River stage
Bessemer, Black River
- River level
- 2.07 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- +0.08 ft
- Recent high
- 2.22 ft
- Recent low
- 1.88 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS BESM4
- 30-day change
- +0.18 ft
- Average
- 1.96 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 14.27 ft
In brief
The Black River at Bessemer, MI read 2.07 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 7.43 ft below action stage. That is 0.18 ft higher than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge BESM4
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14.27 ft | 1960-04-24 |
| 2 | 13.54 ft | 2002-04-17 |
| 3 | 12.23 ft | 2013-04-30 |
| 4 | 12.16 ft | 2003-05-12 |
| 5 | 11.73 ft | 1972-08-16 |
| 6 | 11.41 ft | 2019-04-23 |
| 7 | 11.38 ft | 2023-04-12 |
| 8 | 9.93 ft | 2001-04-12 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 10.00 ft
Which is flood stage...water impacts low lying areas of properties along Black River Road and Hedberg Road
- 12.00 ft
Water reaches the bottom of Hedberg Road Bridge
- 14.00 ft
Water innundates the bridge on Hedbery Road and portions of Black River Road in the vicinity
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Trout stocking on the Black River
Michigan DNR stocked the Black River 2 times in 2026, 980 fish in total. Brook trout at 21.4. Michigan DNR's published figures for 2026, the most recent season it has confirmed, record 980 trout actually released here across 2 visits.
| Species | Fish | When |
|---|---|---|
| Brook trout | 490 | May 2026 |
| Brook trout | 490 | May 2026 |
Michigan DNR lists a week or a month rather than a date, and counts fish as an estimate. Full Michigan stocking schedule →
Frequently asked questions
Is the Black River flooding at Bessemer?
No. The Black River at Bessemer is at 2.07 ft, 7.43 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Bessemer?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 9.5 ft, minor flooding 10 ft, moderate flooding 12 ft and major flooding 14 ft.
What is the highest the Black River has been at Bessemer?
The highest crest on record is 14.27 ft, on 1960-04-24.
Is the Black River high or low right now at Bessemer?
At 2.07 ft it is higher than 90% of readings over the last 122 days.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge BESM4); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 04031000). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.