Nibi Metrics - live water levels, flow, and forecasts for lakes and rivers across Canada and the US
Real-time water levels, forecasts, and alerts for lakes and rivers across Canada and the US. Built on official government data.
Nibi Metrics tracks more than 13,000 gauged lakes and rivers across Canada and the United States, reading directly from official federal monitoring networks: the Water Survey of Canada, the United States Geological Survey, and Quebec's provincial hydrometric network. Every number on the platform is measured, not modelled - taken from a government gauge on the water itself and compared against that location's own historical record for this exact date.
What you can see for any monitored lake or river
The level right now, in feet or metres, updated as the source agency publishes new readings - for many stations that is every five to fifteen minutes. How today compares to typical: every location carries its own typical-for-this-date band built from its historical record, so a reading is never just a number - it is above, below, or near what this water usually does on this calendar day. Which way it is moving: a measured RISING, FALLING, or STEADY verdict computed from the gauge's own recent readings, with the rate of change - the difference between a flood ending and one beginning. What comes next: level forecasts up to 72 hours ahead, driven by the gauge's recent behaviour, upstream water, and quantitative precipitation forecasts, alongside live radar, lightning, and weather for the surrounding region.
Alerts that watch the water for you
Set a threshold on any location - a level, a distance above typical, or a rate of climb - and Nibi emails or notifies you the moment the gauge crosses it. Cottagers use it for spring freshet, anglers for river conditions, marinas and municipalities for operations. The scanning runs around the clock against the same measured data shown on every page.
Where Nibi comes from
Nibi means water in Anishinaabemowin. The platform began at a family cottage on Lake Muskoka, Ontario, where the spring melt floods the shoreline most years and the only forecast was standing on the dock, looking, and guessing. It grew into an independent, member-funded platform run by Muskoka Research Inc. - no investors, no data resale, and a privacy policy shorter than most cookie banners. The core data is free for everyone, forever; paid plans add automation like multi-location alerts, deep history, and reports.
Coverage
Nibi spans the continent: every Canadian province and territory with active federal gauges - from Vancouver Island rivers to the Muskoka lakes, prairie reservoirs, and Quebec's hydrometric network - and the United States from Maine to the Texas Hill Country, the Ohio Valley, and the Pacific Northwest. Coverage grows where the water news is: when a basin floods, its gauges join the platform with their full historical records attached. Many stations report every five to fifteen minutes; most report at least hourly; every page states exactly when its gauge last spoke.
Free forever, funded by members
The core promise is simple: the water data is free, for everyone, forever. Live levels, maps, radar, and recent history never sit behind a paywall. Paid plans fund the platform by adding automation - multi-location alerts, decades of history, longer forecasts, and PDF reports - so the people who need more carry the cost for everyone who just needs to check the lake before driving up. There are no investors and no advertising deals shaping what the data says.
Water Stories
Field notes and explainers from the Nibi desk - how to read a staff gauge, what a 100-year flood actually means, how snowpack becomes summer water.
For five years, spring 2019 was the mark every Lake Muskoka decision answered to. In April 2026 the lake went two centimeters higher - and the official books have not caught up yet.
Inside the freshet cycle that puts Manitoba shorelines at risk each year - and why 2026 broke the script.
The science of snow water equivalent and why it drives the season ahead.
What the numbers on the measuring stick actually tell you.
Why Central and South Texas rivers go from gravel beds to fifty-year records in an afternoon - including July 2026 on the Nueces.
One percent, every year, forever - unwrapping hydrology's most misunderstood phrase, and how it differs from our own percentiles.
How every number is computed - About the platform
Black River near Annapolis Water Level
Live river level, flow, historical records and forecast for Black River near Annapolis in MO, United States, built from official government gauge data.
- Location MO, United States
- Watershed upper black
- Primary gauge 07061500 (USGS)
About Black River near Annapolis
Black River near Annapolis - A dynamic watercourse in the Ozarks.
The Black River near Annapolis flows through the heart of the Upper Black watershed in Missouri. Known for its rainfall-driven hydrology, the river showcases the region's vibrant cycles of water, characterized by rapid changes during seasonal rainfall events. As part of the Ozark region, this river is influenced by both surface runoff and the unique karst system that supports baseflow on some of its tributaries, ensuring that it remains a vital waterway year-round.
The watershed context
This stretch of the Black River is vital, draining an area of approximately 484 square miles upstream. The Black River and its neighboring streams, such as the Clearwater Tailwater and Logan Creek, work in conjunction to maintain the ecological health of the region. Each tributary contributes its share of water, affecting flow and water quality downstream. Anglers and outdoor enthusiasts are drawn to these waters for recreation, while the surrounding area embodies a rich tapestry of natural habitats, where riparian zones support diverse plant and animal species.
Why the data matters here
Monitoring the conditions of the Black River is particularly crucial due to its susceptibility to flooding, especially during the spring rainy season. Current readings from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) provide insights into real-time changes in water levels. For today, the river’s water level is measured against the median level for this date across an extensive 50-year historical record. This comparative analysis is more informative than a standalone elevation, allowing for a better understanding of potential flooding and other hydrological events. Keeping track of these levels informs decisions for fishing, farming, and safety in flood-prone areas, ultimately ensuring that communities alongside the Black River are prepared for its dynamic behavior.
How this page is built
Readings come from official government gauges and are rolled into daily records: the daily mean, high and low for every day on record. Each calendar day gets its own baseline from the full history, so the level you see is compared against what this specific date usually looks like rather than an annual average.
How Nibi Metrics works · Water stories
