Tool: Goshen's USGS River Gauge

Evaluate risk with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) river gauge located at Goshen's Indiana Avenue bridge.

Accessing River Gauge Data

The USGS river gauge near the Indiana Avenue bridge has collected publicly accessible data on river heights, flow velocities, and more since 1924. You can look at past data and sign-up for alerts at certain river heights on the USGS's page dedicated to Goshen's gauge.

Public display visual for the river gauge located at the Indiana Avenue Bridge.

The Stormwater Department regularly monitors our river heights in the days leading up to and following a storm event. At any particular moment, the gauge can give us a clue into the capacity of our river system to take on stormwater. A few contextual numbers can help you to also use the gauge and begin evaluating relative risks.

2 Feet

During a drought in 2020, the height of the river dropped just below 2 feet.

7 Feet

When the Elkhart River reaches 7 feet, it is considered to be at flood stage. At this point the river is still mostly within its regular flow path, but begins to reach into some floodplain areas.

11 Feet

The USGS classifies a river height of 11 feet as "major flood stage."

12.53 Feet

In February of 2018, the City of Goshen witnessed one of its largest flood events in modern memory. The Elkhart River topped out at 12.53 feet—the highest recorded river height since the gauge was installed in 2007.

To see what various river heights mean for the extent of inundated (flooded) areas in Goshen, check out the modeling done by the USGS below.

USGS River Heights and Flood Inundation

Using river elevation height information from a river gauge located at the Indiana Avenue Bridge, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) looked at the areas of Goshen that would be inundated (covered in water) as the height of the river rises.

Use the tool below to scroll through and see how inundation changes with every foot rise in river height. Don't miss the legend icon in the bottom left-hand corner of the map and take advantage of the zoom capabilities!

The USGS modeled inundation in Goshen per foot rise of river elevation starting with 774 feet—a river gauge height of 5 feet.

When the river runs at 5 ft on the river gauge (an elevation of 774 ft), it is not in flood stage and stays within the regular flow path of the river.

for a closer look at the Trinity Square Shopping Center—one of the first developed areas to experience flood conditions as the river rises.

Throughout this series of maps, we chose to draw your attention to the Trinity Square area. However, you can use the + and – buttons to zoom in and out at other locations to follow what happens as the river height rises.

Here you can see the areas covered when the river rises by 2 feet and runs at a height of 7 ft on the river gauge (an elevation of 776 ft).

At this height, the river has entered flood stage.

for a closer look at the Trinity Square Shopping Center. At 776 feet, water is starting to threaten the western bank of the Elkhart and begins entering Rogers Park from the River. Often by this point there would already be standing water in Rogers Park from rainfall that could not drain to the river.

Here you can see the areas covered when the river rises by an additional 2 feet and runs at a height of 9 ft on the river gauge (an elevation of 778 ft).

At this height, the USGS classifies the Elkhart River as "moderate flood stage."

for a closer look at the Trinity Square Shopping Center. At 777 feet, Rogers Park fills and as the water gets closer to 778 feet, the parking lot of Kroger becomes inundated. High water on Chicago and Denver Avenues becomes dangerous to traffic and the roads need closed.

Here you can see the areas covered when the river rises by an additional 2 feet and runs at a height of 11 ft on the river gauge (an elevation of 780 ft).

At this height, the USGS classifies the river as "major flood stage."

for a closer look at the Trinity Square Shopping Center. Now at 779 feet, water creeps closer to buildings and may begin to infiltrate Kroger and other businesses. At 780 feet, several buildings are largely at the elevation of the water and the parking lot of Linway Plaza fills and threatens other businesses along Lincoln Avenue.

Here you can see the areas covered when the river rises by an additional 2 feet and runs at a height of 13 ft on the river gauge (an elevation of 782 ft).

In February 2018, the river gauge reached 12.53 ft—the highest record since the gauge was installed in 2007.

At this height we saw road closures making the bridges along Plymouth Avenue, Indiana Avenue, Lincoln Avenue, and Pike Street (4 of our 6 major Elkhart River crossings) impassable. Significant flooding at the intersection of Wilden and Indiana nearly closed access to a fifth bridge.

for a closer look at the Trinity Square Shopping Center. At 782 feet the roads in this area become fully inundated and the businesses along Pike Street and residents in the Huron Street neighborhood are also in danger. On the other side of the River, Goshen Brewing Company has water threatening its doorway.

Know the Risks Project

This publication is part of the "Know the Risks Project" put together by the Goshen Stormwater Department in an effort to increase storm and flood literacy in the Goshen community. The project's goal is to promote a resilient, adaptive City in the face of a changing climate with greater risks from flooding. Check out the City of Goshen "Flood Zone" web page for additional tools, stories, and other resources.

Inundation geographic data

United States Geological Survey (USGS) Strauch, K.R., 2013, Flood-inundation maps for the Elkhart River at Goshen,

Text and Maps

Mattie Lehman, City of Goshen Stormwater Department (mattielehman@goshencity.com)

Photos

Jason Kauffman, City of Goshen Stormwater Department

Public display visual for the river gauge located at the Indiana Avenue Bridge.