Nivelmap
EN

How to read levelsSources and methods

North America

Western Europe

Central Europe

Mediterranean

Nordic countries

Big Sioux River at Watertown water level

River gauge, Big Sioux River, South Dakota, United States

Directions

Below flood stage

Water level

3.15ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Flow
1.7 cfs
3 5 8 10 Highest onrecord 11.18 ft Minor floodstage 9.00 ft

History

3.143.163.18ftOct 16Oct 17Oct 18Oct 19Oct 213.143.163.18ftOct 16Oct 18Oct 21
3.153.203.25ftSep 22Sep 29Oct 6Oct 13Oct 213.153.203.25ftSep 22Oct 6Oct 21
468ftOct 2025Jan 2026Apr 2026Jul 2026Oct 2026Minor flood stage468ftOct 2025Apr 2026Oct 2026Minor flood stage
468ftJanMarMayJulSepNov2026468ftJanAprJulOct2026

20252026

Water level Minor flood stage

What this means

Water levels are unremarkable at Big Sioux River at Watertown, where the gauge shows 3.15 ft.

It is 5.85 ft below the flood stage of 9.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 4.57 ft (−1.42 ft).

The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. The 30-day range is 3.13 ft – 3.27 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
4.57 ft−1.42 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days
3.13 ft – 3.27 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months
3.14 ft – 7.76 ft
Highest on record
11.18 ftApril 13, 2023

Paddling and fishing conditions

Most paddlers and anglers will find the river in good shape at this stage.

For reference, flood stage is 9.00 ft.

What happens at each level

15.50 ft
The bridge on 14th Ave NW is overtopped.
14.00 ft
The bridge on Sioux Conifer Road is overtopped.
12.00 ft
Sioux Conifer Road floods south of the gauge, and water reaches the bottom of the bridge at the gauge.
10.00 ft
Significant amounts of pasture land are flooded.
8.00 ft
Minor lowland flooding begins, mainly upstream of the gauge.
3.15 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 %.

RankLevelDate
111.18 ftApril 13, 2023
210.98 ftMarch 28, 2019
310.29 ftMarch 30, 1960
49.81 ftMarch 15, 2010
59.77 ftMarch 23, 2009
69.47 ftMay 31, 2022
79.46 ftMay 23, 1962
89.24 ftMarch 22, 2007
99.15 ftAugust 7, 2025
108.93 ftApril 13, 1947

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:53 AM Sunset 06:35 PM Daylight 10 hr, 43 min Waxing gibbous 73%

Map

Other gauges on the Big Sioux River

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Big Sioux River near FlorenceRiver gauge, Big Sioux River 3.04 ft Normal −0.02 ft 17 mi
Big Sioux River near WatertownRiver gauge, Big Sioux River 3.80 ft Very low −0.02 ft 4.5 mi
Big Sioux River at Lake Kampeska near WatertownRiver gauge, Big Sioux River 18.54 ft Below flood stage ±0 0.8 mi
Big Sioux River at Broadway at WatertownRiver gauge, Big Sioux River 5.03 ft Below flood stage −0.04 ft 3.9 mi
Big Sioux River below WatertownRiver gauge, Big Sioux River 4.47 ft Below flood stage +0.01 ft 8 mi
Big Sioux River near CastlewoodRiver gauge, Big Sioux River 4.81 ft Below flood stage +0.03 ft 15 mi
Big Sioux River near BruceRiver gauge, Big Sioux River 3.11 ft Below flood stage −0.02 ft 35 mi
Big Sioux River near BrookingsRiver gauge, Big Sioux River 2.27 ft Below flood stage −0.02 ft 56 mi
Big Sioux River near Dell RapidsRiver gauge, Big Sioux River 3.23 ft Below flood stage −0.01 ft 82 mi
Big Sioux River below Diversion at Sioux FallsRiver gauge, Big Sioux River 3.12 ft Below flood stage −0.01 ft 96 mi
Big Sioux River at Sioux FallsRiver gauge, Big Sioux River 1.49 ft Below flood stage +0.01 ft 102 mi
Big Sioux River at North Cliff Ave at Sioux FallsRiver gauge, Big Sioux River 5.08 ft Below flood stage +0.01 ft 97 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
South Branch Tributary Mud Creek near RauvilleRiver gauge, South Branch Tributary Mud Creek 0.21 ft Below flood stage −0.06 ft 2.1 mi
Lake Kampeska at Water Plant at WatertownLake, Lake Kampeska 17.42 ft Normal ±0 2.7 mi
Mud Creek near RauvilleRiver gauge, Mud Creek 7.63 ft Below flood stage ±0 4.9 mi
Willow Creek near WatertownRiver gauge, Willow Creek 5.64 ft Below flood stage −0.07 ft 5.2 mi

Questions and answers

How does the Big Sioux River at Watertown compare with last year?

It is 1.42 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 4.57 ft.

What is flood stage for the Big Sioux River at Watertown?

The official flood stage is 9.00 ft. The level is currently 5.85 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 Big Sioux River at Watertown today?

On Oct 20, 2026, 08:15 PM CDT, the water level was 3.15 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is Big Sioux River at Watertown rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours. Steady over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Big Sioux River at Watertown normal?

Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.

What is the highest water level ever recorded at Big Sioux River at Watertown?

The highest level on record is 11.18 ft on April 13, 2023.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
Operator
U.S. Geological Survey
Station code
usgs:06479500 (Agency page)
Coordinates
44.94250, -97.14583 (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

ParameterLast valueTime (UTC)Quality
Water level 3.15 ft 2026-10-21 01:15 Provisional
Flow 1.7 cfs 2026-10-21 01:15 Provisional

Download

Embed this gauge

Add a live card for this gauge to your website. It updates on its own and links back here.

How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Big Sioux River at Watertown (usgs:06479500). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/south-dakota/big-sioux-river-at-watertown

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