Rivers in South Dakota
Big Sioux River below Watertown
Below flood stage
4.71ftStage
Observed Tue, Sep 29, 5:45 PM CDT
- Flood stage
- 11.00 ft
- Record crest
- 13.13 ft1997
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 12.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 11.50 ft |
| Minor flood | 11.00 ft |
| Action | 10.00 ft |
- 14.50 ftThe bridge 1 mile north of Appleby is overtopped
- 14.00 ftThe bridge at the southeast corner of Watertown is overtopped
- 13.30 ftThe water reaches the bottom of the bridge 1 mile north of Appleby
- 12.00 ftThe water reaches the bottom of the bridge near Appleby and at the southeast corner of Watertown
- 11.70 ftWater goes over the low spot on the road 300 feet east of the gauging location
- 11.00 ftFlooding begins to affect significant amounts of pasture and crop land
Crest history
27 crests on NOAA’s list since 1995.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 2, 1997 | 13.13 ft |
| 2 | April 8, 2001 | 12.69 ft |
| 3 | March 23, 2011 | 12.56 ft |
| 4 | March 28, 2019 | 12.31 ft |
| 5 | April 12, 2023 | 12.26 ft |
| 6 | March 13, 1996 | 11.78 ft |
| 7 | March 12, 1995 | 11.74 ft |
| 8 | August 22, 2025 | 11.68 ft |
| 9 | April 22, 2018 | 11.49 ft |
| 10 | March 23, 2009 | 11.37 ft |
| 11 | March 18, 2010 | 11.07 ft |
| 12 | August 21, 2002 | 10.76 ft |
| 13 | March 19, 2007 | 10.52 ft |
| 14 | February 23, 1998 | 10.17 ft |
| 15 | February 19, 2017 | 9.60 ft |
| 16 | March 18, 2003 | 9.18 ft |
| 17 | March 13, 2015 | 8.83 ft |
| 18 | April 2, 2020 | 8.79 ft |
| 19 | June 12, 2008 | 7.96 ft |
| 20 | August 12, 2016 | 7.89 ft |
| 21 | April 28, 2013 | 7.80 ft |
| 22 | June 10, 1999 | 7.21 ft |
| 23 | June 15, 2005 | 7.14 ft |
| 24 | June 22, 2014 | 7.06 ft |
| 25 | April 1, 2006 | 7.05 ft |
Most recent crests
- August 22, 2025: 11.68 ft
- April 12, 2023: 12.26 ft
- April 2, 2020: 8.79 ft
- March 28, 2019: 12.31 ft
- April 22, 2018: 11.49 ft
- February 19, 2017: 9.60 ft
- August 12, 2016: 7.89 ft
- March 13, 2015: 8.83 ft
- June 22, 2014: 7.06 ft
- April 28, 2013: 7.80 ft
Nearby
Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.
- UpstreamBig Sioux River at Watertown Broadway Avenue
- DownstreamBig Sioux River at Castlewood
- Willow Creek at Watertown
- South Branch Tributary Mud Creek at Rauville
- Pelican Lake at Watertown
- Big Sioux River at Watertown Sioux Conifer Road
- Lake Kampeska at Watertown Water Plant
- Big Sioux River at Lake Kampeska
What this means
Forecasts by the Missouri Basin River Forecast Center. Forecasts are not available. Only observed stages are available for this point. Stage may be affected by ice.
Sources
Stage, flood stages, impacts and crest history from NOAA’s National Water Prediction Service. Streamflow and the daily record from the U.S. Geological Survey.