North Raccoon River river
Total streamflow across the North Raccoon River was last observed at 1,954 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 3,876 acre-ft of water today; about 143% of normal. River levels are high. Average streamflow for this time of year is 1,363 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2025-08-11 when daily discharge volume was observed at 8,330 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the North Raccoon River Near Jefferson reporting a streamflow rate of 1,420 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the North Raccoon River Near Sac City with a gauge stage of 8.64 ft. This river is monitored from 2 different streamgauging stations along the North Raccoon River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 1,179 ft, the North Raccoon River Near Sac City.
River streamflow levels
Daily aggregate streamflow across every monitored gauge along the North Raccoon River. Use the range buttons to zoom in on a specific period.
Total streamflow
Sum of all monitored streamgauges · daily
Every streamgauge along the North Raccoon River
All 2 USGS gauges Snoflo tracks for this river, with current flow, stage, recent change, percent of normal, and the gauge's all-time min / max. Click any header to sort. Cells are heatmapped relative to the column min/max -- darker blue = higher.
| Streamgauge▾ | Streamflow (cfs)▾ | Gauge stage (ft)▾ | 24h Δ (%)▾ | % Normal▾ | Min (cfs)▾ | Max (cfs)▾ | Elevation (ft)▾ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
North Raccoon River Near Sac City
IA
USGS 05482300
|
534 | 8.64 | -7.1 | 75% | 6 | 8,280 | 1,179 |
|
North Raccoon River Near Jefferson
IA
USGS 05482500
|
1,420 | 6.82 | -10.1 | 90% | 7 | 16,700 | 978 |
Maximum streamflow discharge by year
The single highest aggregate discharge recorded each year. Spotting the multi-year trend reveals droughts vs. wet cycles long before the headline daily flow does.
Annual peak discharge
From the river's full record · one point per water year
Streamflow elevation profile
Each bubble is one gauge along the river, plotted by current streamflow (x-axis) vs elevation (y-axis), sized by gauge stage. Reading top-to-bottom traces the river from headwaters down to its mouth -- you can see flow accumulate as elevation drops.
Elevation vs streamflow
One point per monitored gauge · bubble size = gauge stage
North Raccoon River
The North Raccoon River is a 92-mile-long river that flows through northwestern and central Iowa. It is a major tributary of the Raccoon River and is an important source of water for agriculture and recreation in the region. The river has a rich history, with Native American tribes using it as a source of food and transportation for thousands of years. Today, the river is home to several important reservoirs and dams, including Brushy Creek Lake, Black Hawk Lake, and the Lake Panorama Dam. These reservoirs provide water for irrigation, flood control, and recreational activities such as fishing and boating. The North Raccoon River is an important resource for Iowa's agricultural community, and it plays a vital role in the region's economy and natural environment.
Recreation along the North Raccoon River
Fishing access and paddle runs Snoflo tracks within the watershed.
Track the North Raccoon River in the Snoflo app
Set per-gauge push alerts (e.g. "alert me when flow at the Russian R Nr Healdsburg crosses 5,000 cfs"), and Snoflo's iOS app pushes the moment USGS reports the crossing.
About the North Raccoon River
Where does the data for the North Raccoon River come from?
Streamflow and gauge stage data are sourced from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Information System. The aggregate flow shown at the top of the page is computed by Snoflo as the sum of all monitored gauges along the river.
How is "percent of normal" calculated?
Today's aggregate streamflow is compared to the historical average aggregate streamflow on this calendar day across the river's full record. 100% means right on average; values above 100% indicate above-normal flow (wet year); values below indicate below-normal (dry year or drought).
Why are some gauges showing very different flows?
Gauges along a river measure flow at different points: headwater gauges read what's coming off the snowpack or mountain runoff; downstream gauges integrate everything upstream, including tributary inputs. Wide spreads usually mean a tributary is contributing significantly between gauges.
What's the elevation profile chart showing?
Each bubble is one gauge along the river, plotted by streamflow (x-axis) and elevation (y-axis), sized by gauge stage. Reading top-down traces the river from headwaters to mouth -- you can see flow build as elevation drops.
Can I get alerts when a specific gauge crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app on a per-gauge basis. Open any individual streamgauge from the table above and favorite it to set a discharge threshold.