Rivers in North Dakota

Des Lacs River at Foxholm

Ward County, North DakotaNWS DESN8USGS 05116500Bismarck office

Below flood stage
1637.9ftStage

Observed Sun, Sep 27, 11:15 AM CDT

Flood stage
1651.0 ft
Record crest
1655.3 ft1979

Open the live map with the river flood outlook

Flood stages and impacts

CategoryStage
Major flood1654.0 ft
Moderate flood1653.0 ft
Minor flood1651.0 ft
Action1650.0 ft
  1. 1655.5 ftFloor of bridge just downstream of gage house will be flooded.
  2. 1654.2 ftHighway 52 between carpio and burlington will be closed. Valley floor under water. Homes lowest in elevation in Foxholm are likely flooded if not protected.
  3. 1653.0 ftHomes in Foxholm close to the Des Lacs can be affected as water encroaches on them. Lower elevation homes along Project Road near Burlington suffer damage even with no releases from Lake Darling.
  4. 1652.5 ftAverage height of ground around gage house.

Flood outlook

Chance of flooding, September to November

CategoryChance
Minor floodingUnder 5%
Moderate floodingUnder 5%
Major floodingUnder 5%

The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 25, 2026.

Crest history

46 crests on NOAA’s list since 1939.

#DateStage
1April 19, 19791655.3 ft
2April 30, 19701654.8 ft
3June 1, 20111654.6 ft
4April 10, 19691653.9 ft
5June 5, 20131653.7 ft
6April 10, 19961653.2 ft
7April 29, 19751653.1 ft
8January 1, 19391652.9 ft
9April 13, 20091652.2 ft
10April 6, 19511652.1 ft
11April 4, 19491652.1 ft
12March 24, 19761650.7 ft
13March 27, 20171649.2 ft
14March 16, 19721649.1 ft
15June 27, 20051649.0 ft
16March 27, 19601648.7 ft
17March 30, 20051648.6 ft
18July 16, 19991648.5 ft
19April 22, 20181648.5 ft
20March 24, 19471648.4 ft
21April 1, 19521648.4 ft
22June 30, 20141648.2 ft
23March 31, 19551648.0 ft
24April 16, 19501647.9 ft
25March 30, 20051647.9 ft

Most recent crests

  • March 25, 2021: 1639.6 ft
  • October 1, 2019: 1644.5 ft
  • March 24, 2019: 1646.3 ft
  • April 22, 2018: 1648.5 ft
  • March 27, 2017: 1649.2 ft
  • June 2, 2016: 1641.3 ft
  • March 11, 2015: 1644.1 ft
  • June 30, 2014: 1648.2 ft
  • June 5, 2013: 1653.7 ft
  • March 14, 2012: 1641.1 ft

Nearby

Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.

What this means

Forecasts by the North Central River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued as needed during times of high water, but are not routinely available. River Forecasts typically include ONLY 2 days of future rain from <u>forecast issuance time</u> (lower right of graph). Occasionally 3 days of future rain included.

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.