La Crosse River at Sparta, WI
River level and flood forecast · Monroe County
The river is 4.7 ft below flood stage (8.5 ft).
Flow: 162 cubic feet per second (USGS).
River camera
Camera by the U.S. Geological Survey. Most take a picture every hour, some every few minutes; many stop at night.
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Sun, Dec 31, 6 PM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Get flood alerts for this river
An email when the National Weather Service forecasts La Crosse River at Sparta to flood, when it floods, and when it's over.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 11 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 10 ft |
| Flood stage | 8.5 ft |
| Action stage | 6 ft |
| Record crest (July 20, 2017) | 12.26 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 12.3 ftWater reaches into Evans Bosshard Park.
- 12 ftWater begins going over a few roads in Sparta.
- 8.5 ftWater begins to flood yards adjacent to the river in Sparta.
Highest crests on record
- 12.26 ft — July 20, 2017
- 11.01 ft — June 17, 2004
- 10.71 ft — August 29, 2018
- 9.38 ft — July 2, 2026
- 9.09 ft — March 15, 2019
Recent crests: 9.38 ft (July 2, 2026) · 8.99 ft (June 27, 2025) · 8.66 ft (July 14, 2024) · 9.09 ft (March 15, 2019) · 10.71 ft (August 29, 2018)
Up and down the river, and nearby
- UpstreamLa Crosse River at Fort McCoy, WI
- DownstreamLa Crosse River near La Crosse, WI
- Silver Creek at State Highway 21 Near Angelo, WI
- Stillwell Creek at Yard Road Near Tomah, WI
- Stillwell Creek at Sixteenth Court Near Tomah, WI
- Kickapoo River at Ontario, WI
- Black River (WI) at Black River Falls, WI
- Black River (WI) at Galesville, WI
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (SPAW3); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.