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SwedenBig Sioux River near Bruce water level
River gauge, Big Sioux River, South Dakota, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 51.7 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
The gauge at Big Sioux River near Bruce reads 3.11 ft, a normal level.
It is 4.89 ft below the flood stage of 8.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 5.30 ft, a difference of −2.19 ft.
The level is falling, down 0.04 ft over the past 24 hours. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 3.11 ft and 3.58 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
- 5.30 ft−2.19 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 3.11 ft – 3.58 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 3.15 ft – 9.39 ft
- Highest on record
- 12.16 ftMarch 28, 2011
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 8.00 ft, still 4.89 ft away.
What happens at each level
- 15.00 ft
- The bridge on 466th Ave is overtopped.
- 14.00 ft
- Water overtops 466th Avenue near the gage. The bridges on 202nd St and 207th St are also overtopped.
- 13.00 ft
- Water reaches the bottom of the bridge on 203rd street northwest of Bruce. Water will begin to surround multiple structures and homes near the gauge location.
- 11.50 ft
- The higher banks on the left side of the river are overtopped, flooding agricultural lands for a width of 1/4 to 1/3 mile. 203rd and 207th streets both begins to flood. The water also reaches the low steel of the bridge at the gaging location on 466th Avenue.
- 10.50 ft
- 198th St, 199th St, 202nd St all begin flooding. 465th Ave between 203rd and 204th St also floods.
- 9.50 ft
- The right bank overflows, flooding agricultural lands for as much as 1/4 mile.
- 8.00 ft
- The lower banks on the left side of the river overflow.
- 3.11 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12.16 ft | March 28, 2011 |
| 2 | 10.88 ft | March 29, 2019 |
| 3 | 10.75 ft | March 24, 2009 |
| 4 | 10.60 ft | April 9, 2001 |
| 5 | 10.52 ft | April 4, 2011 |
| 6 | 10.50 ft | July 1, 2025 |
| 7 | 10.46 ft | June 25, 2013 |
| 8 | 10.37 ft | March 16, 2010 |
| 9 | 10.35 ft | March 15, 2007 |
| 10 | 10.20 ft | April 23, 2018 |
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 | 51 mi |
| Big Sioux River near WatertownRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 3.79 ft | Very low | −0.01 ft | 40 mi |
| Big Sioux River at Lake Kampeska near WatertownRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 18.54 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 36 mi |
| Big Sioux River at WatertownRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 3.15 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 35 mi |
| Big Sioux River at Broadway at WatertownRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 5.04 ft | Below flood stage | −0.03 ft | 31 mi |
| Big Sioux River below WatertownRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 4.47 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 27 mi |
| Big Sioux River near CastlewoodRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 4.80 ft | Below flood stage | +0.05 ft | 20 mi |
| Big Sioux River near BrookingsRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 2.28 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 21 mi |
| Big Sioux River near Dell RapidsRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 3.24 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 47 mi |
| Big Sioux River below Diversion at Sioux FallsRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 3.11 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 62 mi |
| Big Sioux River at Sioux FallsRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 1.48 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 67 mi |
| Big Sioux River at North Cliff Ave at Sioux FallsRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 5.05 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 63 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willow Creek near WatertownRiver gauge, Willow Creek | 5.70 ft | Below flood stage | +0.01 ft | 32 mi |
| Flandreau Creek above FlandreauRiver gauge, Flandreau Creek | 4.37 ft | Below flood stage | −0.04 ft | 34 mi |
| Lake Kampeska at Water Plant at WatertownLake, Lake Kampeska | 17.41 ft | Normal | −0.02 ft | 34 mi |
| South Branch Tributary Mud Creek near RauvilleRiver gauge, South Branch Tributary Mud Creek | 0.24 ft | Below flood stage | −0.06 ft | 35 mi |
Questions and answers
Is the Big Sioux River near Bruce higher than last year?
No, it is 2.19 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 5.30 ft.
What is flood stage for the Big Sioux River near Bruce?
The official flood stage is 8.00 ft. The level is currently 4.89 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 near Bruce today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 08:45 AM CDT, the water level was 3.11 ft. Down 0.04 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Big Sioux River near Bruce rising or falling?
Down 0.04 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 0.14 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Big Sioux River near Bruce 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 near Bruce?
The highest level on record is 12.16 ft on March 28, 2011.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:06479770(Agency page)- Coordinates
44.46756, -96.88708(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 | 3.11 ft | 2026-10-20 13:45 | Provisional |
| Flow | 51.7 cfs | 2026-10-20 13:45 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Big Sioux River near Bruce (usgs:06479770). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/south-dakota/big-sioux-river-near-bruce
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