Cheyenne River near Scenic water level

Name: Cheyenne River near Scenic 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, Cheyenne River, South Dakota, United States

Directions

Below flood stage

Water level

6.21ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 20, 2026, 10:15 PM MDT (60 min ago)

Flow: 50.1 cfs

History

7 days 30 days 1 year Years compared

20252026

Water level Minor flood stage

What this means

The gauge at Cheyenne River near Scenic reads 6.21 ft, a normal level.

It is 11.79 ft below the flood stage of 18.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 6.29 ft, a difference of −0.08 ft.

It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 6.18 ft and 6.68 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: 6.29 ft−0.08 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 6.18 ft – 6.68 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 5.87 ft – 12.26 ft
Highest on record: 19.31 ftMarch 11, 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 18.00 ft, still 11.79 ft away.

What happens at each level

21.00 ft: Major Flood Stage. Extensive flooding along the creek with inundation of structures and roads.
20.00 ft: Moderate flood stage. Some inundation of structures and road near the creek are possible.
18.00 ft: Flood stage. Water covers the fence line along the river. Flooding of agricultural land along the river.
16.00 ft: Action Stage. Water will be out of the lower banks and will approach the fence line along the river. Flooding of pasture land occurs.
6.21 ft: Right now

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

Highest crests on record

Rank	Level	Date
1	19.31 ft	March 11, 2011
2	19.25 ft	May 16, 2015
3	16.69 ft	May 28, 2019
4	15.69 ft	October 13, 2023
5	15.31 ft	May 20, 2011
6	15.16 ft	July 2, 2016
7	15.13 ft	May 28, 2018
8	14.88 ft	September 30, 2014
9	14.68 ft	August 4, 2010
10	14.45 ft	October 13, 2021

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:13 AM Sunset 05:59 PM Daylight 10 hr, 45 min Waxing gibbous 74%

Map

Other gauges on the Cheyenne River

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Cheyenne River near SpencerRiver gauge, Cheyenne River	3.78 ft	Below flood stage	+0.01 ft	81 mi
Cheyenne River at EdgemontRiver gauge, Cheyenne River	1.20 ft	Below flood stage	±0	72 mi
Cheyenne River near Buffalo GapRiver gauge, Cheyenne River	2.33 ft	Below flood stage	±0	35 mi
Cheyenne River at Red ShirtRiver gauge, Cheyenne River	9.48 ft	Below flood stage	−0.02 ft	20 mi
Cheyenne River near WastaRiver gauge, Cheyenne River	0.47 ft	Below flood stage	±0	17 mi
Cheyenne River near PlainviewRiver gauge, Cheyenne River	8.18 ft	Below flood stage	−0.02 ft	56 mi
Cheyenne River near Eagle ButteRiver gauge, Cheyenne River	10.30 ft	Very low	−0.01 ft	90 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Rapid Creek near FarmingdaleRiver gauge, Rapid Creek	5.65 ft	Below flood stage	−0.04 ft	11 mi
Battle Creek below HermosaRiver gauge, Battle Creek	1.84 ft	Low	±0	18 mi
Rapid Creek above Wrf near Rapid CityRiver gauge, Rapid Creek	3.41 ft	Below flood stage	+0.05 ft	24 mi
Elk Creek near Elm SpringsRiver gauge, Elk Creek	3.48 ft	Below flood stage	±0	25 mi
Battle Creek at HermosaRiver gauge, Battle Creek	2.59 ft	Very low	+0.01 ft	28 mi
Rapid Creek below Hawthorn Ditch at Rapid CityRiver gauge, Rapid Creek	9.38 ft	Below flood stage	±0	29 mi
Rapid Creek at Rapid CityRiver gauge, Rapid Creek	3.23 ft	Below flood stage	−0.02 ft	32 mi
Belle Fourche River near Elm SpringsRiver gauge, Belle Fourche River	3.75 ft	Below flood stage	+0.02 ft	33 mi

Questions and answers

Is the Cheyenne River near Scenic higher than last year?

No, it is 0.08 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 6.29 ft.

What is flood stage for the Cheyenne River near Scenic?

The official flood stage is 18.00 ft. The level is currently 11.79 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 Scenic today?

On Oct 20, 2026, 10:15 PM MDT, the water level was 6.21 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is Cheyenne River near Scenic rising or falling?

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

Is the level of Cheyenne River near Scenic 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 Scenic?

The highest level on record is 19.31 ft on March 11, 2011.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads

Operator: U.S. Geological Survey
Station code: usgs:06408650 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 43.89806, -102.64361 (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	6.21 ft	2026-10-21 04:15	Provisional
Flow	50.1 cfs	2026-10-21 04:15	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Cheyenne River near Scenic (usgs:06408650). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/south-dakota/cheyenne-river-near-scenic

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