The United States Geological Survey (USGS) site is reading the Salt Creek level from a datum of 655'. The datum of 655' is approximately that level above mean sea level. The measuring point is positioned 3' BELOW the creek bed to protect the instrument. For instance, if the level reported is five feet above datum it does not mean that there is five feet of water. Since the instrument is approximately 3' below the creek bed, 5' above datum means there is approximately 2' of water above datum. City of Elmhurst staff have determined that Salt Creek levels will have to exceed 14' on the USGS instrument (11' of water depth) before there is concern of out of the bank flooding. The City maintains its own reading station about 1/3 mile south of the USGS station at the Elmhurst Wastewater Treatment Plant. The City used the Plant site for it's "official" records and measurements. For a real time snapshot summarized in graph form, please click here.
Real Time Gage Height, Discharge, Inches of Rain Click Here...