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SwedenCheyenne River near Plainview water level
River gauge, Cheyenne River, South Dakota, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 71.0 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
The gauge at Cheyenne River near Plainview reads 8.20 ft, a normal level.
It is 8.80 ft below the flood stage of 17.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 8.72 ft, a difference of −0.52 ft.
It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 8.10 ft and 9.03 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
- 8.72 ft−0.52 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 8.10 ft – 9.03 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 7.89 ft – 12.40 ft
- Highest on record
- 22.99 ftMay 23, 2019
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 17.00 ft, still 8.80 ft away.
What happens at each level
- 22.99 ft
- Record flooding occurred in May 2019.
- 20.00 ft
- Extensive flooding along the Cheyenne River with extensive inundation of structures and roads possible.
- 19.00 ft
- Some inundation of structures and roads along the Cheyenne River are possible.
- 17.00 ft
- Minor flooding of agricultural land along the Cheyenne River.
- 15.00 ft
- Flooding of low lying areas along the Cheyenne River begins.
- 14.75 ft
- Both sides of the river will flood with water spreading onto the floodplain.
- 13.00 ft
- The river is bankfull.
- 8.20 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: 6 %.
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22.99 ft | May 23, 2019 |
| 2 | 22.63 ft | June 7, 2008 |
| 3 | 22.10 ft | May 28, 1996 |
| 4 | 19.86 ft | May 26, 2011 |
| 5 | 19.72 ft | May 10, 1995 |
| 6 | 19.02 ft | April 14, 2009 |
| 7 | 18.67 ft | May 26, 2010 |
| 8 | 18.59 ft | October 13, 2013 |
| 9 | 18.28 ft | May 17, 2015 |
| 10 | 17.85 ft | June 21, 2018 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on the Cheyenne River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheyenne River near SpencerRiver gauge, Cheyenne River | 3.77 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 134 mi |
| Cheyenne River at EdgemontRiver gauge, Cheyenne River | 1.20 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 127 mi |
| Cheyenne River near Buffalo GapRiver gauge, Cheyenne River | 2.33 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 91 mi |
| Cheyenne River at Red ShirtRiver gauge, Cheyenne River | 9.48 ft | Below flood stage | −0.04 ft | 76 mi |
| Cheyenne River near ScenicRiver gauge, Cheyenne River | 6.24 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 56 mi |
| Cheyenne River near WastaRiver gauge, Cheyenne River | 0.46 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 39 mi |
| Cheyenne River near Eagle ButteRiver gauge, Cheyenne River | 10.31 ft | Very low | +0.02 ft | 37 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherry Creek near PlainviewRiver gauge, Cherry Creek | 2.66 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 16 mi |
| Belle Fourche River near Elm SpringsRiver gauge, Belle Fourche River | 3.72 ft | Below flood stage | +0.02 ft | 33 mi |
| Elk Creek near Elm SpringsRiver gauge, Elk Creek | 3.48 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 34 mi |
| South Fork Bad River near CottonwoodRiver gauge, South Fork Bad River | 3.47 ft | Below flood stage | −0.24 ft | 40 mi |
Questions and answers
Is the Cheyenne River near Plainview higher than last year?
No, it is 0.52 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 8.72 ft.
What is flood stage for the Cheyenne River near Plainview?
The official flood stage is 17.00 ft. The level is currently 8.80 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 Cheyenne River near Plainview today?
On Oct 19, 2026, 08:30 PM MDT, the water level was 8.20 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Cheyenne River near Plainview rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours. Up 0.06 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Cheyenne River near Plainview normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Cheyenne River near Plainview?
The highest level on record is 22.99 ft on May 23, 2019.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:06438500(Agency page)- Coordinates
44.52944, -101.92972(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 | 8.20 ft | 2026-10-20 02:30 | Provisional |
| Flow | 71.0 cfs | 2026-10-20 02:30 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Cheyenne River near Plainview (usgs:06438500). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/south-dakota/cheyenne-river-near-plainview
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