Rivers in Iowa
Des Moines River at Keosauqua
Below flood stage
16.43ftStage
Observed Thu, Sep 24, 1:15 PM CDT
- Flood stage
- 22.00 ft
- Forecast crest
- 16.40 ftThu, Sep 24, 7:00 PM CDT
- Record crest
- 32.66 ft1993
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 27.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 25.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 22.00 ft |
| Action | 21.00 ft |
- 38.00 ftWater affects nearly all of downtown Keosauqua.
- 36.00 ftWater reaches the bottom of the Iowa Highway 1 bridge deck at Keosauqua.
- 35.00 ftWater affects much of downtown Keosauqua.
- 33.50 ftWater reaches the bottom of the County Rd J40 bridge deck at Bonaparte.
- 33.00 ftWater reaches a critical level for levees 30 to 50 miles downstream of Keosauqua.
- 32.50 ftWater is 1 to 2 feet deep in areas of downtown Keosauqua.
- 30.50 ftWater is at the base of the Hotel Manning in Keosauqua.
- 30.00 ftWater affects downtown sections of Keosauqua as well as First Street and the County Road J40 bridge approach in Bonaparte.
- 29.00 ftWater affects residential and commercial areas in Bonaparte.
- 28.00 ftWater affects streets in Keosauqua and affects the approach to the Highway 1 bridge. Water also affects residential areas in Farmington and Bentonsport.
- 27.00 ftWater is over the river banks in Selma, Keosauqua, Bentonsport, Bonaparte, and Farmington.
- 25.00 ftFlooding occurs in Keosauqua, Selma, Bonaparte, and Farmington. Water affects streets near the nursery on the east end of Keosauqua.
- 22.00 ftWater affects low-lying agricultural areas.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 5% |
| Moderate flooding | Under 5% |
| Major flooding | Under 5% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued August 28, 2026.
Crest history
126 crests on NOAA’s list since 1851.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | July 13, 1993 | 32.66 ft |
| 2 | June 16, 2008 | 30.49 ft |
| 3 | August 12, 2010 | 28.18 ft |
| 4 | April 21, 1973 | 28.02 ft |
| 5 | May 29, 2019 | 27.88 ft |
| 6 | June 1, 1903 | 27.85 ft |
| 7 | April 24, 1976 | 27.23 ft |
| 8 | July 17, 1982 | 27.14 ft |
| 9 | April 18, 2013 | 27.12 ft |
| 10 | May 17, 1986 | 26.39 ft |
| 11 | August 24, 2007 | 25.97 ft |
| 12 | February 17, 2011 | 25.81 ft |
| 13 | June 16, 1947 | 25.14 ft |
| 14 | June 15, 2011 | 25.11 ft |
| 15 | January 21, 1974 | 24.79 ft |
| 16 | February 15, 1984 | 24.65 ft |
| 17 | May 27, 1996 | 24.21 ft |
| 18 | June 1, 1851 | 24.00 ft |
| 19 | June 10, 1905 | 23.80 ft |
| 20 | July 6, 1998 | 23.54 ft |
| 21 | March 15, 2001 | 23.51 ft |
| 22 | April 19, 1991 | 23.26 ft |
| 23 | June 26, 2015 | 23.22 ft |
| 24 | June 27, 1984 | 23.13 ft |
| 25 | June 24, 2000 | 23.07 ft |
Most recent crests
- June 10, 2020: 19.63 ft
- May 29, 2019: 27.88 ft
- September 6, 2018: 19.11 ft
- April 6, 2017: 21.29 ft
- December 14, 2015: 22.81 ft
- June 26, 2015: 23.22 ft
- September 10, 2014: 21.60 ft
- April 18, 2013: 27.12 ft
- April 19, 2012: 16.48 ft
- June 15, 2011: 25.11 ft
Nearby
Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.
What this means
Forecasts by the North Central River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued routinely during the warm season, and as needed at other times of the year. River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 48 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time.
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.