Lake Creek below Refuge near Tuthill water level

Name: Lake Creek below Refuge near Tuthill 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, Lake Creek, South Dakota, United States

Directions

Normal for late October

Water level

2.55ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 21, 2026, 03:00 AM MDT (1 hour ago)

Flow: 2.7 cfs

History

7 days 30 days 1 year Years compared

20252026

Water level

What this means

The gauge at Lake Creek below Refuge near Tuthill reads 2.55 ft, a normal level for late October.

On the same day last year the reading was 3.10 ft, a difference of −0.55 ft.

It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 2.35 ft and 3.09 ft.

Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.

Compared with 5 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Same day last year: 3.10 ft−0.55 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 2.35 ft – 3.09 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 2.35 ft – 3.95 ft
Highest on record: 9.01 ftMarch 10, 2018

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.

What happens at each level

10.00 ft: Left bank will overflow.
4.00 ft: Right bank will overflow.
2.55 ft: Right now

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

Highest crests on record

Rank	Level	Date
1	9.01 ft	March 10, 2018
2	6.46 ft	March 12, 1988
3	6.23 ft	December 16, 2022
4	5.76 ft	May 29, 2019
5	5.57 ft	March 25, 1987
6	5.31 ft	June 2, 2015
7	5.24 ft	June 1, 1991
8	5.22 ft	March 27, 1990
9	5.17 ft	June 18, 1967
10	5.02 ft	February 22, 2022

Weather at the gauge

No rain in the last 3 days.

20 Tue 75° 40° – Wind 13 mph

21 Wed 67° 46° – Wind 11 mph

22 Thu 78° 46° – Wind 20 mph

23 Fri 80° 62° – Wind 20 mph

24 Sat 66° 46° 0.00 in, 32% Wind 26 mph

25 Sun 49° 36° 0.06 in, 20% Wind 12 mph

26 Mon 36° 33° 0.02 in, 23% Wind 13 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:08 AM Sunset 05:55 PM Daylight 10 hr, 48 min Waxing gibbous 76%

Map

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Little White River near MartinRiver gauge, Little White River	0.93 ft	Below flood stage	−0.05 ft	6.2 mi
Little White River near VetalRiver gauge, Little White River	3.17 ft	Below flood stage	+0.01 ft	14 mi
Bear in The Lodge Creek near WanbleeRiver gauge, Bear in The Lodge Creek	1.58 ft	Below flood stage	−0.02 ft	31 mi
Little White River near RosebudRiver gauge, Little White River	4.23 ft	Below flood stage	+0.09 ft	34 mi
White River near InteriorRiver gauge, White River	3.57 ft	Below flood stage	−0.05 ft	43 mi
Merritt ReservoirReservoir	2,942.82 ft	High		48 mi
Little White River below White RiverRiver gauge, Little White River	1.94 ft	Below flood stage	±0	50 mi

Questions and answers

Is Lake Creek below Refuge near Tuthill higher than last year?

No, it is 0.55 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 3.10 ft.

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 Lake Creek below Refuge near Tuthill today?

On Oct 21, 2026, 03:00 AM MDT, the water level was 2.55 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is Lake Creek below Refuge near Tuthill rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is the level of Lake Creek below Refuge near Tuthill normal?

Normal for late October. Compared with 5 years of daily readings for this time of year.

What is the highest water level ever recorded at Lake Creek below Refuge near Tuthill?

The highest level on record is 9.01 ft on March 10, 2018.

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:06449000 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 43.14592, -101.51244 (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	2.55 ft	2026-10-21 09:00	Provisional
Flow	2.7 cfs	2026-10-21 09:00	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Lake Creek below Refuge near Tuthill (usgs:06449000). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/south-dakota/lake-creek-below-refuge-near-tuthill

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