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SwedenJames River near Stratford water level
River gauge, James River, South Dakota, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 314 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
The James River near Stratford is at 8.54 ft, in the normal range.
It is 5.46 ft below the flood stage of 14.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 13.92 ft (−5.38 ft).
It has risen 0.23 ft over the past 24 hours. There is still 5.46 ft of room before flood stage. In the last month it has stayed between 5.48 ft and 8.54 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
- 13.92 ft−5.38 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 5.48 ft – 8.54 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 5.39 ft – 13.78 ft
- Highest on record
- 21.57 ftJuly 19, 2011
Floating and fishing near James River near Stratford
Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.
Flood stage here is 14.00 ft, 5.46 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.
What happens at each level
- 25.00 ft
- The bridge at the gauge location on 148th/County Rd 27 is overtopped.
- 23.00 ft
- Water approaches Hwy 20 and may flood the lowest portions west of the bridge.
- 22.00 ft
- The bridge on 151st St is overtopped.
- 20.00 ft
- The bridges on 395th Ave as well as 142nd St are overtopped.
- 18.50 ft
- 395th Ave/County Rd 16 as well as 142nd/County Rd 23 both may begin to flood creating significant travel impacts to the area. 151st St is also flooded and the bridge on 146th Street is overtopped.
- 17.00 ft
- Additional county roads begin to flood, including 146th St.
- 16.00 ft
- 137th Street and 140th Street begin to flood as does 391st Ave north of Hwy 20.
- 14.00 ft
- Significant amounts of agricultural lands begin flooding.
- 8.54 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: 16 %.
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21.57 ft | July 19, 2011 |
| 2 | 20.08 ft | March 29, 2010 |
| 3 | 19.98 ft | April 26, 2009 |
| 4 | 19.86 ft | May 18, 1995 |
| 5 | 19.48 ft | April 6, 1997 |
| 6 | 18.68 ft | April 19, 2019 |
| 7 | 18.46 ft | April 23, 2001 |
| 8 | 18.43 ft | April 18, 2020 |
| 9 | 18.13 ft | April 19, 1952 |
| 10 | 18.10 ft | April 24, 1969 |
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 above Arrowwood Lake near KensalRiver gauge, James River | 2.00 ft | Normal | −0.04 ft | 150 mi |
| James River at JamestownRiver gauge, James River | 3.77 ft | Normal | −0.46 ft | 115 mi |
| James River at LamoureRiver gauge, James River | 7.98 ft | Normal | −0.06 ft | 77 mi |
| James River at Nd-Sd State LineRiver gauge, James River | 88.20 ft | Normal | +0.03 ft | 49 mi |
| James River at ColumbiaRiver gauge, James River | 9.53 ft | Below flood stage | +0.11 ft | 25 mi |
| James River at AshtonRiver gauge, James River | 4.95 ft | Below flood stage | +0.49 ft | 17 mi |
| James River near RedfieldRiver gauge, James River | 4.47 ft | Below flood stage | +0.68 ft | 23 mi |
| James River at HuronRiver gauge, James River | 9.04 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 61 mi |
| James River near ForestburgRiver gauge, James River | 4.54 ft | Below flood stage | +0.02 ft | 89 mi |
| James River near MitchellRiver gauge, James River | 9.96 ft | Low | −0.02 ft | 112 mi |
| James River near ScotlandRiver gauge, James River | 4.13 ft | Very low | +0.03 ft | 147 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moccasin Creek near AberdeenRiver gauge, Moccasin Creek | 13.30 ft | No reference yet | +0.02 ft | 11 mi |
| Moccasin Creek at AberdeenRiver gauge, Moccasin Creek | 1.60 ft | Below flood stage | +0.03 ft | 16 mi |
| Foot Creek near AberdeenRiver gauge, Foot Creek | 4.14 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 21 mi |
| Elm River near OrdwayRiver gauge, Elm River | 3.10 ft | Below flood stage | −0.03 ft | 22 mi |
| Elm River at WestportRiver gauge, Elm River | 4.11 ft | Below flood stage | +0.01 ft | 29 mi |
| Elm River near FrederickRiver gauge, Elm River | 5.16 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 44 mi |
Questions and answers
How does the James River near Stratford compare with last year?
It is 5.38 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 13.92 ft.
What is flood stage for the James River near Stratford?
The official flood stage is 14.00 ft. The level is currently 5.46 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 near Stratford today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 02:45 PM CDT, the water level was 8.54 ft. Up 0.23 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is James River near Stratford rising or falling?
Up 0.23 ft over the last 24 hours. Up 3.02 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of James River near Stratford normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at James River near Stratford?
The highest level on record is 21.57 ft on July 19, 2011.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:06472000(Agency page)- Coordinates
45.24167, -98.39111(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 | 8.54 ft | 2026-10-20 19:45 | Provisional |
| Flow | 314 cfs | 2026-10-20 19:45 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: James River near Stratford (usgs:06472000). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/south-dakota/james-river-near-stratford
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