Four rivers shape Southeast Arkansas: the Saline, the Ouachita, Bayou Bartholomew and the Mississippi. These pages collect their official gauge records, including the highest crests, the biggest floods, the lowest flows and how much water each river carried year by year.
Updated Oct. 18, 2026. Crest lists come from the National Weather Service. Flow records come from the U.S. Geological Survey.
Choose a river below. Each page explains how to read its tables.
In this archive
Saline River History
Crests, record lows and yearly flows on the Saline River at Rye and Warren, back to 1927.
Ouachita River History
Crests, record lows and yearly flows on the Ouachita River from Camden to Moro Bay and Felsenthal.
Bayou Bartholomew History
Peaks, crests, record lows and yearly flows on Bayou Bartholomew from Garrett Bridge to Wilmot.
Mississippi River History
Crests and flows on the Mississippi near Arkansas City and Greenville, from the 1927 flood to today.
Data
| Gauge | County | Highest crest on NWS list | Flood stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saline River at Rye | Bradley | 31.4 ft, May 18, 1968 | 26 ft |
| Ouachita River at Moro Bay State Park | Bradley | 89.95 ft, May 21, 1968 | 82 ft |
| Ouachita River at Felsenthal Lock and Dam | Union | 88.3 ft, April 11, 1945 (older datum) | 70 ft |
| Bayou Bartholomew at Portland | Ashley | 36.67 ft, March 15, 2016 | not set by NWS |
| Mississippi River near Arkansas City | Desha | 59.2 ft, April 21, 1927 | 37 ft |
| Mississippi River near Greenville, Miss. | Washington, Miss. | 65.4 ft, April 21, 1927 | 48 ft |
Source: National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service. Updated .
Sources
- National Water Prediction Service (gauge pages, flood categories and historic crests), NOAA National Weather Service. Accessed .
- Peak Streamflow for the Nation, U.S. Geological Survey. Accessed .
- USGS Water Services: daily values and annual statistics, U.S. Geological Survey. Accessed .
- Water Data for the Nation, U.S. Geological Survey. Accessed .