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.
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.
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 14.28 ft
Biggest 24h spike
Now 275 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Little Minnesota River Near Peever, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 05290000 |
797 cfs | 14.28 ft | · | 70°F | 1,015 ft | Upper Minnesota |
|
James R Near Mitchell Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06478000 |
520 cfs | 11.80 ft | · | 68°F | 1,206 ft | Lower James |
|
James R Near Redfield Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06475000 |
494 cfs | 5.72 ft | · | 67°F | 1,264 ft | Middle James |
|
James R At Ashton Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06473000 |
469 cfs | 5.97 ft | · | 68°F | 1,271 ft | Middle James |
|
James R Near Forestburg Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06477000 |
455 cfs | 6.15 ft | · | 69°F | 1,214 ft | Lower James |
|
Bois De Sioux River Near White Rock, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 05050000 |
451 cfs | 6.41 ft | · | 64°F | 968 ft | Bois De Sioux |
|
James R Near Scotland Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06478500 |
433 cfs | 4.98 ft | · | 68°F | 1,187 ft | Lower James |
|
James River Nr Yankton Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06478513 |
420 cfs | 3.96 ft | · | 67°F | 1,164 ft | Lower James |
|
James R Near Stratford Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06472000 |
386 cfs | 8.98 ft | · | 68°F | 1,276 ft | Upper James |
|
James R At Huron Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06476000 |
377 cfs | 9.55 ft | · | 70°F | 1,233 ft | Middle James |
|
Big Sioux River Near Brookings Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06480000 |
360 cfs | 3.44 ft | · | 68°F | 1,562 ft | Lower Big Sioux |
|
Big Sioux River Near Bruce, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06479770 |
280 cfs | 4.40 ft | · | 69°F | 1,630 ft | Upper Big Sioux |
|
Cheyenne R Near Plainview Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06438500 |
275 cfs | 8.61 ft | 60°F | 70°F | 1,865 ft | Lower Cheyenne |
|
Big Sioux R Near Dell Rapids Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06481000 |
226 cfs | 3.74 ft | · | 65°F | 1,464 ft | Lower Big Sioux |
|
James R At Columbia Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06471000 |
207 cfs | 6.94 ft | · | 68°F | 1,287 ft | Upper James |
|
Big Sioux R At North Cliff Ave At Sioux Falls Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06482020 |
200 cfs | 5.46 ft | · | 67°F | 1,303 ft | Lower Big Sioux |
|
Big Sioux R At Sioux Falls Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06482000 |
195 cfs | 1.90 ft | · | 67°F | 1,395 ft | Lower Big Sioux |
|
Belle Fourche R Near Sturgis Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06437000 |
186 cfs | 3.26 ft | · | 67°F | 2,546 ft | Lower Belle Fourche |
|
Keya Paha R At Wewela Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06464500 |
184 cfs | 3.00 ft | · | 71°F | 2,053 ft | Keya Paha |
|
Whetstone River Near Big Stone City, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 05291000 |
170 cfs | 2.81 ft | · | 65°F | 1,017 ft | Upper Minnesota |
|
Belle Fourche River Near Elm Springs, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06438000 |
162 cfs | 4.62 ft | · | 68°F | 2,180 ft | Lower Belle Fourche |
|
Foot Creek Near Aberdeen, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06471800 |
134 cfs | 6.96 ft | · | 67°F | 1,329 ft | Upper James |
|
Big Sioux R Near Castlewood Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06479525 |
128 cfs | 5.65 ft | · | 65°F | 1,682 ft | Upper Big Sioux |
|
Inlet Canal Above Belle Fourche Reservoir Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06434505 |
99 cfs | 4.70 ft | · | 63°F | 2,985 ft | Lower Belle Fourche |
|
Little White R Near Rosebud Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06449500 |
86 cfs | 4.03 ft | · | 73°F | 2,305 ft | Little White |
|
Belle Fourche R At Wy-Sd State Line, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06428500 |
86 cfs | 4.30 ft | · | 62°F | 3,103 ft | Lower Belle Fourche |
|
Keya Paha R Near Keyapaha Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06464100 |
83 cfs | 5.21 ft | · | 70°F | 2,220 ft | Keya Paha |
|
Rapid Cr Below Pactola Dam Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06411500 |
81 cfs | 7.79 ft | · | 59°F | 4,420 ft | Rapid |
|
White River Near White River, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06447450 |
74 cfs | 3.70 ft | · | 77°F | 1,775 ft | Middle White |
|
Little White R Below White River Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06450500 |
72 cfs | 1.82 ft | · | 74°F | 1,927 ft | Little White |
|
Cheyenne River Near Wasta, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06423500 |
63 cfs | · | · | 69°F | 2,269 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Elk |
|
Rapid Cr At Rapid City Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06414000 |
61 cfs | 3.67 ft | · | 70°F | 3,246 ft | Rapid |
|
Big Sioux R At Watertown Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06479500 |
61 cfs | 4.73 ft | · | 66°F | 1,717 ft | Upper Big Sioux |
|
Rapid Cr Above Canyon Lake Near Rapid City Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06412500 |
60 cfs | 2.34 ft | 35°F | 70°F | 3,416 ft | Rapid |
|
White R Near Oacoma Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06452000 |
58 cfs | 7.56 ft | · | 71°F | 1,394 ft | Lower White |
|
Cheyenne River At Redshirt, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06403700 |
49 cfs | 9.40 ft | 80°F | 69°F | 2,670 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Spring |
|
Cheyenne R Near Buffalo Gap Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06402600 |
48 cfs | 2.19 ft | · | 70°F | 2,820 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Spring |
|
Fall R At Hot Springs Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06402000 |
46 cfs | · | · | 70°F | 3,430 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Spring |
|
White R Near Kadoka Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06447000 |
45 cfs | 4.09 ft | · | 75°F | 2,131 ft | Middle White |
|
Redwater River Above Belle Fourche Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06433000 |
44 cfs | 2.56 ft | · | 62°F | 3,018 ft | Redwater |
|
Spearfish Cr At Spearfish Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06431500 |
39 cfs | 4.81 ft | · | 64°F | 3,669 ft | Redwater |
|
Big Sioux R Near Watertown Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06479438 |
30 cfs | 4.41 ft | · | 66°F | 1,742 ft | Upper Big Sioux |
|
South Fork Grand R Near Cash Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06356500 |
27 cfs | 1.01 ft | · | 64°F | 2,425 ft | South Fork Grand |
|
Little White R Near Vetal Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06449100 |
26 cfs | 3.08 ft | 42°F | 71°F | 2,789 ft | Little White |
|
Grand R At Little Eagle Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06357800 |
24 cfs | 2.43 ft | · | 68°F | 1,640 ft | Grand |
|
White R Near Interior Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06446500 |
21 cfs | 3.57 ft | · | 75°F | 2,300 ft | Middle White |
|
Belle Fourche R Near Fruitdale Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06436000 |
20 cfs | 1.71 ft | · | 63°F | 2,940 ft | Lower Belle Fourche |
|
Vermillion River Nr Vermillion Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06479010 |
20 cfs | 1.48 ft | · | 66°F | 1,137 ft | Vermillion |
|
Rapid Cr Near Farmingdale Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06421500 |
19 cfs | 5.29 ft | · | 68°F | 2,711 ft | Rapid |
|
James River At Nd-Sd State Line, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06470878 |
17 cfs | 88.47 ft | 32°F | 66°F | 1,290 ft | Upper James |
|
Spearfish Creek Near Lead, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06430770 |
16 cfs | 7.49 ft | · | 55°F | 5,312 ft | Redwater |
|
Redwater Cr At Wy-Sd State Line, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06430500 |
15 cfs | 2.64 ft | · | 62°F | 3,424 ft | Redwater |
|
Rapid Cr Above Pactola Res At Silver City, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06410500 |
15 cfs | 4.52 ft | · | 57°F | 4,628 ft | Rapid |
|
Murray Ditch Ab Headgate At Wy-Sd State Line, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06429997 |
14 cfs | 1.78 ft | · | 62°F | 3,457 ft | Redwater |
|
Elm R At Westport Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06471500 |
14 cfs | 4.28 ft | · | 67°F | 1,323 ft | Elm |
|
Little Spearfish Creek Near Lead, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06430850 |
13 cfs | 4.66 ft | · | 57°F | 5,053 ft | Redwater |
|
Castle Cr Below Deerfield Dam Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06410000 |
10 cfs | 3.50 ft | · | 60°F | 5,795 ft | Rapid |
|
Cleghorn Springs At Rapid City, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06412810 |
10 cfs | 2.67 ft | · | 70°F | 3,371 ft | Rapid |
|
Castle Cr Above Deerfield Res Near Hill City Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06409000 |
9 cfs | 2.75 ft | · | 61°F | 5,929 ft | Rapid |
|
Split Rock Cr At Corson Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06482610 |
8 cfs | 1.71 ft | · | 65°F | 1,307 ft | Lower Big Sioux |
|
Little White R Near Martin Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06447500 |
7 cfs | · | · | 73°F | 3,069 ft | Little White |
|
Rhoads Fork Near Rochford Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06408700 |
4 cfs | 3.75 ft | · | 60°F | 5,981 ft | Rapid |
|
Skunk Cr At Sioux Falls Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06481500 |
4 cfs | 2.25 ft | · | 67°F | 1,411 ft | Lower Big Sioux |
|
Flandreau Cr Above Flandreau Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06480650 |
4 cfs | 4.36 ft | · | 64°F | 1,571 ft | Lower Big Sioux |
|
East Fork Vermillion River Near Parker, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06478600 |
4 cfs | 5.12 ft | · | 67°F | 1,328 ft | Vermillion |
|
Bear In The Lodge Cr Near Wanblee Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06446700 |
3 cfs | 1.46 ft | · | 73°F | 2,526 ft | Middle White |
|
Beaver Cr Near Buffalo Gap Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06402500 |
3 cfs | 4.20 ft | · | 70°F | 3,161 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Spring |
|
Whitewood Cr Above Whitewood, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06436180 |
3 cfs | · | · | 65°F | 3,681 ft | Lower Belle Fourche |
|
Little Missouri R At Camp Crook Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06334500 |
3 cfs | 1.66 ft | · | 63°F | 3,102 ft | Upper Little Missouri |
|
Big Sioux River Nr Florence Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06479215 |
2 cfs | 2.56 ft | · | 66°F | 1,787 ft | Upper Big Sioux |
|
Battle Cr At Hermosa Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06406000 |
2 cfs | 2.51 ft | · | 66°F | 3,284 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Spring |
|
Lake Cr Below Refuge Near Tuthill Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06449000 |
2 cfs | 2.51 ft | · | 72°F | 2,991 ft | Little White |
|
Bad R Near Fort Pierre Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06441500 |
1 cfs | 1.06 ft | · | 77°F | 1,437 ft | Bad |
|
Whitewood Creek Near Whitewood Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06436190 |
1 cfs | 5.34 ft | · | 64°F | 3,173 ft | Lower Belle Fourche |
|
Bear Butte Creek Near Deadwood, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06437020 |
1 cfs | 3.61 ft | · | 60°F | 4,753 ft | Lower Belle Fourche |
|
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
1 day ago · USGS 06452320 |
1 cfs | 1.55 ft | · | 72°F | 1,373 ft | Fort Randall Reservoir |
|
Moreau R Near Faith Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06359500 |
1 cfs | · | · | 66°F | 2,248 ft | Lower Moreau |
|
French Cr Above Fairburn Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06403300 |
0 cfs | · | · | 69°F | 3,825 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Spring |
|
Boxelder Cr Near Nemo Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06422500 |
0 cfs | 1.19 ft | · | 60°F | 4,334 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Elk |
|
Elk Cr Near Elm Springs Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06425500 |
0 cfs | 3.48 ft | · | 68°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 |
|
Grace Coolidge Cr Nr Game Lodge Nr Custer Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06404998 |
0 cfs | 6.56 ft | · | 69°F | 4,125 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Spring |
|
West Fork Vermillion R Near Parker Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06478690 |
0 cfs | · | · | 67°F | 1,350 ft | Vermillion |
|
Skunk Cr Nr Chester Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06481480 |
0 cfs | · | · | 65°F | 1,563 ft | Lower Big Sioux |
|
Firesteel Cr Near Mount Vernon Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06477500 |
0 cfs | 2.03 ft | · | 69°F | 1,304 ft | Lower James |
|
White R Nr Ne-Sd State Line, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06445685 |
0 cfs | 3.32 ft | · | 73°F | 3,041 ft | Upper White |
|
Horsehead Cr At Oelrichs Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06400875 |
0 cfs | 1.89 ft | · | 71°F | 3,315 ft | Angostura Reservoir |
|
Hat Cr Near Edgemont Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06400000 |
0 cfs | 6.56 ft | · | 70°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 |
|
Battle Cr Near Keystone Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06404000 |
0 cfs | 3.10 ft | · | 68°F | 3,815 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Spring |
|
Spring Cr Near Keystone Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06407500 |
0 cfs | 3.30 ft | · | 68°F | 3,898 ft | Middle Cheyenne-Spring |
|
Whitewood Cr Above Vale Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06436198 |
0 cfs | · | · | 64°F | 2,857 ft | Lower Belle Fourche |
|
North Fork Grand R Near White Butte Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06355500 |
0 cfs | · | · | 64°F | 2,318 ft | North Fork Grand |
|
Moreau R Near Whitehorse Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06360500 |
0 cfs | 1.42 ft | · | 68°F | 1,670 ft | Lower Moreau |
|
South Fork Bad R Near Cottonwood Sd, Sd
1 day ago · USGS 06440200 |
0 cfs | 4.36 ft | · | 72°F | 2,253 ft | Bad |
|
White R Near Oglala Sd, Sd
3 days ago · USGS 06446000 |
0 cfs | 5.43 ft | · | 72°F | 2,880 ft | Upper White |
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
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.