Nibi Metrics
Real-time water levels, forecasts, and alerts for lakes and rivers across Canada and the US. Built on official government data.
Nibi Metrics turns raw gauge readings from official hydrometric networks into something a person standing on a dock can actually use: is the water high or low for today, which way is it moving, and how unusual is this? This page explains where every number on the platform comes from and what we do to it along the way.
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Cottonwood Creek near Lumsden Water Level
Live river level, flow, historical records and forecast for Cottonwood Creek near Lumsden in Canada, SK, Canada, built from official government gauge data.
- Location Canada, SK, Canada
- Watershed upper qu appelle wascana
- Primary gauge 05JF011 (Water Survey of Canada)
About Cottonwood Creek near Lumsden
Cottonwood Creek - a dynamic tributary of the Upper Qu'Appelle watershed.
Nestled in Saskatchewan's vibrant landscape, Cottonwood Creek flows near Lumsden, contributing to the rich hydrology of the Upper Qu'Appelle - Wascana watershed. This creek, draining approximately 952 square kilometres above the station, plays a vital role in managing water flow for the surrounding ecosystems and communities.
The watershed context
The Upper Qu'Appelle - Wascana watershed is characterized by its snowmelt-dominated spring peak, following the annual pattern of Prairie hydrology. With sharp increases in flow as winter snowpack melts, the creek experiences significant discharge during the spring months. This pattern is often followed by prolonged summer recessions when flow diminishes due to evaporation and reduced inflows. Cottonwood Creek shares its space with neighboring waterways like Boggy Creek, Qu'Appelle River, and Wascana Creek, creating a network of vital watercourses that support regional biodiversity and recreational activities.
Why the data matters here
Monitoring Cottonwood Creek provides essential insights into the health of the watershed, particularly through the data collected by the Water Survey of Canada. Current readings reflect the creek's flow conditions, crucial for irrigation, fishing, and other water-dependent activities. Today’s water level is measured and compared against the historical median for this date, offering a clear picture of how current conditions stack up against long-term trends over the last 49 years. This context allows users to anticipate potential flooding or drought conditions, making the data a valuable resource for cottagers, anglers, and farmers in the region.
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
