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SwedenJames River at Ashton water level
River gauge, James River, South Dakota, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 187 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
Water levels are unremarkable at James River at Ashton, where the gauge shows 4.55 ft.
It is 8.45 ft below the flood stage of 13.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 10.12 ft, a difference of −5.57 ft.
It is on the way up, by 0.63 ft over the past 24 hours. There is still 8.45 ft of room before flood stage. The 30-day range is 3.49 ft – 4.55 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
- 10.12 ft−5.57 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 3.49 ft – 4.55 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 3.49 ft – 9.99 ft
- Highest on record
- 26.64 ftApril 6, 1997
Paddling and fishing conditions
Most paddlers and anglers will find the river in good shape at this stage.
For reference, flood stage is 13.00 ft.
What happens at each level
- 24.50 ft
- The bridge at the gauge on 165th/County Rd 14 is overtopped. 170th west of the bridge is flooded with most river crossings inaccessible due to flooding. Several additional structures are also flooded.
- 22.50 ft
- Several outbuildings near and north of the gauge on 165th/County Rd 14 begin to flood. The water reaches the bottom of the bridge on 165th/County Rd 14.
- 21.00 ft
- The lowest portions of 165th/County Rd 14 begin to flood. At least one house a couple miles north of the gauge begins to flood. Water overtops the bridge on 167th southeast of Ashton.
- 19.50 ft
- Water reaches the bottom of the bridge on 167th southeast of Ashton.
- 16.00 ft
- 161st begins to flood.
- 15.00 ft
- Significant amounts of farm land begin flooding.
- 14.00 ft
- Water reaches the bottom of the bridge on 161st northeast of Ashton.
- 13.00 ft
- Flooding begins to affect some crop land along with moderate flooding of pasture and low-lying areas.
- 11.00 ft
- Flooding of low-lying pasture and wooded areas begins.
- 4.55 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: 11 %.
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26.64 ft | April 6, 1997 |
| 2 | 25.25 ft | March 22, 2010 |
| 3 | 24.40 ft | April 28, 2011 |
| 4 | 23.20 ft | April 23, 2019 |
| 5 | 22.96 ft | April 30, 2009 |
| 6 | 21.21 ft | May 22, 1995 |
| 7 | 20.63 ft | April 24, 1969 |
| 8 | 19.85 ft | April 21, 2023 |
| 9 | 19.59 ft | April 23, 1952 |
| 10 | 19.14 ft | May 19, 1950 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on the James River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James River at JamestownRiver gauge, James River | 4.23 ft | Normal | −0.06 ft | 131 mi |
| James River at LamoureRiver gauge, James River | 8.04 ft | Normal | −0.02 ft | 94 mi |
| James River at Nd-Sd State LineRiver gauge, James River | 88.19 ft | Normal | −0.02 ft | 66 mi |
| James River at ColumbiaRiver gauge, James River | 9.53 ft | Below flood stage | +0.11 ft | 43 mi |
| James River near StratfordRiver gauge, James River | 8.35 ft | Below flood stage | +0.42 ft | 17 mi |
| James River near RedfieldRiver gauge, James River | 3.94 ft | Below flood stage | +0.61 ft | 6.1 mi |
| James River at HuronRiver gauge, James River | 9.03 ft | Below flood stage | −0.06 ft | 46 mi |
| James River near ForestburgRiver gauge, James River | 4.54 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 74 mi |
| James River near MitchellRiver gauge, James River | 9.95 ft | Low | +0.01 ft | 97 mi |
| James River near ScotlandRiver gauge, James River | 4.12 ft | Very low | +0.01 ft | 132 mi |
| James River near YanktonRiver gauge, James River | 3.41 ft | Below flood stage | −0.04 ft | 149 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moccasin Creek near AberdeenRiver gauge, Moccasin Creek | 13.28 ft | No reference yet | +0.02 ft | 26 mi |
| Moccasin Creek at AberdeenRiver gauge, Moccasin Creek | 1.56 ft | Below flood stage | +0.01 ft | 33 mi |
| Foot Creek near AberdeenRiver gauge, Foot Creek | 4.15 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 36 mi |
| Elm River near OrdwayRiver gauge, Elm River | 3.15 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 39 mi |
Questions and answers
Is the James River at Ashton higher than last year?
No, it is 5.57 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 10.12 ft.
What is flood stage for the James River at Ashton?
The official flood stage is 13.00 ft. The level is currently 8.45 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 James River at Ashton today?
On Oct 19, 2026, 07:45 PM CDT, the water level was 4.55 ft. Up 0.63 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is James River at Ashton rising or falling?
Up 0.63 ft over the last 24 hours. Up 1.06 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of James River at Ashton normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at James River at Ashton?
The highest level on record is 26.64 ft on April 6, 1997.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:06473000(Agency page)- Coordinates
44.99833, -98.48056(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 | 4.55 ft | 2026-10-20 00:45 | Provisional |
| Flow | 187 cfs | 2026-10-20 00:45 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: James River at Ashton (usgs:06473000). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/south-dakota/james-river-at-ashton
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