Flow report

South Dakota River Levels & Streamflow

As of Aug 4, 2026, South Dakota rivers are running at 56% of normal across 97 USGS gauges — the highest is 797 cfs on the Little Minnesota River Near Peever. Live discharge, gauge height, and percent-of-normal for every USGS streamgauge in South Dakota.

USGS gauges
97
State percent normal
56%
Paddle runs
0
Updated
Aug 4
Open the South Dakota flow layer on the map Every USGS streamgauge filtered to South Dakota.
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August
4
2026
Flow briefing

Streamflow levels across South Dakota are currently 56% of normal, with the Little Minnesota River Near Peever reporting the highest discharge in the state at 797 cfs and a gauge stage of 14.28 ft.

Meanwhile, the Cheyenne R Near Plainview Sd is seeing a spike today — up 44% since yesterday and currently running near peak.

Tap any gauge below for the full hydrograph, paired weather forecast, and historical context. Use the rivers panel to jump into South Dakota's named rivers.

South Dakota at a glance

State-wide streamflow overview

The South Dakota flow picture in four data points -- where the state sits versus historical norms, what's flowing hardest, and what's spiking fastest.

Percent of normal

56%

100% is the historical norm. Below 70% indicates drought; above 130% can flag elevated flood risk.

Highest discharge

Little Minnesota River Near Peever 797 cfs

Gauge stage 14.28 ft

Biggest 24h spike

Cheyenne R Near Plainview Sd +44%

Now 275 cfs

Network coverage

Gauges + rivers tracked 97 + 0

USGS gauges feeding 0 named rivers in South Dakota.

Full streamgauge inventory

South Dakota USGS streamgauges

Every USGS gauge Snoflo tracks in South Dakota. Sortable, quickly filterable. Numeric columns heat-mapped from light to deep. Tap any gauge for its full hydrograph and forecast.

97 gauges
Streamgage Streamflow Gage height Water temp Air temp Elevation Watershed
Foot Creek Near Aberdeen, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06471800
722 cfs 9.44 ft · 51°F 1,329 ft Upper James
Little Minnesota River Near Peever, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 05290000
636 cfs 13.66 ft · 55°F 1,015 ft Upper Minnesota
James R At Huron Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06476000
510 cfs 9.70 ft · 56°F 1,233 ft Middle James
James R Near Redfield Sd, Sd
5 hours ago · USGS 06475000
500 cfs 5.75 ft · 51°F 1,264 ft Middle James
James R Near Mitchell Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06478000
488 cfs 11.69 ft · 58°F 1,206 ft Lower James
James R At Ashton Sd, Sd
5 hours ago · USGS 06473000
471 cfs 5.98 ft · 51°F 1,271 ft Middle James
James R Near Scotland Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06478500
455 cfs 5.02 ft · 60°F 1,187 ft Lower James
Bois De Sioux River Near White Rock, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 05050000
447 cfs 6.39 ft · 53°F 968 ft Bois De Sioux
James River Nr Yankton Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06478513
398 cfs 3.93 ft · 61°F 1,164 ft Lower James
James R Near Forestburg Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06477000
397 cfs 5.94 ft · 57°F 1,214 ft Lower James
James R Near Stratford Sd, Sd
5 hours ago · USGS 06472000
371 cfs 8.86 ft · 51°F 1,276 ft Upper James
Big Sioux River Near Brookings Sd, Sd
5 hours ago · USGS 06480000
323 cfs 3.31 ft · 57°F 1,562 ft Lower Big Sioux
Big Sioux R Near Dell Rapids Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06481000
276 cfs 3.92 ft · 59°F 1,464 ft Lower Big Sioux
Cheyenne R Near Plainview Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06438500
268 cfs 8.60 ft 60°F 49°F 1,865 ft Lower Cheyenne
Big Sioux River Near Bruce, Sd
5 hours ago · USGS 06479770
236 cfs 4.19 ft · 56°F 1,630 ft Upper Big Sioux
Big Sioux R At North Cliff Ave At Sioux Falls Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06482020
211 cfs 5.49 ft · 61°F 1,303 ft Lower Big Sioux
Big Sioux R At Sioux Falls Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06482000
200 cfs 1.92 ft · 61°F 1,395 ft Lower Big Sioux
James R At Columbia Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06471000
185 cfs 6.71 ft · 50°F 1,287 ft Upper James
White R Near Oacoma Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06452000
183 cfs 8.15 ft · 54°F 1,394 ft Lower White
Belle Fourche R Near Sturgis Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06437000
168 cfs 3.19 ft · 50°F 2,546 ft Lower Belle Fourche
Belle Fourche River Near Elm Springs, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06438000
154 cfs 4.59 ft · 49°F 2,180 ft Lower Belle Fourche
Keya Paha R At Wewela Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06464500
139 cfs 2.83 ft · 55°F 2,053 ft Keya Paha
Big Sioux R Near Castlewood Sd, Sd
5 hours ago · USGS 06479525
110 cfs 5.50 ft · 55°F 1,682 ft Upper Big Sioux
Inlet Canal Above Belle Fourche Reservoir Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06434505
101 cfs 4.71 ft · 47°F 2,985 ft Lower Belle Fourche
Rapid Cr Below Pactola Dam Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06411500
91 cfs 7.84 ft · 42°F 4,420 ft Rapid
Belle Fourche R At Wy-Sd State Line, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06428500
86 cfs 4.30 ft · 47°F 3,103 ft Lower Belle Fourche
James River At Nd-Sd State Line, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06470878
82 cfs 88.33 ft 32°F 50°F 1,290 ft Upper James
Whetstone River Near Big Stone City, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 05291000
80 cfs 2.28 ft · 56°F 1,017 ft Upper Minnesota
Little White R Near Rosebud Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06449500
80 cfs 3.99 ft · 50°F 2,305 ft Little White
Rapid Cr At Rapid City Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06414000
71 cfs 3.75 ft · 51°F 3,246 ft Rapid
Rapid Cr Above Canyon Lake Near Rapid City Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06412500
69 cfs 2.42 ft 35°F 51°F 3,416 ft Rapid
Keya Paha R Near Keyapaha Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06464100
68 cfs 5.05 ft · 53°F 2,220 ft Keya Paha
White River Near White River, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06447450
63 cfs 3.63 ft · 53°F 1,775 ft Middle White
Redwater River Above Belle Fourche Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06433000
61 cfs 2.69 ft · 47°F 3,018 ft Redwater
Big Sioux R At Watertown Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06479500
55 cfs 4.59 ft · 54°F 1,717 ft Upper Big Sioux
Cheyenne River Near Wasta, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06423500
52 cfs · · 50°F 2,269 ft Middle Cheyenne-Elk
Little White R Below White River Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06450500
52 cfs 1.72 ft · 52°F 1,927 ft Little White
Fall R At Hot Springs Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06402000
48 cfs · · 52°F 3,430 ft Middle Cheyenne-Spring
Cheyenne River At Redshirt, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06403700
46 cfs 9.37 ft 68°F 50°F 2,670 ft Middle Cheyenne-Spring
Cheyenne R Near Buffalo Gap Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06402600
46 cfs 2.17 ft · 51°F 2,820 ft Middle Cheyenne-Spring
Spearfish Cr At Spearfish Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06431500
40 cfs 4.82 ft · 48°F 3,669 ft Redwater
Grand R At Little Eagle Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06357800
26 cfs 2.45 ft · 48°F 1,640 ft Grand
Rapid Cr Near Farmingdale Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06421500
26 cfs 5.41 ft · 48°F 2,711 ft Rapid
Big Sioux R Near Watertown Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06479438
26 cfs 4.35 ft · 54°F 1,742 ft Upper Big Sioux
Little White R Near Vetal Sd, Sd
8 hours ago · USGS 06449100
23 cfs 3.03 ft 42°F 49°F 2,789 ft Little White
White R Near Kadoka Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06447000
22 cfs 3.91 ft · 48°F 2,131 ft Middle White
Belle Fourche R Near Fruitdale Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06436000
21 cfs 1.73 ft · 47°F 2,940 ft Lower Belle Fourche
Vermillion River Nr Vermillion Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06479010
19 cfs 1.46 ft · 62°F 1,137 ft Vermillion
Spearfish Creek Near Lead, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06430770
16 cfs 7.49 ft · 39°F 5,312 ft Redwater
Redwater Cr At Wy-Sd State Line, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06430500
16 cfs 2.66 ft · 45°F 3,424 ft Redwater
South Fork Grand R Near Cash Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06356500
16 cfs · · 44°F 2,425 ft South Fork Grand
Rapid Cr Above Pactola Res At Silver City, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06410500
15 cfs 4.52 ft · 41°F 4,628 ft Rapid
Murray Ditch Ab Headgate At Wy-Sd State Line, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06429997
14 cfs 1.78 ft · 45°F 3,457 ft Redwater
Little Spearfish Creek Near Lead, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06430850
13 cfs 4.66 ft · 40°F 5,053 ft Redwater
White R Near Interior Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06446500
13 cfs 3.48 ft · 50°F 2,300 ft Middle White
Elm R At Westport Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06471500
12 cfs 4.25 ft · 51°F 1,323 ft Elm
Castle Cr Below Deerfield Dam Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06410000
10 cfs 3.49 ft · 40°F 5,795 ft Rapid
Cleghorn Springs At Rapid City, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06412810
10 cfs 2.66 ft · 51°F 3,371 ft Rapid
Castle Cr Above Deerfield Res Near Hill City Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06409000
9 cfs 2.74 ft · 42°F 5,929 ft Rapid
Split Rock Cr At Corson Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06482610
8 cfs 1.71 ft · 60°F 1,307 ft Lower Big Sioux
Little White R Near Martin Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06447500
6 cfs · · 49°F 3,069 ft Little White
Moreau R Near Faith Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06359500
5 cfs · · 47°F 2,248 ft Lower Moreau
Beaver Cr Near Buffalo Gap Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06402500
5 cfs 4.47 ft · 52°F 3,161 ft Middle Cheyenne-Spring
Rhoads Fork Near Rochford Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06408700
4 cfs 3.75 ft · 40°F 5,981 ft Rapid
Whitewood Cr Above Whitewood, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06436180
4 cfs · · 48°F 3,681 ft Lower Belle Fourche
Big Sioux River Nr Florence Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06479215
3 cfs 2.71 ft · 54°F 1,787 ft Upper Big Sioux
East Fork Vermillion River Near Parker, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06478600
3 cfs 5.10 ft · 60°F 1,328 ft Vermillion
Skunk Cr At Sioux Falls Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06481500
3 cfs 2.19 ft · 61°F 1,411 ft Lower Big Sioux
Flandreau Cr Above Flandreau Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06480650
3 cfs 4.33 ft · 57°F 1,571 ft Lower Big Sioux
Bear In The Lodge Cr Near Wanblee Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06446700
3 cfs 1.41 ft · 50°F 2,526 ft Middle White
Little Missouri R At Camp Crook Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06334500
3 cfs 1.66 ft · 44°F 3,102 ft Upper Little Missouri
Battle Cr At Hermosa Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06406000
2 cfs 2.49 ft · 50°F 3,284 ft Middle Cheyenne-Spring
South Fork Bad R Near Cottonwood Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06440200
2 cfs 4.62 ft · 46°F 2,253 ft Bad
Whitewood Creek Near Whitewood Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06436190
1 cfs 5.34 ft · 49°F 3,173 ft Lower Belle Fourche
Bear Butte Creek Near Deadwood, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06437020
1 cfs 3.62 ft · 44°F 4,753 ft Lower Belle Fourche
Lake Cr Below Refuge Near Tuthill Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06449000
1 cfs 2.47 ft · 49°F 2,991 ft Little White
Bad R Near Fort Pierre Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06441500
1 cfs 1.04 ft · 54°F 1,437 ft Bad
Cheyenne R Below Angostura Dam Sd, Sd
4 days ago · USGS 06401500
1 cfs 2.88 ft · 63°F 3,065 ft Middle Cheyenne-Spring
Platte Creek Near Platte, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06452320
1 cfs 1.52 ft · 58°F 1,373 ft Fort Randall Reservoir
French Cr Above Fairburn Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06403300
0 cfs · · 51°F 3,825 ft Middle Cheyenne-Spring
Boxelder Cr Near Nemo Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06422500
0 cfs 1.18 ft · 42°F 4,334 ft Middle Cheyenne-Elk
Elk Cr Near Elm Springs Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06425500
0 cfs 3.48 ft · 49°F 2,322 ft Middle Cheyenne-Elk
West Fork Vermillion R Near Parker Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06478690
0 cfs · · 59°F 1,350 ft Vermillion
Grace Coolidge Cr Nr Game Lodge Nr Custer Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06404998
0 cfs 6.54 ft · 50°F 4,125 ft Middle Cheyenne-Spring
Skunk Cr Nr Chester Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06481480
0 cfs · · 59°F 1,563 ft Lower Big Sioux
Firesteel Cr Near Mount Vernon Sd, Sd
6 hours ago · USGS 06477500
0 cfs 2.02 ft · 57°F 1,304 ft Lower James
Horsehead Cr At Oelrichs Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06400875
0 cfs 1.89 ft · 50°F 3,315 ft Angostura Reservoir
Cheyenne R At Edgemont Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06395000
0 cfs · · 52°F 3,422 ft Angostura Reservoir
Hat Cr Near Edgemont Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06400000
0 cfs 6.57 ft · 52°F 3,301 ft Hat
Battle Cr Below Hermosa Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06406500
0 cfs 1.84 ft · 49°F 2,810 ft Middle Cheyenne-Spring
Battle Cr Near Keystone Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06404000
0 cfs 3.09 ft · 50°F 3,815 ft Middle Cheyenne-Spring
Spring Cr Near Keystone Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06407500
0 cfs 3.28 ft · 50°F 3,898 ft Middle Cheyenne-Spring
Whitewood Cr Above Vale Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06436198
0 cfs · · 49°F 2,857 ft Lower Belle Fourche
North Fork Grand R Near White Butte Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06355500
0 cfs · · 45°F 2,318 ft North Fork Grand
Moreau R Near Whitehorse Sd, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06360500
0 cfs 1.34 ft · 47°F 1,670 ft Lower Moreau
White R Nr Ne-Sd State Line, Sd
7 hours ago · USGS 06445685
0 cfs 3.25 ft · 49°F 3,041 ft Upper White
White R Near Oglala Sd, Sd
3 days ago · USGS 06446000
0 cfs 5.37 ft · 50°F 2,880 ft Upper White
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Flow report FAQ

About South Dakota streamflow

What are river levels like in South Dakota right now?

As of August 4, 2026, South Dakota rivers are running at 56% of normal across 97 USGS streamgauges, and the Little Minnesota River Near Peever is reporting the highest discharge at 797 cfs. The full sortable gauge table is below.

Which South Dakota river is running highest right now?

As of August 4, 2026, the highest discharge in South Dakota is 797 cfs on the Little Minnesota River Near Peever. See the sortable gauge table for the full statewide ranking.

Are South Dakota rivers high or low right now?

Compare the statewide percent-of-normal on this page: above 100% means South Dakota rivers are running higher than the seasonal average for the date, below 100% means lower (a dry spell or drought). Each gauge also shows its own percent of median.

Where does the South Dakota streamflow data come from?

The U.S. Geological Survey National Water Information System. USGS streamgauges report continuously (every 15 minutes) and the data is the canonical real-time record for U.S. rivers. Snoflo pulls the latest readings and joins them to a 7-day NOAA weather forecast for each station.

What is cfs?

Cubic feet per second — the standard unit for streamflow. One cfs is about 7.5 gallons per second. Small creeks run at single-digit cfs; the Mississippi at hundreds of thousands.

What does Gauge Height mean?

The water level at the gauge in feet above the reference datum. Used together with discharge to track river state. Flood stage and runnable levels are typically expressed in gauge height (e.g., "flood at 16 ft").

How fresh is the South Dakota data?

USGS streamgauges report every 15 minutes; Snoflo re-pulls throughout the day. The AI briefing regenerates daily.

Can I get a flow alert for a South Dakota gauge?

Yes. Save any USGS gauge as a favorite in the Snoflo iOS app, set a discharge or stage threshold (e.g. "alert me when discharge crosses 2,000 cfs"), and you'll get a push the moment it crosses.

Is this a substitute for an NWS flood warning?

No. Snoflo is informational. For flood life-safety decisions always follow guidance from your local NWS forecast office and state emergency management. Snoflo data is one input among several.