River Conditions
Illustrated map of Lake McConaughy

River stage

Ashland, Salt Creek

River level
6.79 ft
Status
Below flood stage
7-day change
-1.32 ft
Recent high
20.85 ft
Recent low
5.56 ft

Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS ASTN1

30-day change
+0.52 ft
Average
7.18 ft
Readings
122
Data span
122 days
Record crest
22.10 ft

In brief

The Salt Creek at Ashland, NE read 6.79 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 12.21 ft below action stage. That is 0.52 ft higher than 30 days earlier.

Source: National Weather Service gauge ASTN1

River level timeline

49141823SEP 13SEP 18SEP 23SEP 28OCT 03OCT 08OCT 13ACTION 19.00 ftHIGH 20.85LOW 6.276.79 ftLAST READING

Stage threshold profile

Action stage 19.00 ftMinor flooding 20.00 ftModerate flooding 21.00 ftMajor flooding 26.00 ft CURRENT 6.79 ft

Highest crests on record

RankCrestDate
1 22.10 ft 2019-03-14
2 21.45 ft 2015-05-08
3 20.38 ft 2014-10-01
4 20.08 ft 2017-05-20
5 19.80 ft 2018-09-04
6 19.67 ft 2024-07-02
7 18.69 ft 2016-05-12
8 18.40 ft 2013-05-30

Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.

What happens at each level

  1. 19.00 ft

    Lowland flooding, including around Ashland, begins.

  2. 20.00 ft

    Water will begin to impact a campground just downstream of the Highway 6 bridge. During the summer, this campground may be filled with as many as 50 campers.

  3. 21.00 ft

    Local levees along the river are threatened with overtopping. In addition, substantial damages are occurring at the campground near Highway 6.

  4. 23.00 ft

    At this level a parking lot/boat ramp located along the left bank begins to flood.

  5. 26.21 ft

    This value represents a level not seen on Salt Creek since the Great Flood of 1908.

Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Salt Creek flooding at Ashland?

No. The Salt Creek at Ashland is at 6.79 ft, 12.21 ft below action stage.

What is the flood stage at Ashland?

The National Weather Service sets action stage 19 ft, minor flooding 20 ft, moderate flooding 21 ft and major flooding 26 ft.

What is the highest the Salt Creek has been at Ashland?

The highest crest on record is 22.1 ft, on 2019-03-14.

Is the Salt Creek high or low right now at Ashland?

At 6.79 ft it is higher than 50% of readings over the last 122 days.

Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge ASTN1); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 06805000). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.