Live USGS streamgage reading for the St. Joseph River at Niles (Berrien County, Michigan). Current stage is 7.54 ft — below action stage.
The National Weather Service coordinates with USGS to maintain official flood-stage thresholds for this gauge. When the gauge reading crosses a threshold, NWS may issue a Flood Watch or Warning for Berrien County and surrounding areas.
| Stage | Threshold (ft) | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Action stage | 12.0 | Mitigation actions begin (sandbagging, road closures monitoring). |
| Minor flood stage | 13.0 | Some inundation of low-lying areas; minimal property damage. |
| Moderate flood stage | 15.0 | Some structures and roads inundated; evacuations may begin. |
| Major flood stage | 17.0 | Extensive inundation of structures and roads; significant evacuations and rescues. |
St. Joseph River basin (~4,685 sq mi, Indiana / Michigan border to Lake Michigan)
The St. Joseph River is a tributary in the St. Joseph River basin, draining surface water from Berrien County and surrounding areas. Stage and discharge readings at this gauge are part of the USGS National Water Information System and feed into NWS hydrologic forecasts and flood-warning decisions for downstream communities.
If Berrien County is under a Flood Warning that mentions the St. Joseph River, do not drive through flooded roadways — most flood-related deaths in Michigan occur in vehicles attempting to cross water. If you live in low-lying areas near Niles, monitor the gauge reading on this page and be prepared to move to higher ground. Sign up for NWS alerts via NOAA Weather Radio (programmed for Berrien County's SAME code) or via your local emergency-management office. The National Weather Service issues flood watches and warnings for Berrien County when this gauge approaches its action or minor flood stage.