Raccoon River at Des Moines Fleur Dr

1. 31.00 ftThis is the top of the levee surrounding Des Moines Water Works.
2. 27.70 ftThis is the top of the levee surrounding Valley Gardens.
3. 22.00 ftThe levee is closed across SW 22nd St under the Fleur Dr viaduct. Levee closures also occur across three driveways into Principal Park.
4. 21.00 ftThe levee is closed across 63rd St.
5. 18.50 ftWater affects the maintenance buildings outside of the levee protection at Des Moines Water Works Park.
6. 18.00 ftAll the levee gates are closed in Water Works Park.
7. 17.20 ftWater affects portions of Fleur Dr.
8. 17.00 ftThe levee is closed across George Flagg Parkway just west of Fleur Dr. Levee gates are closed west of SW 18th St at George Flagg Parkway and at the railroad tracks.
9. 16.50 ftWater begins affecting Fleur Dr. Above this stage...water flows through Water Works Park south of the Water Works Buildings...cutting off a large meander bend in the river and diverting increasing amounts of stream flow away from the main river channel.
10. 15.50 ftWater approaches Fleur Dr and affects the Grays Lake trails.
11. 13.50 ftWater affects the low areas of Water Works Park.
12. 13.30 ftSW 30th St is closed from George Flagg Parkway to Bell Ave. George Flagg Parkway is closed from SW 30th St to SW 28th St.
13. 11.30 ftGeorge Flagg Parkway is closed from Park Ave to SW 30th St.
14. 9.50 ftWater impacts the lowest portions of the Bill Riley Trl.

Chance of flooding, September to November

The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued August 28, 2026.

Most recent crests

• July 31, 2025: 12.50 ft
• May 22, 2024: 14.05 ft
• February 28, 2023: 10.03 ft
• June 7, 2022: 12.49 ft
• March 26, 2021: 4.56 ft
• October 12, 2019: 11.23 ft
• March 15, 2019: 19.77 ft
• July 1, 2018: 16.33 ft
• May 21, 2017: 12.24 ft
• December 15, 2015: 18.09 ft

• UpstreamRaccoon River at Des Moines IA 28
• DownstreamDes Moines River at Des Moines SE 6th St
• Des Moines River at Des Moines 2nd Ave
• Walnut Creek at Des Moines 63rd St
• North Walnut Creek at IFC--Windsor Heights College Dr
• North Walnut Creek at IFC--Urbandale Hickman Rd
• Fourmile Creek at Des Moines Easton Blvd
• Walnut Creek at IFC--Clive NW 100th St

Forecasts by the North Central River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued as needed during times of high water, but are not routinely available.

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.