Turkey River Flow Today
As of October 2, 2026 at 2:15 AM, the Turkey River is flowing at 13,900 cfs at Garber, IA and up 415% in 24 hours. 4 of 4 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 504 to 13,900 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Turkey River map
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Turkey River conditions today
Where the river is running versus normal, what’s rising or dropping, and what it means for a trip — built from the live USGS readings below.
At Garber, the Turkey River is running 13,900 cfs, up 415% since yesterday.
In the last 24 hours the river is rising at Eldorado (+523%) and Elkader (+438%).
Flood watch: Eldorado is at action stage (11.50 ft); Elkader is at action stage (10.94 ft); Garber is at action stage (16.84 ft). Check NWS before heading out.
High water on the Turkey River
Turkey River Near Eldorado is at 11.50 ft — action stage (flood stage 13.0 ft).
Turkey River Above French Hollow Creek At Elkader is at 10.94 ft — action stage (flood stage 12.0 ft).
Turkey River At Garber is at 16.84 ft — action stage (flood stage 17.0 ft).
How the Turkey River compares to normal
Every reporting gauge from the top of the river to the bottom: bar length is today’s flow, colour is percent of normal for the date.
Flow along the river, upstream to downstream
- Spillville1,067 ft 504 cfs
- Eldorado897 ft 5,890 cfs
- Elkader726 ft 6,560 cfs
- Garber646 ft 13,900 cfs
Bar length uses a square-root scale so small headwater flows stay visible next to big downstream ones. Colour: <50% 50–90 90–110 110–150 150%+ of normal.
Turkey River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Turkey River At Spillville IA
Oct 2, 2:30 AM · USGS 05411600 |
504 cfs | · | +48% | 3.82 ft | 5.2 ft below | 1,067 ft |
|
Turkey River Near Eldorado IA
Oct 2, 2:45 AM · USGS 05411850 |
5,890 cfs | · | +523% | 11.50 ft | Action | 897 ft |
|
Turkey River Above French Hollow Creek At Elkader IA
Oct 2, 2:45 AM · USGS 05412020 |
6,560 cfs | · | +438% | 10.94 ft | Action | 726 ft |
|
Turkey River At Garber IA
Oct 2, 2:15 AM · USGS 05412500 |
13,900 cfs | · | +415% | 16.84 ft | Action | 646 ft |
USGS provisional data. Readings are in each gauge’s local time; gauges silent for more than 3 days are marked “Last reported”. Tap any gauge for its hydrograph, forecast and history.
Dams & reservoirs on the Turkey River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Turkey River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
Turkey River
The Turkey River is a 180-mile-long river located in northeastern Iowa. It was named after the wild turkeys that roamed the area. The river has played an important role in the area's history, serving as a transportation route for Native Americans and early settlers. The river's hydrology has been impacted by agricultural practices, causing increased sedimentation and nutrient pollution. Several reservoirs and dams have been constructed on the river, including the Martelle Dam and Backbone Lake. These provide recreational opportunities for fishing and boating. The river is also used for agricultural purposes, with many farms located along its banks. Despite these uses, conservation efforts have been put in place to protect the river's natural ecosystem, including riparian buffer zones and wetland restoration projects.
Fishing near the Turkey River
About the Turkey River
How is the Turkey River flowing right now?
As of October 2, 2026, the Turkey River is flowing at 13,900 cfs at Garber, IA. Across its 4 USGS gauges, current flows range from 504 to 13,900 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Turkey River running high or low?
Above 100% means higher than the historical average for this calendar day; below 100% means lower. The profile above shows which reaches are high or low.
What is flood stage on the Turkey River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Spillville (9.0 ft), Eldorado (13.0 ft), Elkader (12.0 ft), Garber (17.0 ft). The table shows how far each gauge is below its flood stage right now.
Where does the data come from?
Discharge and gage height are from the USGS National Water Information System; flood stages from the National Weather Service. The history chart sums every monitored gauge on the river.
Can I get alerts for a gauge?
Yes — open any gauge from the table, favorite it in the Snoflo app and set a flow threshold.