Raccoon River river
Total streamflow across the Raccoon River was last observed at 5,200 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 10,314 acre-ft of water today; about 30% of normal. River levels are low and may signify a drought. Average streamflow for this time of year is 17,170 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2015-06-27 when daily discharge volume was observed at 114,500 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Raccoon River At 63rd Street At Des Moines reporting a streamflow rate of 2,640 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the Raccoon River Near West Des Moines with a gauge stage of 29.73 ft. This river is monitored from 4 different streamgauging stations along the Raccoon River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 862 ft, the Raccoon River At Van Meter.
River streamflow levels
Daily aggregate streamflow across every monitored gauge along the 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 Raccoon River
All 4 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)▾ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Raccoon River At Van Meter
IA
USGS 05484500
|
2,560 | 5.46 | -6.2 | 58% | 85 | 49,500 | 862 |
|
Raccoon River Near West Des Moines
IA
USGS 05484600
|
1,320 | 29.73 | 73.6 | 379% | 77 | 1,320 | 844 |
|
Raccoon River At 63rd Street At Des Moines
IA
USGS 05484650
|
2,640 | 23.28 | -4.4 | 66% | 53 | 40,200 | 797 |
|
Raccoon River At Fleur Drive
IA
USGS 05484900
|
2,530 | 4.81 | -5.2 | 53% | 15 | 44,600 | 797 |
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
Raccoon River
The Raccoon River is a 30-mile river in central Iowa, running through the state capital of Des Moines. It was named after the abundant population of raccoons living in the area. The river has a rich history, with Native American tribes using it for transportation and fishing. Today, the river is used for various recreational activities, including fishing, kayaking, and camping. However, it is also used for agricultural purposes, with numerous farms located along its banks. In terms of hydrology, the river has a relatively flat gradient, leading to slow-moving waters. There are several reservoirs and dams along the river, including Saylorville Dam and Lake Red Rock, which provide flood control and recreational opportunities. Despite its importance to the local community, the Raccoon River has faced issues with pollution and sedimentation, prompting conservation efforts to protect this valuable natural resource.
Recreation along the Raccoon River
Fishing access and paddle runs Snoflo tracks within the watershed.
Track the 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 Raccoon River
Where does the data for the 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.