You've probably looked at the Ohio River and thought it was just one long, continuous flow of water heading toward the Mississippi. Honestly, that’s a pretty common mistake. In reality, the river is more like a series of watery steps, and the water level at markland dam is what keeps those steps from turning into a muddy mess.
If you're tracking the levels today, January 17, 2026, things are looking pretty standard. The latest readings from the lower gauge show a stage of about 19.64 feet. That’s well within the "normal" range. Compare that to the flood of 1937, where the water hit a terrifying 76.1 feet. It's wild to think about the river rising nearly 60 feet higher than where it sits right now.
Why the water level at markland dam isn't about flood control
Here is the thing that catches most people off guard: Markland isn't a flood control dam.
Most folks see those massive concrete walls and assume the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is "holding back" the floodwaters to protect towns like Vevay, Indiana, or Warsaw, Kentucky. Kinda, but mostly no. The primary job of these locks and dams is navigation. Basically, without this dam, the Ohio River would be too shallow for barges to move through during the dry summer months.
Back in 1908, the river at nearby Cincinnati was actually recorded at less than 3 feet deep. You could almost walk across it. For a multi-billion dollar shipping industry, that's a disaster. Markland keeps the "pool" behind it—stretching over 95 miles upstream to the Meldahl Dam—at a minimum depth of about 9 feet.
When the river starts to rise, the Corps doesn't close the gates to "save" the water. They actually open them. They want the water to move through as fast as possible to prevent it from backing up and making the flooding worse. Once the river reaches a certain height, the dam basically "disappears" as far as the water flow is concerned; the gates are pulled completely out of the water, and the river flows naturally.
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Understanding the Gauges: Upper vs. Lower
If you are a boater or someone who lives on the riverbank, you know there isn't just one number to watch. You have the Upper Pool and the Lower Tailwater.
- Upper Pool (455 feet above sea level): This is the water level behind the dam. The Corps tries to keep this very stable. It's the "step" that lets barges travel toward Cincinnati.
- Lower Tailwater (420 feet above sea level): This is the water level just below the dam. This number fluctuates wildly based on rain and how much water is being released from dams further upstream.
Currently, the lower gauge is hovering around 19 to 20 feet. For context, the "Action Stage"—where the NWS starts getting nervous—is 49 feet. We are nowhere near that today. Even "Minor Flooding" doesn't start until the gauge hits 51 feet.
The 1937 Ghost and Modern Reality
We can't talk about the water level at markland dam without mentioning the 1937 flood. It is the benchmark for everything on the Ohio River. During that January, it rained for 12 days straight. The river hit 80 feet in some spots.
At the Markland site (though the current dam wasn't built until the 1960s), that water level would have completely submerged the current lock walls. Today, we have better technology to track this stuff. Agencies like the USGS and NOAA provide real-time data every 15 minutes.
But even with the best tech, the river has a mind of its own. Just last year, in April 2025, we saw a crest of 57.76 feet. That was enough to cause some serious headaches for local farmers and shut down some of the low-lying roads near the river. It wasn't a "catastrophe," but it was a reminder that the dam is a tool for navigation, not a magical shield against nature.
How to use this data for your weekend
If you're planning on taking the boat out or just going fishing near the tailwaters, here is what you actually need to know about the current levels.
- Flow Rate: Right now, the flow is around 101,000 cubic feet per second (kcfs). That's a decent clip but manageable.
- The 9-Foot Rule: The Corps maintains a 9-foot channel for a reason. If you see the pool level dropping significantly below 455 feet (unlikely, but it happens during maintenance), stay in the channel.
- Locking Through: If you're a recreational boater, remember that the barges always have priority. You can use Marine Channel 13 or 14 to talk to the lockmaster. They’ll tell you exactly what the current "head" is—the difference between the upper and lower water levels.
Actionable Next Steps
If you need to keep a close eye on the water level at markland dam, don't rely on old news or generic weather apps.
First, bookmark the NOAA Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS) page for "Markland Lower." It gives you a 48-hour forecast that is surprisingly accurate because it accounts for the water already moving down from Pittsburgh and Huntington.
Second, if you're a property owner, check your elevation against the NAVD88 datum. The "Action Stage" of 49 feet on the gauge actually translates to about 455.65 feet above sea level. Knowing your specific ground elevation can save you from a lot of panic when the river starts its inevitable spring rise.
Lastly, keep an eye on the "Percent of Normal" stats provided by the USGS. Currently, the river is flowing at about 57% of its historical average for this time of year. That means we have plenty of "room" in the riverbed for any upcoming late-winter storms.
The river is a living thing. The dam is just our way of trying to stay invited to the party without getting our feet too wet.