Nivelmap
EN

How to read levelsSources and methods

North America

Western Europe

Central Europe

Mediterranean

Nordic countries

Big Sioux River below Diversion at Sioux Falls water level

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

Directions

Below flood stage

Water level

3.11ft Steady over the last 24 hours

5 10 15 Minor floodstage 15.00 ft Highest onrecord 9.75 ft

History

3.103.15ftOct 16Oct 17Oct 18Oct 19Oct 203.103.15ftOct 16Oct 18Oct 20
3.103.153.20ftSep 21Sep 28Oct 5Oct 13Oct 203.103.153.20ftSep 21Oct 5Oct 20
2.53.03.54.0ftMar 2026May 2026Jun 2026Aug 2026Oct 20262.53.03.54.0ftMar 2026Jun 2026Oct 2026
Water level Minor flood stage

What this means

The gauge at Big Sioux River below Diversion at Sioux Falls reads 3.11 ft, a normal level.

It is 11.89 ft below the flood stage of 15.00 ft.

The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 3.08 ft and 3.23 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

Lowest and highest in 30 days
3.08 ft – 3.23 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months
2.32 ft – 3.98 ft
Highest on record
9.75 ftJune 22, 2024

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 15.00 ft, still 11.89 ft away.

What happens at each level

19.00 ft
Water overtops the walk bridge near the gage.
18.00 ft
Water reaches the bottom of the walk bridge near the gage.
17.00 ft
Water reaches the low steel on the walk bridge near the gage.
15.00 ft
Water reaches the bottom of the levees. If there is a levee failure, flooding in Sioux Falls could occur.
3.11 ft
Right now

Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.

Highest crests on record

RankLevelDate
19.75 ftJune 22, 2024
29.20 ftMarch 25, 2019
37.59 ftMay 17, 2007
47.59 ftMay 25, 2022
57.24 ftJune 15, 2014
66.99 ftMay 9, 2013
76.49 ftApril 24, 2023
86.48 ftApril 27, 2021
96.14 ftJuly 27, 2011
105.90 ftMarch 18, 2015

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:48 AM Sunset 06:37 PM Daylight 10 hr, 49 min Waxing gibbous 71%

Map

Other gauges on the Big Sioux River

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Big Sioux River at Broadway at WatertownRiver gauge, Big Sioux River 5.02 ft Below flood stage −0.04 ft 93 mi
Big Sioux River below WatertownRiver gauge, Big Sioux River 4.44 ft Below flood stage −0.03 ft 89 mi
Big Sioux River near CastlewoodRiver gauge, Big Sioux River 4.81 ft Below flood stage +0.07 ft 81 mi
Big Sioux River near BruceRiver gauge, Big Sioux River 3.11 ft Below flood stage −0.03 ft 62 mi
Big Sioux River near BrookingsRiver gauge, Big Sioux River 2.27 ft Below flood stage −0.04 ft 42 mi
Big Sioux River near Dell RapidsRiver gauge, Big Sioux River 3.23 ft Below flood stage −0.02 ft 15 mi
Big Sioux River at Sioux FallsRiver gauge, Big Sioux River 1.49 ft Below flood stage +0.01 ft 5.0 mi
Big Sioux River at North Cliff Ave at Sioux FallsRiver gauge, Big Sioux River 5.04 ft Below flood stage −0.02 ft 2.7 mi
Big Sioux River near HawardenRiver gauge, Big Sioux River 11.99 ft Below flood stage −0.05 ft 39 mi
Big Sioux River at AkronRiver gauge, Big Sioux River 5.59 ft Below flood stage −0.05 ft 52 mi
Big Sioux River near JeffersonRiver gauge, Big Sioux River 9.38 ft Below flood stage −0.13 ft 67 mi
Big Sioux River at Sioux CityRiver gauge, Big Sioux River 9.93 ft Very low −0.09 ft 74 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Silver Creek at Sioux FallsRiver gauge, Silver Creek 0.91 ft Below flood stage −0.02 ft 2.6 mi
Skunk Creek at Sioux FallsRiver gauge, Skunk Creek 2.25 ft Below flood stage +0.01 ft 3.0 mi
Willow Creek near CrooksRiver gauge, Willow Creek 3.69 ft Below flood stage −0.01 ft 5.1 mi
Skunk Creek near HartfordRiver gauge, Skunk Creek 3.58 ft Below flood stage −0.02 ft 8 mi
Split Rock Creek at CorsonRiver gauge, Split Rock Creek 1.85 ft Below flood stage −0.01 ft 10 mi
Skunk Creek near ChesterRiver gauge, Skunk Creek 0.75 ft Below flood stage ±0 19 mi
East Fork Vermillion River near ParkerRiver gauge, East Fork Vermillion River 5.95 ft Below flood stage −4.96 ft 19 mi

Questions and answers

What is flood stage for the Big Sioux River below Diversion at Sioux Falls?

The official flood stage is 15.00 ft. The level is currently 11.89 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 below Diversion at Sioux Falls today?

On Oct 20, 2026, 04:30 PM CDT, the water level was 3.11 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is Big Sioux River below Diversion at Sioux Falls rising or falling?

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

Is the level of Big Sioux River below Diversion at Sioux Falls 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 below Diversion at Sioux Falls?

The highest level on record is 9.75 ft on June 22, 2024.

How often is this data updated?

The U.S. Geological Survey publishes a new reading every 15 minutes. This page refreshes within minutes of each update.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
Operator
U.S. Geological Survey
Station code
usgs:06481400 (Agency page)
Coordinates
43.57306, -96.76389 (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 3.11 ft 2026-10-20 21:30 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 below Diversion at Sioux Falls (usgs:06481400). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/south-dakota/big-sioux-river-below-diversion-at-sioux-falls

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