Big Sioux River near Dell Rapids water level

Name: Big Sioux River near Dell Rapids water level (U.S. Geological Survey)
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
License: https://www.usgs.gov/information-policies-and-instructions/copyrights-and-credits

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

Directions

Below flood stage

Water level

3.24ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 AM CDT (1 hour ago)

Flow: 117 cfs

History

7 days 30 days 1 year Years compared

20252026

Water level Minor flood stage

What this means

Water levels are unremarkable at Big Sioux River near Dell Rapids, where the gauge shows 3.24 ft.

It is 8.76 ft below the flood stage of 12.00 ft.

It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. The 30-day range is 3.23 ft – 3.78 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: 3.23 ft – 3.78 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 3.08 ft – 6.79 ft
Highest on record: 16.70 ftSeptember 13, 2019

Paddling and fishing conditions

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

For reference, flood stage is 12.00 ft.

What happens at each level

22.00 ft: The bridge on 250th Street just west of Baltic is overtopped.
21.00 ft: The bridge at the gauge on 248th St is overtopped and several outbuildings near the gauge are flooded.
17.50 ft: Water reaches the bottom of the bridge on 250th Street west of Baltic.
16.50 ft: Much of the area between the railroad on the north bank of the river and about 250 yards north of Centennial Pl on the south bank is flooded resulting in significant impacts. Water reaches the bottom of the bridge on 254th St.
16.00 ft: 248th Street east of the gauge is flooded, along with several other county roads. Flooding will affect the city of Renner with water going over the main road in town.
15.50 ft: Significant flooding is ongoing south of the railroad track in Dell Rapids on the north bank of the river with significant flooding of the athletic fields and campground on the south bank. County Road 130 in Renner is flooded.
15.00 ft: Several homes and businesses south of the railroad track in Dell Rapids begin to flood. Some homes in Renner are flooded.
14.50 ft: 250th St west of Baltic begins to flood, River Park Road in Baltic is flooded, and a couple of homes and outbuildings west of 1st Avenue in Baltic are in danger of flooding. Portions of Garfield Ave in Dell Rapids south of the bridge may begin to flood.
14.00 ft: Significant amounts of agricultural lands are flooded through the basin, and River Park in Baltic begins to flood.
12.00 ft: The city parks and athletic fields in Dell Rapids begin to flood. Water approaches at least one outbuilding in Dell Rapids along the river. Agricultural land flooding also begins to increase in coverage.
10.00 ft: The lowest banks begin to be overtopped. The bike trail under the Garfield Ave bridge in Dell Rapids begins to flood.
3.24 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	16.70 ft	September 13, 2019
2	16.47 ft	April 9, 1969
3	16.29 ft	September 25, 2010
4	16.02 ft	March 15, 2007
5	15.69 ft	March 24, 2019
6	15.63 ft	March 24, 2011
7	15.56 ft	July 4, 1993
8	15.47 ft	April 7, 1997
9	15.20 ft	June 23, 1984
10	15.14 ft	March 30, 1962

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 70%

Map

Other gauges on the Big Sioux River

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Big Sioux River at WatertownRiver gauge, Big Sioux River	3.15 ft	Below flood stage	−0.01 ft	82 mi
Big Sioux River at Broadway at WatertownRiver gauge, Big Sioux River	5.03 ft	Below flood stage	−0.03 ft	78 mi
Big Sioux River below WatertownRiver gauge, Big Sioux River	4.46 ft	Below flood stage	±0	75 mi
Big Sioux River near CastlewoodRiver gauge, Big Sioux River	4.80 ft	Below flood stage	+0.06 ft	67 mi
Big Sioux River near BruceRiver gauge, Big Sioux River	3.12 ft	Below flood stage	−0.03 ft	47 mi
Big Sioux River near BrookingsRiver gauge, Big Sioux River	2.28 ft	Below flood stage	−0.02 ft	27 mi
Big Sioux River below Diversion at Sioux FallsRiver gauge, Big Sioux River	3.10 ft	Below flood stage	−0.02 ft	15 mi
Big Sioux River at Sioux FallsRiver gauge, Big Sioux River	1.48 ft	Below flood stage	±0	20 mi
Big Sioux River at North Cliff Ave at Sioux FallsRiver gauge, Big Sioux River	5.05 ft	Below flood stage	−0.02 ft	16 mi
Big Sioux River near HawardenRiver gauge, Big Sioux River	11.99 ft	Below flood stage	−0.06 ft	53 mi
Big Sioux River at AkronRiver gauge, Big Sioux River	5.55 ft	Below flood stage	−0.11 ft	66 mi
Big Sioux River near JeffersonRiver gauge, Big Sioux River	9.37 ft	Below flood stage	−0.13 ft	81 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Skunk Creek near ChesterRiver gauge, Skunk Creek	0.75 ft	Below flood stage	−0.01 ft	6.0 mi
Willow Creek near CrooksRiver gauge, Willow Creek	3.70 ft	Below flood stage	+0.01 ft	12 mi
Silver Creek at Sioux FallsRiver gauge, Silver Creek	0.91 ft	Below flood stage	−0.01 ft	13 mi
Skunk Creek near HartfordRiver gauge, Skunk Creek	3.58 ft	Below flood stage	−0.02 ft	13 mi
Split Rock Creek at CorsonRiver gauge, Split Rock Creek	1.84 ft	Below flood stage	−0.02 ft	15 mi
Skunk Creek at Sioux FallsRiver gauge, Skunk Creek	2.24 ft	Below flood stage	−0.02 ft	18 mi
Flandreau Creek above FlandreauRiver gauge, Flandreau Creek	4.38 ft	Below flood stage	−0.03 ft	23 mi

Questions and answers

What is flood stage for the Big Sioux River near Dell Rapids?

The official flood stage is 12.00 ft. The level is currently 8.76 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 Dell Rapids today?

On Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 AM CDT, the water level was 3.24 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is Big Sioux River near Dell Rapids rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 0.06 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Big Sioux River near Dell Rapids 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 Dell Rapids?

The highest level on record is 16.70 ft on September 13, 2019.

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:06481000 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 43.79047, -96.74533 (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	3.24 ft	2026-10-20 16:30	Provisional
Flow	117 cfs	2026-10-20 16:30	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Big Sioux River near Dell Rapids (usgs:06481000). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/south-dakota/big-sioux-river-near-dell-rapids

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