PUB2801

Water Resources Program

fact sheet

Missouri Geological Survey

Director: Carey Bridges, RG

The Little Niangua River streamgage near Macks Creek 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.

The Little Niangua River is a stream in Missouri’s Osage River Hills Subsection of the Ozark Highlands, flowing into the Niangua River. The name Niangua comes from a Native American Chief named Niangua.

The streamgage is located at the State Route 54 bridge over the Little Niangua River near Macks Creek in Camden County and consists of a shelter, a data collection platform, an electronic pressure transducer to measure stage, a crest stage gage (Figure 3) to automatically record crest height during high water events and a wire weight gage to manually verify electronic measurements. Learn how a USGS streamgage works.

Streamgage Information

  • Streamgage Drainage Area: 125 square miles
  • 10-Digit Hydrologic Unit Code: 1029011003
  • Area of HUC10 Basin: 328 square miles
  • Gage Location: 37°56'05", -93°04'01"  (Camden County)
  • Gage Datum: 830 feet above NGVD29

USGS Tools

  • Average Discharge (cubic feet per second): May 29, 2007 to present
  • Observation Gage Height (feet): May 30, 2019 to present
  • Peak: Gage Height, Discharge (feet, cubic feet per second) 19.84, 24,400 (July 1, 2015)

The Little Niangua River near Macks Creek 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 Little Niangua River Streamgage near Macks Creek Important?

The streamgage provides recreational users in the area, surrounding landowners, and the public with accurate stream height data. The Water Resources Center uses discharge data from this streamgage for flood, drought and water supply studies. The river is a tributary for the Lake of the Ozarks.

In the area, people can enjoy:

  • Bird-watching 
  • Camping
  • Hiking
  • Fishing
  • Floating
  • Motor boating
  • Horseback riding

For more information about recreation activities located within the basin, contact the Missouri Department of Conservation.
 
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Figure 3. Crest Stage Gage.     
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Figure 4. Side profile view of bridge.
 
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Figure 5. Cross section profile of bridge and stream.     
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Figure 6. Downstream view.

1    References Cited
Bell, Margaret E. "Place Names In The Southwest Border Counties Of Missouri." M.A. thesis., University of Missouri-Columbia, 1933.

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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