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SwedenDes Moines River at Keosauqua water level
River gauge, Des Moines River, Iowa, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 21,900 cfs
- Water temperature
- 60 °F
History
The forecast expects the river to fall to 13.00 ft by Monday, October 26 at 07:00 AM. Issued Monday, October 19 at 09:56 AM by NOAA National Weather Service.
What this means
The Des Moines River at Keosauqua is at 16.34 ft, in the normal range.
It is 5.66 ft below the flood stage of 22.00 ft.
It has dropped 0.12 ft over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to fall to 13.00 ft by Monday, October 26 at 07:00 AM. In the last month it has stayed between 16.34 ft and 16.88 ft.
The water temperature at the gauge is 60 °F.
Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 32.66 ftJuly 13, 1993
- Forecast peak
- 16.30 ftTuesday, October 20 at 07:00 AM
Floating and fishing near Des Moines River at Keosauqua
Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.
Flood stage here is 22.00 ft, 5.66 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.
What happens at each level
- 38.00 ft
- Water affects nearly all of downtown Keosauqua.
- 36.00 ft
- Water reaches the bottom of the Iowa Highway 1 bridge deck at Keosauqua.
- 35.00 ft
- Water affects much of downtown Keosauqua.
- 33.50 ft
- Water reaches the bottom of the County Rd J40 bridge deck at Bonaparte.
- 33.00 ft
- Water reaches a critical level for levees 30 to 50 miles downstream of Keosauqua.
- 32.50 ft
- Water is 1 to 2 feet deep in areas of downtown Keosauqua.
- 30.50 ft
- Water is at the base of the Hotel Manning in Keosauqua.
- 30.00 ft
- Water affects downtown sections of Keosauqua as well as First Street and the County Road J40 bridge approach in Bonaparte.
- 29.00 ft
- Water affects residential and commercial areas in Bonaparte.
- 28.00 ft
- Water affects streets in Keosauqua and affects the approach to the Highway 1 bridge. Water also affects residential areas in Farmington and Bentonsport.
- 27.00 ft
- Water is over the river banks in Selma, Keosauqua, Bentonsport, Bonaparte, and Farmington.
- 25.00 ft
- Flooding occurs in Keosauqua, Selma, Bonaparte, and Farmington. Water affects streets near the nursery on the east end of Keosauqua.
- 16.34 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 | 32.66 ft | July 13, 1993 |
| 2 | 30.49 ft | June 16, 2008 |
| 3 | 28.18 ft | August 12, 2010 |
| 4 | 28.02 ft | April 21, 1973 |
| 5 | 27.88 ft | May 29, 2019 |
| 6 | 27.23 ft | April 24, 1976 |
| 7 | 27.14 ft | July 17, 1982 |
| 8 | 27.12 ft | April 18, 2013 |
| 9 | 26.39 ft | May 17, 1986 |
| 10 | 25.97 ft | August 24, 2007 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on the Des Moines River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines River near StratfordRiver gauge, Des Moines River | 8.31 ft | Below flood stage | −0.30 ft | 149 mi |
| Des Moines River near SaylorvilleRiver gauge, Des Moines River | 5,930 cfs | High | −1,080.0 cfs | 111 mi |
| Des Moines River at 2nd Avenue at Des MoinesRiver gauge, Des Moines River | 17.19 ft | Below flood stage | −0.41 ft | 106 mi |
| Des Moines River below Raccoon River at Des MoinesRiver gauge, Des Moines River | 17.14 ft | Below flood stage | −0.91 ft | 104 mi |
| Des Moines River near SwanRiver gauge, Des Moines River | 16,800 cfs | High | −1,100.0 cfs | 86 mi |
| Des Moines River near PellaRiver gauge, Des Moines River | 18,600 cfs | Very high | −3,200.0 cfs | 69 mi |
| Des Moines River near TracyRiver gauge, Des Moines River | 8.17 ft | Below flood stage | −0.90 ft | 61 mi |
| Des Moines River at EddyvilleRiver gauge, Des Moines River | 56.52 ft | Very high | −1.11 ft | 46 mi |
| Des Moines River at OttumwaRiver gauge, Des Moines River | 7.41 ft | Below flood stage | −0.77 ft | 31 mi |
| Des Moines River at St. FrancisvilleRiver gauge, Des Moines River | 14.74 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 28 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Creek near Oakland MillsRiver gauge, Cedar Creek | 122 cfs | Normal | −4.0 cfs | 20 mi |
| Big Creek North of Mount PleasantRiver gauge | 26.7 cfs | Normal | −2.1 cfs | 29 mi |
| Fox River at WaylandRiver gauge, Fox River | 1.54 ft | Below flood stage | −0.05 ft | 30 mi |
| Skunk River at AugustaRiver gauge, Skunk River | 7.13 ft | Below flood stage | +0.02 ft | 36 mi |
| North Skunk River near SigourneyRiver gauge, North Skunk River | 7.50 ft | Below flood stage | −0.24 ft | 42 mi |
| Wyaconda River above CantonRiver gauge, Wyaconda River | 14.6 cfs | Normal | −3.7 cfs | 45 mi |
| Iowa River at Columbus JunctionRiver gauge, Iowa River | 14.51 ft | Very high | +0.33 ft | 50 mi |
Questions and answers
What is flood stage for the Des Moines River at Keosauqua?
The official flood stage is 22.00 ft. The level is currently 5.66 ft below it.
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 Des Moines River at Keosauqua today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 08:15 AM CDT, the water level was 16.34 ft. Down 0.12 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Des Moines River at Keosauqua rising or falling?
Down 0.12 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is the level of Des Moines River at Keosauqua normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Des Moines River at Keosauqua?
The highest level on record is 32.66 ft on July 13, 1993.
Is Des Moines River at Keosauqua expected to rise?
The forecast expects the river to fall to 13.00 ft by Monday, October 26 at 07:00 AM.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:05490500(Agency page)- Coordinates
40.72781, -91.95961(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 | 16.34 ft | 2026-10-20 13:15 | Provisional |
| Flow | 21,900 cfs | 2026-10-20 13:15 | Provisional |
| Water temperature | 60 °F | 2026-10-20 13:15 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Des Moines River at Keosauqua (usgs:05490500). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/iowa/des-moines-river-at-keosauqua
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