South Skunk River river
Total streamflow across the South Skunk River was last observed at 3,001 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 5,952 acre-ft of water today; about 110% of normal. Average streamflow for this time of year is 2,738 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2026-04-05 when daily discharge volume was observed at 21,680 cfs.
Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the South Skunk River Near Oskaloosa reporting a streamflow rate of 1,580 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the South Skunk River Below Squaw Creek Near Ames with a gauge stage of 11.42 ft. This river is monitored from 4 different streamgauging stations along the South Skunk River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 928 ft, the South Skunk River Near Ames.
River streamflow levels
Daily aggregate streamflow across every monitored gauge along the South Skunk River. Use the range buttons to zoom in on a specific period.
Total streamflow
Sum of all monitored streamgauges · daily
Every streamgauge along the South Skunk 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)▾ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
South Skunk River Near Ames
IA
USGS 05470000
|
263 | 4.02 | -3.0 | 58% | 0 | 10,600 | 928 |
|
South Skunk River Below Squaw Creek Near Ames
IA
USGS 05471000
|
441 | 11.42 | -6.6 | 59% | 0 | 14,600 | 872 |
|
South Skunk River At Colfax
IA
USGS 05471050
|
717 | 9.02 | -5.4 | 64% | 10 | 8,780 | 793 |
|
South Skunk River Near Oskaloosa
IA
USGS 05471500
|
1,580 | 11.01 | -6.5 | 72% | 24 | 16,100 | 692 |
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
South Skunk River
The South Skunk River is located in Iowa, USA, and is a tributary of the Skunk River. It runs for 137 miles and has a drainage area of 1,629 square miles. The river has a long history of flooding, with the most significant flood occurring in 2008. The hydrology of the river is affected by various factors, including land use changes, development, and climate change.
There are several reservoirs and dams along the South Skunk River, including the Saylorville Dam and the Red Rock Dam. These dam systems help to manage flooding and provide hydroelectric power. The river is also an important source of water for agricultural irrigation in the region.
Recreationally, the South Skunk River is popular for fishing, canoeing, and kayaking. The river is home to several species of fish, including catfish, bass, and walleye. The river also provides important habitat for wildlife, including several endangered species.
Recreation along the South Skunk River
Fishing access and paddle runs Snoflo tracks within the watershed.
Track the South Skunk 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 South Skunk River
Where does the data for the South Skunk 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.