USGS Keeps Two Illinois Streamgages Running Through November
Two Central Illinois river gages that were slated to close October 1 will continue operating until the end of November.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Current Conditions
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The U.S. Geological Survey agreed to keep two streamgages on the Salt Fork and Spoon River near St. Joseph operating through the end of November after they were expected to shut down due to lack of funding. A third gage on the Sangamon River is back online, with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources funding its operation.
Why it matters
The streamgages collect data on river flow, flooding and water pollution, and the Salt Fork gage has helped inform flood warnings and floodplain maps for nearly 70 years. Losing them would reduce the monitoring available to residents and officials across Central Illinois.
The two USGS gages are about one mile apart on the Salt Fork and Spoon River and were scheduled to stop operating October 1, a date now pushed to the end of November. The Prairie Rivers Network hopes to secure short-term funding after November, but no such arrangement has been announced.
The players
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
The USGS is the federal science agency that operates streamgages nationwide to monitor water flow, flooding and water quality.
Prairie Rivers Network
Prairie Rivers Network is an Illinois-based environmental nonprofit that advocates for clean water and healthy rivers across the state.
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is the state agency responsible for managing the state's natural resources, including its waterways.
The details
Prairie Rivers Network announced that USGS agreed to keep the two gages in place, while the Illinois Department of Natural Resources will fund the Sangamon River gage's operation. The Spoon River gage recorded its highest nitrate level this summer since it began operating 13 years ago.
Timeline
October 1, 2026: Two USGS gages on the Salt Fork and Spoon River were scheduled to shut down.
Summer 2026: The Spoon River gage recorded its highest nitrate level since operations began.
End of November 2026: USGS will keep the two gages operating through this date.
Seasonal Patterns
The Illinois streamgages at risk are part of the USGS network whose cost-sharing partnerships with state agencies determine which river records continue, and this pattern of extensions and state-funded replacements shows how monitoring coverage depends on year-to-year funding decisions. Keeping these gages running preserves long-term flow records that underpin flood forecasting for the region.
Residents along the Salt Fork and Spoon River can continue to rely on the gage readings for current river levels through November. Those interested in the monitoring can follow updates from Prairie Rivers Network about post-November funding.
The takeaway
Streamgage data supports flood warnings and water quality tracking, so continued funding decisions directly affect what Illinois residents can see about their rivers. Watching the post-November funding outcome will show whether these gages stay in service.
What happens next
Prairie Rivers Network hopes to secure short-term funding to keep the two gages operating after the end of November 2026.
Further reading
For real-time river readings across the state, see Current Conditions in the Illinois weather and disaster section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WCIA.
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