (tons/day): Oct. 1, 1969 to Sept. 29, 1974

The Sac River near Dadeville streamgage webpage is maintained by USGS. Users are able to create graphs and tables utilizing the recorded parameters, which can be customized to show current and historical observations, daily data, daily statistics, monthly statistics, annual statistics, peak streamflow, field measurements, water quality samples and revisions for any time frame within the period of record. A location map and Water-Year Summary also are available. Customize your own data output online.

Why is the Sac River Streamgage near Dadeville Important?

The streamgage provides recreational users in the area, surrounding landowners and the public with accurate stream height data. Gage height is affected by ice during extreme cold and backwater when Stockton Lake is at a high level. The Water Resources Center uses discharge data from this streamgage for flood, drought and water supply studies. The U.S Army Corps of Engineers uses the gage for measuring inflows into Stockton Lake.

In the area, people can enjoy:

•    Bird-watching 
•    Hiking 
•    Horseback riding
•    Biking
•    Camping
•    Fishing
•    Boating and Floating

For more information about recreation activities located within the basin, contact the Missouri Department of Conservation.

 
Figure 3. View of bridge and Streamgage equipment.    
 
Figure 4. Sac River flooded with backwater from regional flooding in 2019.
 

1    References Cited
Meyers, Robert Lee. "Place Names In The Southwest Counties Of Missouri." M.A. thesis., University of Missouri-Columbia, 1930.

Nothing in this document may be used to implement any enforcement action or levy any penalty unless promulgated by rule under chapter 536 or authorized by statute.

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