Little Missouri River at Marmarth water level
River gauge, Little Missouri River, North Dakota, United States
Right now
Very low for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 10.3 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
Low water at Little Missouri River at Marmarth: the gauge reads 0.79 ft, far below normal for mid-October.
That puts it 0.58 ft below the median of 1.37 ft for mid-October, based on 25 years of readings. It is 17.21 ft below the flood stage of 18.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 1.73 ft (−0.94 ft).
The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. Without real rain upstream, that is unlikely to change quickly. The 30-day range is 0.67 ft – 0.99 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, and it usually takes a few days of steady rain to change that.
Compared with 25 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 1.37 ft0.58 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 1.08 ft – 2.04 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (25 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 1.73 ft−0.94 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 0.67 ft – 0.99 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 0.24 ft – 3.14 ft
- Highest on record
- 21.70 ftMarch 23, 1947
Paddling and fishing conditions
At low levels, plan for shorter paddling trips and expect to walk your boat through a few shoals.
For reference, flood stage is 18.00 ft.
What happens at each level
- 30.00 ft
- City of Marmarth will flood due to dike being overtopped at this height.
- 18.00 ft
- Flooding confined to grasslands used by ranchers in the area.
- 0.79 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
Chance of at least minor flooding in October to December: < 5 %.
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21.70 ft | March 23, 1947 |
| 2 | 21.50 ft | March 1, 1913 |
| 3 | 21.11 ft | May 23, 2011 |
| 4 | 20.20 ft | May 1, 1929 |
| 5 | 19.70 ft | March 1, 1920 |
| 6 | 19.50 ft | February 20, 1943 |
| 7 | 18.30 ft | March 12, 1972 |
| 8 | 17.80 ft | April 5, 1944 |
| 9 | 17.33 ft | March 27, 1978 |
| 10 | 16.85 ft | April 17, 2009 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on the Little Missouri River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Missouri River at Camp CrookRiver gauge, Little Missouri River | 1.71 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 52 mi |
| Little Missouri River at MedoraRiver gauge, Little Missouri River | 1.28 ft | Very low | −0.01 ft | 47 mi |
| Little Missouri River near Watford CityRiver gauge, Little Missouri River | 7.07 ft | High | −0.05 ft | 95 mi |
| Little Missouri River above Mouth near OakdaleRiver gauge, Little Missouri River | 5.87 ft | No reference yet | −0.05 ft | 105 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deep Creek near AmidonRiver gauge, Deep Creek | 11.46 ft | Normal | +0.05 ft | 26 mi |
Questions and answers
How does the Little Missouri River at Marmarth compare with last year?
It is 0.94 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 1.73 ft.
What is flood stage for the Little Missouri River at Marmarth?
The official flood stage is 18.00 ft. The level is currently 17.21 ft below it.
What is a normal level for the Little Missouri River at Marmarth in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 1.37 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 1.08 ft and 2.04 ft, based on 25 years of records.
Is gage height the same as water depth?
No. Gage height is measured from a fixed reference point chosen by the agency, so a reading of 10 ft does not mean the river is 10 ft deep.
What is the water level of Little Missouri River at Marmarth today?
On Oct 19, 2026, 03:00 PM MDT, the water level was 0.79 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Little Missouri River at Marmarth rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours. Steady over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Little Missouri River at Marmarth normal?
Very low for mid-October. Compared with 25 years of daily readings for this time of year.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:06335500(Agency page)- Coordinates
46.29778, -103.91750(WGS84)- Vertical datum
- NAVD88
- Update interval
- every 15 minutes
- Licence
- Public domain. Data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), provisional data subject to revision
Published series
| Parameter | Last value | Time (UTC) | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water level | 0.79 ft | 2026-10-19 21:00 | Provisional |
| Flow | 10.3 cfs | 2026-10-19 21:00 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Little Missouri River at Marmarth (usgs:06335500). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/north-dakota/little-missouri-river-at-marmarth
How we check values
Each reading is stored as published. We hold back values that jump faster than physically plausible and show the measurement time with every value.
Readings are provisional, can be delayed or wrong and are not a flood warning. Read the disclaimer