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See real-time water level readings from Environment Agency river monitoring stations across England, refreshed via the open flood-monitoring API.
Updated: live from EA Flood Monitoring · Last checked by Maplify: August 2026
This layer surfaces the Environment Agency's network of active river, watercourse and tidal monitoring stations as pins on the Maplify map. Each pin carries the station's name, river and town, the most recent level reading and its timestamp, and — where the station has a typical range — the typical high and low so you can see whether the reading is normal, elevated or near the recorded maximum.
Stations report readings every 15 minutes to two hours depending on their telemetry, so the picture is close to live rather than weeks old. Pinning the stations on the map alongside Green Belt, flood zones, conservation areas and other Maplify layers turns a raw sensor feed into a planning and flood-screening context.
The layer bridges the EA Flood Monitoring open API and is therefore limited to England. SEPA, Natural Resources Wales and DfI Rivers publish real-time level data separately for their own services — Maplify does not currently combine those feeds.
Knowing how a river is behaving right now adds a live signal that static flood-zone polygons cannot give. The flood risk layer tells you what could flood in a 1-in-100 year event; the live river layer tells you what the river is doing today — context that matters for site work on riverbanks,asset inspections, drainage works, environmental monitoring and developer consideration of high-flow periods.
For developers and consultants considering sites near a watercourse, observing the typical range and the recent behaviour of nearby stations helps make early judgements about platform build-up, off-site flow control, and the realistic operational ranges to design for. It does not replace a flood risk assessment, but it grounds the assessment in observed rather than modelled behaviour.
For community flood-action groups, anglers, environmental contractors and asset managers, the live layer is a single map to glance at the catchment — a real-time situational picture that can be combined with Maplify's EA flood zones, conservation areas and SSSI designations.
Blue pin
An active river-level / watercourse monitoring station. Each carries its tag, river name, town and latest reading value (in metres where available).
Recent value
The most recent reading value reported by the station, with its date and time. Where the station has a typical range, you can compare the reading to the typical high/low.
Station type
Some stations report river flow at a gauging structure (RtgOpenChannel/Rtg.Structure) and others a simple stage reading; the stationType field on each pin shows which.
No outcome forecast
The layer reports current readings only — it is not a flood warning, forecast, or a recommendation to act. Check Floodline for warnings.
The Environment Agency's flood zones (Flood Zone 2, Flood Zone 3 and Risk of Flooding from Rivers and Sea) define the static flood risk used for sequential and exception tests in planning. Static zones, though, can be both older and coarser than current behaviour — and a live layer showing recent readings on nearby stations helps planning teams flag sites under elevated or rising flow conditions faster.
For sites within 20 m of a main river or flood defence, conversations with the EA about flood risk activity permits and consent by design changes should reference the relevant monitoring station's recent behaviour. Including stage readings in the Site-Specific Flood Risk Assessment is good practice — though the EA's own flood modelling remains the authoritative source.
For community partners and contractors working in or alongside the channel, the live layer should be part of a wider flood-aware operating procedure: River Levels inform timing of site work, the EA's Floodline service is the authoritative warning service.
Search the area on Maplify and enable the Live River Levels layer to surface nearby EA stations.
Open the relevant pin to see the station name, river, town and most recent reading value with timestamp.
Cross-reference with EA Flood Zones, the River Catchments and Main Rivers layers to see where the station sits in the catchment.
For development or works within 20 m of a main river, contact the EA about a flood risk activity permit and use the live station behaviour as evidence.
For genuine flood warnings and alerts, always sign up to Floodline — this layer shows readings, not warnings.
This is general guidance, not professional or legal advice — confirm specifics with the relevant authority or a qualified professional.
Community Flood Groups
Glance at the whole catchment in one map, combined with EA flood zones and conservation areas.
Developers near watercourses
Observe recent readings on nearby stations during appraisal and flood risk activity permit discussions.
Environmental Contractors
Timing of in-channel works, riverbank restoration and bank-side inspections against real flow.
Anglers & Wildlife Groups
A quick situational view of flow conditions across a catchment before travelling.
Asset Managers & Drainage Authorities
Live context for culvert, sluice and outfall management.
Live river levels sit alongside the EA flood zone layers and the wider water picture.
Where does the river-level data come from?
Every station on this layer is one of the Environment Agency's active river, watercourse, tidal or groundwater level monitoring sites in England, published through the EA flood-monitoring open API under the Open Government Licence.
How often is the data refreshed?
Stations report continuously — typically the latest reading is from within the last 15 minutes to two hours, depending on the station. Each time you enable the layer on Maplify the most recent readings are fetched directly from the API.
Why are some pins further from the river than I expected?
The pin sits at the surveyed monitoring point coordinates — which is sometimes the gauge house some distance from the channel, rather than the water line. Each pin labels its station's name, river and town so you can confirm which station you're looking at.
Does this cover the whole UK?
The EA Flood Monitoring API covers England; river-level monitoring in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is published by SEPA, Natural Resources Wales and DfI Rivers respectively. Maplify only bridges the EA service at present.
Can I use this as a flood warning?
No. This is a live-reading layer, not a forecast. Always check the Environment Agency's flood warnings and alerts, signed up to via the Floodline service, for a flood warning or alert ahead of time.
What are the typical "scale" values on each pin?
Most EA monitoring stations have a typical high and low range published as part of the stage scale configuration; Maplify surfaces these alongside the latest reading so you can see whether the current level is normal, elevated or near the recorded typical maximum.
Bridge EA flood monitoring to your planning and flood-screening decisions in one map.
| Provider | Environment Agency Flood Monitoring API |
| Geometry type | Point (surveyed monitoring station) |
| Coverage | England |
| Update schedule | Live, every 15 minutes to 2 hours per station |
| Reference date | August 2026 |
| Licence | Open Government Licence v3.0 |
