The Current River streamgage at Montauk State Park 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 Current River is a stream originating in Dent County’s Ozark Highlands. The river receives most of its flow from springs in the Ozark Plateaus aquifer system. The area surrounding Montauk was settled by people from Montauk Point on Long Island and has been a Missouri State Park since 1926 (Schaper).
The streamgage is located on the Current River about 2.5 river miles below Montauk Spring in Montauk State Park in Dent County and consists of a shelter, a data collection platform, a rain gage, a pressure transducer to measure stage, several staff gages used to manually verify stages and a crest stage gage to automatically record the crest height during high water events. Learn how a USGS streamgage works.
Streamgage Information
- Streamgage Drainage Area: 58.8 square miles
- 10-Digit Hydrologic Unit Code: 1101000801
- Area of HUC10 Basin: 442 square miles
- Gage Location: 37°26'54", -91°40'16" (NAD27) (Dent County)
- Gage Datum: 894 feet above NAVD8
USGS Tools
- Precipitation (inches): April 10, 2019 to present
- Average Discharge (cubic feet per second): Feb. 7, 2007 to present
- Observation Gage Height (feet): Feb. 8, 2007 to present
- Peak: Gage Height, Discharge (feet, cubic feet per second) 13.83, 11,000 (April 29, 2017)
The Current River at Montauk State Park 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 Current River Streamgage at Montauk State Park 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.
In the area, people can enjoy:
- Trout fishing
- Bird-watching
- Camping
- Hiking
- Mill tours
- Bicycling
- Picnicking
- Canoeing
For more information about recreation activities located within the basin, contact the Missouri Department of Conservation.
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Figure 3. Crest stage gage.
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Figure 5. 2008 flooding in Montauk Park.
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Figure 4. Site profile.
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Figure 6. USGS personnel preparing to make a high flow measurement during the 2008 flood.