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SwedenCheyenne River near Wasta water level
River gauge, Cheyenne River, South Dakota, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 86.6 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
The gauge at Cheyenne River near Wasta reads 0.47 ft, a normal level.
It is 12.53 ft below the flood stage of 13.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 0.51 ft (−0.04 ft).
The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 0.36 ft and 1.57 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
- 0.51 ft−0.04 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 0.36 ft – 1.57 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 0.13 ft – 5.45 ft
- Highest on record
- 18.00 ftMay 15, 1920
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 13.00 ft, still 12.53 ft away.
What happens at each level
- 18.00 ft
- Near record flooding.
- 17.00 ft
- Extensive flooding along the Cheyenne River with inundation of structures and roads.
- 16.00 ft
- Flooding of agricultural land around Wasta. Some inundation of structures and roads are possible.
- 15.30 ft
- Water reaches the lower portion of the Jensen Road Bridge.
- 14.00 ft
- Water may cover the parking lot of the westbound I-90 rest area. Widespread flooding of agricultural land.
- 13.50 ft
- Water may begin to affect the railbed of the nearby railroad bridge.
- 13.00 ft
- Water may begin to cause flooding around the I-90 westbound rest area. Water may approach the picnic and parking areas.
- 11.00 ft
- The lowest areas along the river begin to flood.
- 10.00 ft
- Water reaches the lower deck of the railroad bridge.
- 0.47 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 | 18.00 ft | May 15, 1920 |
| 2 | 16.25 ft | March 5, 1982 |
| 3 | 14.50 ft | June 13, 1915 |
| 4 | 14.03 ft | May 16, 2015 |
| 5 | 13.97 ft | March 18, 2019 |
| 6 | 13.28 ft | May 6, 1932 |
| 7 | 12.85 ft | May 27, 1996 |
| 8 | 12.80 ft | May 12, 1942 |
| 9 | 12.78 ft | May 25, 1965 |
| 10 | 12.76 ft | August 2, 2019 |
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 | 3.76 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 98 mi |
| Cheyenne River at EdgemontRiver gauge, Cheyenne River | 1.20 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 89 mi |
| Cheyenne River near Buffalo GapRiver gauge, Cheyenne River | 2.34 ft | Below flood stage | +0.04 ft | 52 mi |
| Cheyenne River at Red ShirtRiver gauge, Cheyenne River | 9.51 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 37 mi |
| Cheyenne River near ScenicRiver gauge, Cheyenne River | 6.23 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 17 mi |
| Cheyenne River near PlainviewRiver gauge, Cheyenne River | 8.13 ft | Below flood stage | +0.01 ft | 39 mi |
| Cheyenne River near Eagle ButteRiver gauge, Cheyenne River | 10.31 ft | Very low | −0.02 ft | 72 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk Creek near Elm SpringsRiver gauge, Elk Creek | 3.48 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 13 mi |
| Belle Fourche River near Elm SpringsRiver gauge, Belle Fourche River | 3.75 ft | Below flood stage | +0.03 ft | 22 mi |
| Rapid Creek near FarmingdaleRiver gauge, Rapid Creek | 5.58 ft | Below flood stage | −0.13 ft | 24 mi |
| South Fork Bad River near CottonwoodRiver gauge, South Fork Bad River | 3.47 ft | Below flood stage | −0.24 ft | 32 mi |
| Rapid Creek above Wrf near Rapid CityRiver gauge, Rapid Creek | 3.38 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 35 mi |
| Battle Creek below HermosaRiver gauge, Battle Creek | 1.85 ft | Low | ±0 | 35 mi |
| White River near InteriorRiver gauge, White River | 3.58 ft | Below flood stage | −0.09 ft | 36 mi |
| Rapid Creek below Hawthorn Ditch at Rapid CityRiver gauge, Rapid Creek | 9.39 ft | Below flood stage | +0.01 ft | 39 mi |
Questions and answers
How does the Cheyenne River near Wasta compare with last year?
It is 0.04 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 0.51 ft.
What is flood stage for the Cheyenne River near Wasta?
The official flood stage is 13.00 ft. The level is currently 12.53 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 Wasta today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 10:30 AM MDT, the water level was 0.47 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Cheyenne River near Wasta rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours. Up 0.08 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Cheyenne River near Wasta 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 Wasta?
The highest level on record is 18.00 ft on May 15, 1920.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:06423500(Agency page)- Coordinates
44.08111, -102.40083(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 | 0.47 ft | 2026-10-20 16:30 | Provisional |
| Flow | 86.6 cfs | 2026-10-20 16:30 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Cheyenne River near Wasta (usgs:06423500). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/south-dakota/cheyenne-river-near-wasta
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