Water Resources Program fact sheet
Missouri Geological Survey Director: Carey Bridges, RG
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The Meramec River streamgage at Cook Station 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 Meramec River is a stream in Missouri’s Ozark Highlands, flowing into the Mississippi River. Beginning 7.5 miles northwest of Bunker, it is one of the longest free flowing waterways in the state. It features several state parks and natural areas and i’s proximity to  St. Louis floaters makes it a popular destination. With many variant spellings, the name is a transliteration by the early French explorers of a Native American word meaning “river of ugly fish.” The modern pronunciation is derived from that of the Merrimack River on the United States’ East Coast (Schaper).

The streamgage is located at the State Highway M bridge over the Meramec River, one mile north of Cook Station in Crawford County and consists of a shelter, a data collection platform, an electronic pressure transducer to measure the river stage, a crest stage gage (Figure 5) 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: 199 square miles
  • 10-Digit Hydrologic Unit Code: 0714010202
  • Area of HUC10 Basin:  345 square miles
  • Gage Location: 37°49'44.93", -91°26'14.94" (Crawford County)
  • Gage Datum: 864.67 feet above NAVD88

USGS Tools

  • Average Discharge (cubic feet per second): Oct. 1, 1965 to Sept. 1981, and March 9, 2008 to present
  • Observation Gage Height (feet): March 8, 2008 to present
  • Peak: Gage Height, Discharge (feet, cubic feet per second) 17.74, 34,900 (Feb. 10, 1966)

The Meramec River at Cook Station 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 and field measurements 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 Meramec River Streamgage at Cook Station Important?

The streamgage provides recreational users in the area, surrounding landowners and the public with accurate stream height data. The Water Resources Center uses discharge data from this streamgage for flood, drought and water supply studies. This streamgage is located above Maramec Spring; this portion of the river is not recommended for floating unless the water is high.

In the area, people can enjoy:

•    Bird-watching 
•    Camping
•    Cave tours
•    Hiking
•    Fishing
•    Floating and Boating

For more information about recreation activities located within the basin, contact the Missouri Department of Conservation.
 
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Figure 3. Site profile.     
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Figure 4. Channel detail.
 
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Figure 5. Crest stage gage.     
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Figure 6. Deep pool in channel.

1    References Cited
The Meramec River – Water Highway to the Ozarks

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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