Elk Creek near Elm Springs water level

Name: Elk Creek near Elm Springs 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, Elk Creek, South Dakota, United States

Directions

Below flood stage

Water level

3.48ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 19, 2026, 08:00 AM MDT (2 days ago)

Flow: 0.2 cfs

History

7 days 1 year

Water level Minor flood stage

What this means

Water levels are unremarkable at Elk Creek near Elm Springs, where the gauge shows 3.48 ft.

It is 8.52 ft below the flood stage of 12.00 ft.

The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. The 30-day range is 3.47 ft – 3.49 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: 3.47 ft – 3.49 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 3.48 ft – 4.45 ft
Highest on record: 16.22 ftFebruary 18, 1997

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

14.00 ft: Major Flood Stage. Extensive flooding along the creek with inundation of structures and roads.
13.00 ft: Moderate Flood Stage. Some inundation of structures and roads near the creek are possible.
12.00 ft: Minor flood stage. Flooding of agricultural land.
10.00 ft: Action Stage. Flooding of low lying areas along the creek.
8.00 ft: Water begins to overflow the lower banks.
3.48 ft: Right now

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

Highest crests on record

Rank	Level	Date
1	16.22 ft	February 18, 1997
2	14.85 ft	May 28, 1996
3	14.21 ft	June 8, 1994
4	14.00 ft	June 6, 2008
5	13.70 ft	October 17, 1999
6	13.25 ft	February 27, 1986
7	13.25 ft	March 3, 1994
8	12.99 ft	April 14, 2009
9	12.95 ft	May 25, 2010
10	12.80 ft	May 8, 1993

Weather at the gauge

No rain in the last 3 days.

20 Tue 77° 42° – Wind 8 mph

21 Wed 68° 43° – Wind 8 mph

22 Thu 82° 49° – Wind 19 mph

23 Fri 86° 63° – Wind 17 mph

24 Sat 66° 47° – Wind 32 mph

25 Sun 47° 35° 0.27 in Wind 12 mph

26 Mon 40° 33° 0.06 in Wind 18 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:13 AM Sunset 05:58 PM Daylight 10 hr, 44 min Waxing gibbous 74%

Map

Other gauges on Elk Creek

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Elk Creek near Rapid CityRiver gauge, Elk Creek	4.14 ft	Below flood stage	±0	32 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Belle Fourche River near Elm SpringsRiver gauge, Belle Fourche River	3.75 ft	Below flood stage	+0.03 ft	9 mi
Cheyenne River near WastaRiver gauge, Cheyenne River	0.46 ft	Below flood stage	±0	13 mi
Cheyenne River near ScenicRiver gauge, Cheyenne River	6.21 ft	Below flood stage	−0.03 ft	25 mi
Rapid Creek near FarmingdaleRiver gauge, Rapid Creek	5.65 ft	Below flood stage	−0.04 ft	27 mi
Rapid Creek above Wrf near Rapid CityRiver gauge, Rapid Creek	3.41 ft	Below flood stage	+0.04 ft	33 mi
Cheyenne River near PlainviewRiver gauge, Cheyenne River	8.18 ft	Below flood stage	−0.02 ft	34 mi
Rapid Creek below Hawthorn Ditch at Rapid CityRiver gauge, Rapid Creek	9.38 ft	Below flood stage	±0	36 mi
Belle Fourche River near SturgisRiver gauge, Belle Fourche River	2.46 ft	Below flood stage	±0	36 mi

Questions and answers

What is flood stage for Elk Creek near Elm Springs?

The official flood stage is 12.00 ft. The level is currently 8.52 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 Elk Creek near Elm Springs today?

On Oct 19, 2026, 08:00 AM MDT, the water level was 3.48 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is Elk Creek near Elm Springs rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is the level of Elk Creek near Elm Springs normal?

Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.

What is the highest water level ever recorded at Elk Creek near Elm Springs?

The highest level on record is 16.22 ft on February 18, 1997.

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:06425500 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 44.24833, -102.50278 (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	3.48 ft	2026-10-19 14:00	Provisional
Flow	0.2 cfs	2026-10-19 14:00	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Elk Creek near Elm Springs (usgs:06425500). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/south-dakota/elk-creek-near-elm-springs

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