Elm Creek near Gann Valley water level
River gauge, Elm Creek, South Dakota, United States
Right now
High for late October
Water level
History
20252026
What this means
Elm Creek near Gann Valley is above normal at 3.44 ft.
The median for late October is 2.91 ft, based on 9 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.53 ft above typical. It is 10.56 ft below the flood stage of 14.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 2.90 ft, a difference of +0.54 ft.
It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 3.18 ft and 3.53 ft.
That stands out in fall, when many rivers are usually near their lowest.
Compared with 9 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 2.91 ft0.53 ft above the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 2.46 ft – 3.49 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (9 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 2.90 ft+0.54 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 3.18 ft – 3.53 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 2.69 ft – 7.42 ft
- Highest on record
- 17.24 ftJuly 25, 1993
Floating and fishing near Elm Creek near Gann Valley
Experienced paddlers may enjoy higher water, but many outfitters stop rentals once a river runs this high.
Flood stage here is 14.00 ft, 10.56 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.
What happens at each level
- 24.00 ft
- The bridge on Hwy 34 at the gauge location is overtopped.
- 21.00 ft
- Nearby outbuildings may begin to flood and water reaches the bottom of the bridge on Hwy 34.
- 15.00 ft
- The left banks are overtopped and water enters the broader floodplain.
- 14.00 ft
- The right banks are overtopped, flooding nearby agricultural land.
- 12.00 ft
- The lowest lying areas near the river begin to flood.
- 3.44 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17.24 ft | July 25, 1993 |
| 2 | 11.92 ft | April 13, 2023 |
| 3 | 9.53 ft | May 13, 1998 |
| 4 | 6.37 ft | April 29, 2025 |
Weather at the gauge
Rain in the last 3 days: 0.15 in. Rain that falls upstream can take hours or days to show up at a river gauge.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Francis Case at ChamberlainLake, Lake Francis Case | 48.78 ft | Very low | +0.32 ft | 20 mi |
| Medicine Creek near Lower BruleRiver gauge, Medicine Creek | 6.9 cfs | Normal | +0.6 cfs | 30 mi |
| White River near OacomaRiver gauge, White River | 7.76 ft | Below flood stage | −0.03 ft | 30 mi |
Questions and answers
Is Elm Creek near Gann Valley higher than last year?
Yes, it is 0.54 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 2.90 ft.
What is flood stage for Elm Creek near Gann Valley?
The official flood stage is 14.00 ft. The level is currently 10.56 ft below it.
What is a normal level for Elm Creek near Gann Valley in late October?
The median for late October is 2.91 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 2.46 ft and 3.49 ft, based on 9 years of records.
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 Elm Creek near Gann Valley today?
On Oct 21, 2026, 01:45 AM CDT, the water level was 3.44 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Elm Creek near Gann Valley rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 0.05 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Elm Creek near Gann Valley normal?
High for late October. Compared with 9 years of daily readings for this time of year.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:06442900(Agency page)- Coordinates
44.07749, -99.15068(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 | 3.44 ft | 2026-10-21 06:45 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Elm Creek near Gann Valley (usgs:06442900). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/south-dakota/elm-creek-near-gann-valley
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