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SwedenBelle Fourche River near Elm Springs water level
River gauge, Belle Fourche River, South Dakota, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 13.6 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
The gauge at Belle Fourche River near Elm Springs reads 3.75 ft, a normal level.
It is 15.25 ft below the flood stage of 19.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 4.87 ft, a difference of −1.12 ft.
It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 3.70 ft and 4.23 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Same day last year
- 4.87 ft−1.12 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 3.70 ft – 4.23 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 3.67 ft – 5.49 ft
- Highest on record
- 25.80 ftMay 5, 1927
What the stage means on the water
A normal level is usually prime time for floating and wade fishing, as long as the weather holds upstream.
The National Weather Service puts flood stage for this gauge at 19.00 ft, still 15.25 ft away.
What happens at each level
- 24.00 ft
- Major flood stage. Major flooding of agricultural land. Extensive flooding along the river with inundation of structures and roads.
- 22.00 ft
- Moderate flood stage. Additional flooding of agricultural land. Some inundation of structures and roads near the river are possible.
- 19.00 ft
- Minor Flood Stage. Flooding of agricultural land along the river.
- 17.00 ft
- Action Stage. Flooding of low lying areas along the Belle Fourche River begins.
- 3.75 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 | 25.80 ft | May 5, 1927 |
| 2 | 24.00 ft | May 25, 1933 |
| 3 | 23.73 ft | June 6, 2008 |
| 4 | 23.72 ft | May 10, 1995 |
| 5 | 22.22 ft | May 21, 1982 |
| 6 | 21.28 ft | May 27, 1996 |
| 7 | 20.09 ft | May 25, 2011 |
| 8 | 20.02 ft | May 22, 2019 |
| 9 | 19.90 ft | June 8, 1964 |
| 10 | 19.44 ft | June 16, 1976 |
Weather at the gauge
No rain in the last 3 days.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Other gauges on the Belle Fourche River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belle Fourche River below MoorcroftRiver gauge, Belle Fourche River | 1.14 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 117 mi |
| Belle Fourche River at Wy-Sd State LineRiver gauge, Belle Fourche River | 3.43 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 78 mi |
| Belle Fourche River near FruitdaleRiver gauge, Belle Fourche River | 1.56 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 62 mi |
| Belle Fourche River near SturgisRiver gauge, Belle Fourche River | 2.46 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 30 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk Creek near Elm SpringsRiver gauge, Elk Creek | 3.48 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 9 mi |
| Cheyenne River near WastaRiver gauge, Cheyenne River | 0.45 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 22 mi |
| Elk Creek near Rapid CityRiver gauge, Elk Creek | 4.14 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 30 mi |
| Rapid Creek near FarmingdaleRiver gauge, Rapid Creek | 5.64 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 33 mi |
| Cheyenne River near ScenicRiver gauge, Cheyenne River | 6.21 ft | Below flood stage | −0.03 ft | 33 mi |
| Cheyenne River near PlainviewRiver gauge, Cheyenne River | 8.17 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 33 mi |
| Rapid Creek above Wrf near Rapid CityRiver gauge, Rapid Creek | 3.40 ft | Below flood stage | +0.02 ft | 36 mi |
| Cherry Creek near PlainviewRiver gauge, Cherry Creek | 2.66 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 36 mi |
Questions and answers
Is the Belle Fourche River near Elm Springs higher than last year?
No, it is 1.12 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 4.87 ft.
What is flood stage for the Belle Fourche River near Elm Springs?
The official flood stage is 19.00 ft. The level is currently 15.25 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 Belle Fourche River near Elm Springs today?
On Oct 21, 2026, 02:00 AM MDT, the water level was 3.75 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Belle Fourche River near Elm Springs rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 0.05 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Belle Fourche River near Elm Springs normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Belle Fourche River near Elm Springs?
The highest level on record is 25.80 ft on May 5, 1927.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:06438000(Agency page)- Coordinates
44.37000, -102.56608(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 | 3.75 ft | 2026-10-21 08:00 | Provisional |
| Flow | 13.6 cfs | 2026-10-21 08:00 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Belle Fourche River near Elm Springs (usgs:06438000). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/south-dakota/belle-fourche-river-near-elm-springs
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