Pleasant Run at Arlington Avenue in Indianapolis, IN
River level and flood forecast · Marion County
Normal3.0 ftas of Mon 3:15 PM
The river is 5.0 ft below flood stage (8 ft).
Flow: 2 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Sun, Dec 31, 7 PM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 13 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 10 ft |
| Flood stage | 8 ft |
| Action stage | 6 ft |
| Record crest (May 28, 1956) | 16 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 16 ftFlash flood level of May 28, 1956. Very serious flooding on the east side of Indianapolis. In May 1956, this area was part of 40 to 50 square blocks flooded by Eagle Creek, Pogue's Run, Pleasant Run and other small streams. Most of the 2,000 families evacuated were located on the eastern and southeastern part of the city. Water was 5 to 6 feet deep in many streets. Rainfall of more than 4 inches fell in less than 4 hours on very wet grounds.
- 14 ftArlington Avenue impassable. Extensive flooding of Pleasant Run Golf Course. Much of the low ground in Ellenberger Park is flooded. Serious flooding in the Sherman Drive area near downtown Indianapolis and near Shadeland Avenue on the eastside. Approaching possibly a flood emergency. Highest flood level since May 1956 and nearing a record flood.
- 13.7 ftApproximate low steel of Arlington Avenue Bridge over Pleasant Run. Arlington Avenue begins to flood on the north side of Pleasant Run. Highest flood level of Pleasant Run since June 1978. Approaching serious flooding in the vicinity of Sherman Drive near downtown Indianapolis and Shadeland Avenue on the eastside of Indianapolis.
- 13 ftApproaching low steel elevation of Arlington Bridge over Pleasant Run near gaging site. Major flooding occurring upstream in the Shadeland Avenue area and downstream in Sherman Drive area. Pleasant Run Golf Course likely flooded and some flooding in Ellenberger Park.
- 12.3 ftJune 20 2011 locally heavy rains of up to 6 inches caused Pleasant Run just northeast of Pleasant Run Golf Course to flood Pleasant Run Parkway Drive between East 16th and East 21st Street on the eastside of Indianapolis in the vicinity of Shadeland Avenue. Water flowing on East 16th Street in the Shadeland Avenue area was more than a foot deep and had waves. Water from East 16th Street flows directly into Pleasant Run.
- 10 ftPleasant Run floods Pleasant Run Parkway and North Drive in the vicinity of Sherman Drive about 3 miles southeast of downtown Indianapolis.
Highest crests on record
- 16 ft — May 28, 1956
- 13.86 ft — June 25, 1978
- 12.37 ft — June 20, 2011
- 11.48 ft — October 4, 1986
- 11.33 ft — July 26, 2015
Recent crests: 9.62 ft (August 1, 2026) · 8.38 ft (April 5, 2025) · 7.6 ft (September 8, 2018) · 8.72 ft (April 3, 2018) · 6.01 ft (February 24, 2018)
Up and down the river, and nearby
- DownstreamWhite River (IN) at Stout Power Plant, IN
- Pogues Run above Dam near I-70 in Eastern Marion County, IN
- Pogues Run at Vermont Street in Indianapolis, IN
- Lick Creek (IN) near Beech Grove, IN
- Fall Creek (IN) at Millersville, IN
- Fall Creek (IN) at 16th Street in Indianapolis, IN
- White River (IN) at Raymond Street in Indianapolis, IN
- Germania Creek at West Street (Retention pond), IN
- White River (IN) at Michigan Street in Indianapolis, IN
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (PRII3); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.