South Dakota streamflow
Live discharge, gauge height, water temperature, and percent-of-normal readings from every USGS streamgauge in South Dakota. Built for paddlers, anglers, water managers, and flood researchers.
Streamflow levels across South Dakota are currently 67% of normal, with the Big Sioux River Near Bruce reporting the highest discharge in the state at 1,510 cfs and a gauge stage of 7.94 ft.
Meanwhile, the Beaver Cr Near Buffalo Gap Sd is seeing a spike today — up 691% 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.
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
100% is the historical norm. Below 70% indicates drought; above 130% can flag elevated flood risk.
Highest discharge
Gauge stage 7.94 ft
Biggest 24h spike
Now 257 cfs
Network coverage
USGS gauges feeding 0 named rivers in South Dakota.
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.
| Streamgage | Streamflow | Gage height | Water temp | Air temp | Elevation | Watershed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Big Sioux River Near Bruce, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06479770 |
1,510 cfs | 7.94 ft | · | 69°F | 1,630 ft | Upper Big Sioux |
|
Big Sioux River Near Brookings Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06480000 |
1,130 cfs | 5.91 ft | · | 68°F | 1,562 ft | Lower Big Sioux |
|
James River Nr Yankton Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06478513 |
1,060 cfs | 3.01 ft | · | 68°F | 1,164 ft | Lower James |
|
James R Near Scotland Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06478500 |
929 cfs | 5.34 ft | · | 69°F | 1,187 ft | Lower James |
|
Big Sioux R Near Dell Rapids Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06481000 |
756 cfs | 5.48 ft | · | 68°F | 1,464 ft | Lower Big Sioux |
|
James R At Ashton Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06473000 |
747 cfs | 7.22 ft | · | 69°F | 1,271 ft | Middle James |
|
James R Near Redfield Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06475000 |
736 cfs | 6.71 ft | · | 68°F | 1,264 ft | Middle James |
|
Big Sioux R At North Cliff Ave At Sioux Falls Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06482020 |
733 cfs | 6.81 ft | · | 70°F | 1,303 ft | Lower Big Sioux |
|
James R Near Forestburg Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06477000 |
611 cfs | 6.35 ft | · | 70°F | 1,214 ft | Lower James |
|
James R Near Mitchell Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06478000 |
570 cfs | 12.10 ft | · | 70°F | 1,206 ft | Lower James |
|
James R At Huron Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06476000 |
558 cfs | 9.74 ft | · | 71°F | 1,233 ft | Middle James |
|
James R Near Stratford Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06472000 |
541 cfs | 10.24 ft | · | 69°F | 1,276 ft | Upper James |
|
Big Sioux R Near Castlewood Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06479525 |
443 cfs | 7.78 ft | · | 68°F | 1,682 ft | Upper Big Sioux |
|
Big Sioux R Near Watertown Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06479438 |
328 cfs | 7.43 ft | · | 68°F | 1,742 ft | Upper Big Sioux |
|
James River At Nd-Sd State Line, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06470878 |
296 cfs | 88.82 ft | 32°F | 67°F | 1,290 ft | Upper James |
|
Beaver Cr Near Buffalo Gap Sd, Sd
2 days ago · USGS 06402500 |
257 cfs | 9.43 ft | · | 68°F | 3,161 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Spring |
|
Whetstone River Near Big Stone City, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 05291000 |
254 cfs | 3.19 ft | · | 71°F | 1,017 ft | Upper Minnesota |
|
Big Sioux R At Sioux Falls Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06482000 |
236 cfs | 1.99 ft | · | 69°F | 1,395 ft | Lower Big Sioux |
|
Big Sioux R At Watertown Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06479500 |
222 cfs | 7.45 ft | · | 69°F | 1,717 ft | Upper Big Sioux |
|
White R Near Oacoma Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06452000 |
154 cfs | 8.05 ft | · | 70°F | 1,394 ft | Lower White |
|
White River Near White River, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06447450 |
138 cfs | 3.77 ft | · | 69°F | 1,775 ft | Middle White |
|
Little White R Near Rosebud Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06449500 |
133 cfs | 4.31 ft | · | 68°F | 2,305 ft | Little White |
|
Belle Fourche R Near Sturgis Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06437000 |
120 cfs | 2.98 ft | · | 69°F | 2,546 ft | Lower Belle Fourche |
|
Little White R Below White River Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06450500 |
120 cfs | 2.02 ft | · | 70°F | 1,927 ft | Little White |
|
James R At Columbia Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06471000 |
108 cfs | 6.46 ft | · | 68°F | 1,287 ft | Upper James |
|
Elm R At Westport Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06471500 |
94 cfs | 4.81 ft | · | 67°F | 1,323 ft | Elm |
|
Little White R Near Vetal Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06449100 |
89 cfs | 3.51 ft | 42°F | 66°F | 2,789 ft | Little White |
|
Cheyenne R Near Plainview Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06438500 |
87 cfs | 8.32 ft | 60°F | 72°F | 1,865 ft | Lower Cheyenne |
|
Cheyenne River Near Wasta, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06423500 |
84 cfs | · | · | 73°F | 2,269 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Elk |
|
Belle Fourche River Near Elm Springs, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06438000 |
83 cfs | 4.24 ft | · | 72°F | 2,180 ft | Lower Belle Fourche |
|
Rapid Cr Below Pactola Dam Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06411500 |
74 cfs | 7.75 ft | · | 64°F | 4,420 ft | Rapid |
|
Rapid Cr At Rapid City Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06414000 |
71 cfs | 3.76 ft | · | 71°F | 3,246 ft | Rapid |
|
Little Minnesota River Near Peever, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 05290000 |
69 cfs | 10.83 ft | · | 72°F | 1,015 ft | Upper Minnesota |
|
Vermillion River Nr Vermillion Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06479010 |
68 cfs | 1.97 ft | · | 69°F | 1,137 ft | Vermillion |
|
Keya Paha R At Wewela Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06464500 |
57 cfs | 2.32 ft | · | 67°F | 2,053 ft | Keya Paha |
|
Rapid Cr Above Canyon Lake Near Rapid City Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06412500 |
56 cfs | 2.30 ft | 35°F | 70°F | 3,416 ft | Rapid |
|
Cheyenne River At Redshirt, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06403700 |
53 cfs | 9.46 ft | 80°F | 70°F | 2,670 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Spring |
|
East Fork Vermillion River Near Parker, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06478600 |
51 cfs | 5.81 ft | · | 69°F | 1,328 ft | Vermillion |
|
Spearfish Cr At Spearfish Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06431500 |
46 cfs | 4.95 ft | · | 72°F | 3,669 ft | Redwater |
|
Fall R At Hot Springs Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06402000 |
41 cfs | · | · | 68°F | 3,430 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Spring |
|
Cheyenne R Near Buffalo Gap Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06402600 |
41 cfs | 2.11 ft | · | 68°F | 2,820 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Spring |
|
White R Near Interior Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06446500 |
40 cfs | 3.71 ft | · | 71°F | 2,300 ft | Middle White |
|
White R Near Kadoka Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06447000 |
39 cfs | 3.86 ft | · | 70°F | 2,131 ft | Middle White |
|
Grand R At Little Eagle Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06357800 |
36 cfs | 2.54 ft | · | 71°F | 1,640 ft | Grand |
|
Big Sioux River Nr Florence Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06479215 |
35 cfs | 4.04 ft | · | 68°F | 1,787 ft | Upper Big Sioux |
|
Redwater River Above Belle Fourche Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06433000 |
34 cfs | 2.31 ft | · | 66°F | 3,018 ft | Redwater |
|
Bois De Sioux River Near White Rock, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 05050000 |
28 cfs | 4.04 ft | · | 75°F | 968 ft | Bois De Sioux |
|
Moreau R Near Whitehorse Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06360500 |
24 cfs | 2.21 ft | · | 71°F | 1,670 ft | Lower Moreau |
|
Lake Cr Below Refuge Near Tuthill Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06449000 |
22 cfs | 3.15 ft | · | 66°F | 2,991 ft | Little White |
|
Rapid Cr Above Pactola Res At Silver City, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06410500 |
20 cfs | 4.57 ft | · | 63°F | 4,628 ft | Rapid |
|
Skunk Cr At Sioux Falls Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06481500 |
18 cfs | 2.59 ft | · | 69°F | 1,411 ft | Lower Big Sioux |
|
Keya Paha R Near Keyapaha Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06464100 |
17 cfs | 4.36 ft | · | 67°F | 2,220 ft | Keya Paha |
|
Spearfish Creek Near Lead, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06430770 |
17 cfs | 7.50 ft | · | 65°F | 5,312 ft | Redwater |
|
Split Rock Cr At Corson Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06482610 |
17 cfs | 1.86 ft | · | 68°F | 1,307 ft | Lower Big Sioux |
|
Rapid Cr Near Farmingdale Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06421500 |
17 cfs | 5.31 ft | · | 70°F | 2,711 ft | Rapid |
|
Little Spearfish Creek Near Lead, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06430850 |
15 cfs | 4.63 ft | · | 64°F | 5,053 ft | Redwater |
|
South Fork Grand R Near Cash Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06356500 |
11 cfs | · | · | 70°F | 2,425 ft | South Fork Grand |
|
Castle Cr Below Deerfield Dam Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06410000 |
11 cfs | 3.53 ft | · | 61°F | 5,795 ft | Rapid |
|
Murray Ditch Ab Headgate At Wy-Sd State Line, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06429997 |
11 cfs | 1.84 ft | · | 74°F | 3,457 ft | Redwater |
|
Cleghorn Springs At Rapid City, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06412810 |
9 cfs | 2.63 ft | · | 70°F | 3,371 ft | Rapid |
|
Belle Fourche R Near Fruitdale Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06436000 |
9 cfs | 1.50 ft | · | 66°F | 2,940 ft | Lower Belle Fourche |
|
Castle Cr Above Deerfield Res Near Hill City Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06409000 |
9 cfs | 2.74 ft | · | 61°F | 5,929 ft | Rapid |
|
Little White R Near Martin Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06447500 |
9 cfs | · | · | 66°F | 3,069 ft | Little White |
|
Flandreau Cr Above Flandreau Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06480650 |
8 cfs | 4.02 ft | · | 68°F | 1,571 ft | Lower Big Sioux |
|
Whitewood Cr Above Whitewood, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06436180 |
6 cfs | · | · | 72°F | 3,681 ft | Lower Belle Fourche |
|
Bear In The Lodge Cr Near Wanblee Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06446700 |
6 cfs | 1.56 ft | · | 69°F | 2,526 ft | Middle White |
|
Bad R Near Fort Pierre Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06441500 |
5 cfs | 1.07 ft | · | 73°F | 1,437 ft | Bad |
|
Rhoads Fork Near Rochford Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06408700 |
5 cfs | 3.71 ft | · | 63°F | 5,981 ft | Rapid |
|
Foot Creek Near Aberdeen, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06471800 |
3 cfs | 4.80 ft | · | 66°F | 1,329 ft | Upper James |
|
Little Missouri R At Camp Crook Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06334500 |
3 cfs | 1.69 ft | · | 66°F | 3,102 ft | Upper Little Missouri |
|
Boxelder Cr Near Nemo Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06422500 |
3 cfs | 1.61 ft | · | 64°F | 4,334 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Elk |
|
Whitewood Creek Near Whitewood Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06436190 |
3 cfs | 5.34 ft | · | 69°F | 3,173 ft | Lower Belle Fourche |
|
White R Near Oglala Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06446000 |
2 cfs | 6.11 ft | · | 68°F | 2,880 ft | Upper White |
|
Battle Cr At Hermosa Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06406000 |
2 cfs | 2.52 ft | · | 68°F | 3,284 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Spring |
|
Bear Butte Creek Near Deadwood, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06437020 |
2 cfs | 3.66 ft | · | 66°F | 4,753 ft | Lower Belle Fourche |
|
French Cr Above Fairburn Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06403300 |
1 cfs | · | · | 70°F | 3,825 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Spring |
|
White R Nr Ne-Sd State Line, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06445685 |
1 cfs | 3.51 ft | · | 69°F | 3,041 ft | Upper White |
|
Inlet Canal Above Belle Fourche Reservoir Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06434505 |
1 cfs | 3.90 ft | · | 66°F | 2,985 ft | Lower Belle Fourche |
|
Platte Creek Near Platte, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06452320 |
1 cfs | 1.79 ft | · | 70°F | 1,373 ft | Fort Randall Reservoir |
|
Redwater Cr At Wy-Sd State Line, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06430500 |
1 cfs | 2.51 ft | · | 74°F | 3,424 ft | Redwater |
|
Cheyenne R Below Angostura Dam Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06401500 |
1 cfs | 2.83 ft | · | 68°F | 3,065 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Spring |
|
Elk Cr Near Elm Springs Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06425500 |
1 cfs | 3.61 ft | · | 72°F | 2,322 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Elk |
|
Cheyenne R At Edgemont Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06395000 |
0 cfs | · | · | 69°F | 3,422 ft | Angostura Reservoir |
|
Spring Cr Near Keystone Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06407500 |
0 cfs | 3.62 ft | · | 70°F | 3,898 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Spring |
|
Belle Fourche R At Wy-Sd State Line, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06428500 |
0 cfs | 2.91 ft | · | 67°F | 3,103 ft | Lower Belle Fourche |
|
Firesteel Cr Near Mount Vernon Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06477500 |
0 cfs | 2.14 ft | · | 70°F | 1,304 ft | Lower James |
|
Grace Coolidge Cr Nr Game Lodge Nr Custer Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06404998 |
0 cfs | 6.49 ft | · | 69°F | 4,125 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Spring |
|
Skunk Cr Nr Chester Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06481480 |
0 cfs | · | · | 68°F | 1,563 ft | Lower Big Sioux |
|
Battle Cr Near Keystone Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06404000 |
0 cfs | 3.21 ft | · | 71°F | 3,815 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Spring |
|
North Fork Grand R Near White Butte Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06355500 |
0 cfs | · | · | 70°F | 2,318 ft | North Fork Grand |
|
South Fork Bad R Near Cottonwood Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06440200 |
0 cfs | 4.43 ft | · | 71°F | 2,253 ft | Bad |
|
Horsehead Cr At Oelrichs Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06400875 |
0 cfs | 1.89 ft | · | 68°F | 3,315 ft | Angostura Reservoir |
|
Hat Cr Near Edgemont Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06400000 |
0 cfs | 6.55 ft | · | 68°F | 3,301 ft | Hat |
|
Battle Cr Below Hermosa Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06406500 |
0 cfs | 1.84 ft | · | 69°F | 2,810 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Spring |
|
Whitewood Cr Above Vale Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06436198 |
0 cfs | 1.30 ft | · | 67°F | 2,857 ft | Lower Belle Fourche |
|
Moreau R Near Faith Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06359500 |
0 cfs | · | · | 71°F | 2,248 ft | Lower Moreau |
|
West Fork Vermillion R Near Parker Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06478690 |
0 cfs | · | · | 68°F | 1,350 ft | Vermillion |
See every South Dakota gauge ranked against normal.
- Percentile rank & % of median for all 97 gauges
- 15-day PULSE forecast on every gauge
- Custom flow alerts & full daily history
About South Dakota streamflow
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.