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SwedenSheyenne River Diversion at West Fargo water level
River gauge, Sheyenne River Diversion, North Dakota, United States
Right now
Very low for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 0.5 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
At 6.60 ft, the Sheyenne River Diversion at West Fargo is far below normal for mid-October.
That puts it 2.26 ft below the median of 8.86 ft for mid-October, based on 24 years of readings. It is 11.40 ft below the flood stage of 18.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 6.68 ft (−0.08 ft).
The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. Without real rain upstream, that is unlikely to change quickly. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 6.53 ft and 10.09 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, and it usually takes a few days of steady rain to change that.
Compared with 24 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 8.86 ft2.26 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 6.66 ft – 10.37 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (24 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 6.68 ft−0.08 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 6.53 ft – 10.09 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 5.36 ft – 12.82 ft
- Highest on record
- 28.77 ftApril 18, 1996
What the stage means on the water
Low water means more dragging on shallow riffles and slower floats. Fish crowd into the deeper runs, and warm, low water stresses them, so play and release them quickly.
The National Weather Service puts flood stage for this gauge at 18.00 ft, still 11.40 ft away.
What happens at each level
- 21.00 ft
- MAJOR FLOOD. Approximate stage where flooding begins in areas along the Sheyenne River north of the diversion channel to Harwood, ND.
- 20.00 ft
- MODERATE FLOOD.
- 18.00 ft
- MINOR FLOOD. Agricultural damage begins.
- 16.00 ft
- ACTION STAGE/FORECAST SERVICE STAGE.
- 6.60 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 | 28.77 ft | April 18, 1996 |
| 2 | 27.97 ft | March 29, 1995 |
| 3 | 25.93 ft | March 29, 1994 |
| 4 | 22.88 ft | March 27, 2009 |
| 5 | 22.80 ft | April 8, 2011 |
| 6 | 22.52 ft | April 10, 2019 |
| 7 | 22.22 ft | March 25, 2010 |
| 8 | 22.04 ft | April 11, 2001 |
| 9 | 21.98 ft | May 12, 2022 |
| 10 | 21.94 ft | April 3, 2006 |
Weather at the gauge
No rain in the last 3 days.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sheyenne River at West FargoRiver gauge, Sheyenne River | 6.55 ft | Low | −0.07 ft | 0.5 mi |
| Sheyenne River at HarwoodRiver gauge, Sheyenne River | 68.74 ft | Low | −0.06 ft | 6.1 mi |
| Maple River below MapletonRiver gauge, Maple River | 8.73 ft | Low | −0.05 ft | 6 mi |
| Red River of The North at FargoRiver gauge, Red River of The North | 14.11 ft | Normal | +0.04 ft | 7 mi |
| Maple River near MapletonRiver gauge, Maple River | 8.30 ft | Below flood stage | −0.06 ft | 9 mi |
| Sheyenne River above Sheyenne R Diversion near HoraceRiver gauge, Sheyenne River | 14.21 ft | Low | −0.11 ft | 10 mi |
| Wild Rice River near St BenedictRiver gauge, Wild Rice River | 23.30 ft | Very low | ±0 | 13 mi |
| Buffalo River near DilworthRiver gauge, Buffalo River | 3.17 ft | Below flood stage | +0.01 ft | 13 mi |
Questions and answers
How does the Sheyenne River Diversion at West Fargo compare with last year?
It is 0.08 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 6.68 ft.
What is flood stage for the Sheyenne River Diversion at West Fargo?
The official flood stage is 18.00 ft. The level is currently 11.40 ft below it.
What is a normal level for the Sheyenne River Diversion at West Fargo in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 8.86 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 6.66 ft and 10.37 ft, based on 24 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 Sheyenne River Diversion at West Fargo today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 12:15 PM CDT, the water level was 6.60 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Sheyenne River Diversion at West Fargo rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 0.45 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Sheyenne River Diversion at West Fargo normal?
Very low for mid-October. Compared with 24 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:05059480(Agency page)- Coordinates
46.89111, -96.91639(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 | 6.60 ft | 2026-10-20 17:15 | Provisional |
| Flow | 0.5 cfs | 2026-10-20 17:15 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Sheyenne River Diversion at West Fargo (usgs:05059480). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/north-dakota/sheyenne-river-diversion-at-west-fargo
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