Canada
United States
Belgium
France
Ireland
Netherlands
United Kingdom
Austria
Czechia
Germany
Poland
Slovenia
Switzerland
Italy
Spain
Türkiye
Denmark
Finland
Norway
SwedenBig Sioux River below Watertown water level
River gauge, Big Sioux River, South Dakota, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
History
What this means
Water levels are unremarkable at Big Sioux River below Watertown, where the gauge shows 4.48 ft.
It is 6.52 ft below the flood stage of 11.00 ft.
The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. The 30-day range is 4.45 ft – 4.72 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
- 4.45 ft – 4.72 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 4.46 ft – 8.26 ft
- Highest on record
- 13.13 ftApril 2, 1997
Paddling and fishing conditions
Most paddlers and anglers will find the river in good shape at this stage.
For reference, flood stage is 11.00 ft.
What happens at each level
- 14.50 ft
- The bridge 1 mile north of Appleby is overtopped
- 14.00 ft
- The bridge at the southeast corner of Watertown is overtopped
- 13.30 ft
- The water reaches the bottom of the bridge 1 mile north of Appleby
- 12.00 ft
- The water reaches the bottom of the bridge near Appleby and at the southeast corner of Watertown
- 11.70 ft
- Water goes over the low spot on the road 300 feet east of the gauging location
- 11.00 ft
- Flooding begins to affect significant amounts of pasture and crop land
- 4.48 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13.13 ft | April 2, 1997 |
| 2 | 12.69 ft | April 8, 2001 |
| 3 | 12.56 ft | March 23, 2011 |
| 4 | 12.31 ft | March 28, 2019 |
| 5 | 12.26 ft | April 12, 2023 |
| 6 | 11.78 ft | March 13, 1996 |
| 7 | 11.74 ft | March 12, 1995 |
| 8 | 11.68 ft | August 22, 2025 |
| 9 | 11.49 ft | April 22, 2018 |
| 10 | 11.37 ft | March 23, 2009 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
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 | 3.06 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 24 mi |
| Big Sioux River near WatertownRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 3.81 ft | Very low | −0.02 ft | 12 mi |
| Big Sioux River at Lake Kampeska near WatertownRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 18.54 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 9 mi |
| Big Sioux River at WatertownRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 3.18 ft | Below flood stage | +0.01 ft | 8 mi |
| Big Sioux River at Broadway at WatertownRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 5.05 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 4.5 mi |
| Big Sioux River near CastlewoodRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 4.77 ft | Below flood stage | +0.03 ft | 8 mi |
| Big Sioux River near BruceRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 3.11 ft | Below flood stage | −0.04 ft | 27 mi |
| Big Sioux River near BrookingsRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 2.28 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 48 mi |
| Big Sioux River near Dell RapidsRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 3.24 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 75 mi |
| Big Sioux River below Diversion at Sioux FallsRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 3.13 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 89 mi |
| Big Sioux River at Sioux FallsRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 1.48 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 94 mi |
| Big Sioux River at North Cliff Ave at Sioux FallsRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 5.05 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 90 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willow Creek near WatertownRiver gauge, Willow Creek | 5.72 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 4.9 mi |
| South Branch Tributary Mud Creek near RauvilleRiver gauge, South Branch Tributary Mud Creek | 0.24 ft | Below flood stage | −0.07 ft | 8 mi |
| Lake Kampeska at Water Plant at WatertownLake, Lake Kampeska | 17.43 ft | Normal | ±0 | 8 mi |
| Mud Creek near RauvilleRiver gauge, Mud Creek | 7.63 ft | Below flood stage | +0.01 ft | 11 mi |
Questions and answers
What is flood stage for the Big Sioux River below Watertown?
The official flood stage is 11.00 ft. The level is currently 6.52 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 Watertown today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 04:45 AM CDT, the water level was 4.48 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Big Sioux River below Watertown rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 0.05 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Big Sioux River below 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 below Watertown?
The highest level on record is 13.13 ft on April 2, 1997.
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:06479520(Agency page)- Coordinates
44.84778, -97.04917(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 | 4.48 ft | 2026-10-20 09:45 | 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 Watertown (usgs:06479520). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/south-dakota/big-sioux-river-below-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