PUB2761

Water Resources Program

fact sheet

Missouri Geological Survey

Director: Carey Bridges, RG

The Tavern Creek streamgage below St. Elizabeth is owned by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and funded in cooperation with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Stage (water-surface elevation) measurements are made and recorded at 15-minute intervals and transmitted to the USGS office every hour. Stage and streamflow values are displayed in near real-time.

Tavern Creek is a stream in Miller County flowing through the Osage River Hills subsection of the Ozark Highlands Section of Missouri. The name “tavern” may have come from the French for “cavern.” Another possible explanation was the abundance of game and clean water was equal to that of an inn or pub at the time (Weber).

The streamgage is located at the MO-52 bridge over Tavern Creek northeast of St. Elizabeth in Miller County and consists of a shelter, a data collection platform, an electronic pressure transducer used to measure stage, a crest stage gage to automatically record crest height during high water events and a wire weight gage used to manually verify electronic measurements. Learn how a USGS streamgage works.  

Streamgage Information

  • Streamgage Drainage Area: 303 square miles
  • 10-Digit Hydrologic Unit Code: 1029011101
  • Area of HUC10 Basin: 313 square miles
  • Gage Location: 38°16'40", -92°14'00" (Miller County)
  • Gage Datum: 570 feet above NAVD88

USGS Tools

  • Maximum, Minimum, Average Water Temperature: July 29, 2016 to present
  • Average Discharge (cubic feet per second): May 23, 2014 to present
  • Observation Gage Height (feet): May 23, 2014 to present
  • Peak: Gage Height, Discharge (feet, cubic feet per second) 20.55, 39,000 (Dec. 27, 2014)

The Tavern Creek below St. Elizabeth streamgage webpage is maintained by USGS. Users are able to create graphs and tables utilizing the recorded parameters, which can be customized to show current and historical observations, daily data, daily statistics, monthly statistics, annual statistics, peak streamflow and field measurements for any time frame within the period of record. A location map and Water-Year Summary also are available. Customize your own data output online.

Why is the Tavern Creek Streamgage below St. Elizabeth Important?

The streamgage provides recreational users in the area, surrounding landowners and the public with accurate stream height data. Gage height may be affected by ice during cold periods. Local farmers use this streamgage along with the Osage River at Tuscumbia streamgage to check the height of the Osage River, while the Missouri Department of Conservation has used these streamgages for a study on mussels.  The Water Resources Center uses discharge data from this streamgage for flood, drought and water supply studies.

In the area, people can enjoy:

  • Bird-watching 
  • Camping
  • Fishing
  • Hunting
  • Hiking
  • Horseback riding
  • Boating and Floating

For more information about recreation activities located within the basin, contact the Missouri Department of Conservation.
 
Figure 3. Cross section view of gage site and surrounding area.      
Figure 4.  View upstream.
 
Figure 5. View downstream.    

1    References Cited
Weber, Frank. "Place Names Of Six South Central Counties of Missouri." M.A. thesis., University of Missouri-Columbia, 1938.

Nothing in this document may be used to implement any enforcement action or levy any penalty unless promulgated by rule under chapter 536 or authorized by statute.

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