PUB2770

Water Resources Program

fact sheet

Missouri Geological Survey

Director: Carey Bridges, RG

The Little Sugar Creek streamgage near Pineville, MO, 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.

Little Sugar Creek’s headwaters originate in Benton County, Arkansas and flow west into Missouri where it meets its confluence with Big Sugar Creek in McDonald County, forming the Elk River. Little Sugar Creek was named by settlers for the large groves of sugar maple trees surrounding it and its comparatively small size to its sister stream (Bell). The stream is considered a Class II rapid and is used for paddling (Canoe).

The streamgage is located at the State Highway K bridge over Little Sugar Creek near Pineville in McDonald County and consists of a shelter, a data collection platform, a rain gage, 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: 195 square miles
  • 10-Digit Hydrologic Unit Code: 1107020802
  • Area of HUC10 Basin: 196 square miles
  • Gage Location: 36°35'02", -94°22'23" (NAD27) (McDonald County)
  • Gage Datum: 848.07 feet above NAVD88

USGS Tools

  • Precipitation (inches): April 3, 2019 to present
  • Average Discharge (cubic feet per second): Oct. 1, 2004 to present
  • Observation Gage Height (feet): Sept. 30, 2004 to present
  • Peak: Gage Height, Discharge (feet, cubic feet per second) 22.49, 26,500 (Dec. 28, 2015)

The Little Sugar Creek near Pineville 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 Little Sugar Creek Streamgage near Pineville Important?

The streamgage provides recreational users in the area, surrounding landowners, and the public with accurate stream height data. Floaters can use the observed stream height to determine if there is adequate flow. The Water Resources Center uses discharge data from this streamgage for flood, drought and water supply studies. In conjunction with the Big Sugar Creek streamgage, these streamgages provide data for the headwaters of the Elk River.

In the area, people can enjoy:

  • Bird-watching 
  • Nature photography
  • Camping
  • Hiking
  • Backpacking
  • Horseback riding
  • Fishing
  • Swimming
  • Canoeing and Floating

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

 
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Figure 3. Water flowing over low head dam.    
 
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Figure 4. Bridge profile.
 
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Figure 5. Vegetation around gaging site.

1    References Cited
Missouri Canoe & Floaters Association

Bell, Margaret E. "Place Names In The Southwest Border Counties Of Missouri." M.A. thesis., University of Missouri-Columbia, 1933.

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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