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SwedenLewis and Clark Lake at Springfield water level
River gauge, Lewis and Clark Lake, South Dakota, United States
Right now
High for mid-October
Water level
History
20252026
What this means
High water at Lewis and Clark Lake at Springfield: the latest reading is 9.56 ft, above normal for mid-October.
That puts it 0.66 ft above the median of 8.90 ft for mid-October, based on 36 years of readings. It is 1.44 ft below the flood stage of 11.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 9.06 ft (+0.50 ft).
The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. The 30-day range is 9.17 ft – 9.81 ft.
That stands out in fall, when many rivers are usually near their lowest.
Compared with 36 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 8.90 ft0.66 ft above the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 7.83 ft – 10.12 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (36 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 9.06 ft+0.50 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 9.17 ft – 9.81 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 6.91 ft – 9.70 ft
- Highest on record
- 17.73 ftMarch 14, 2019
Paddling and fishing conditions
Above-normal flows push fish to the edges and make wading risky. Wait for the river to drop and clear.
For reference, flood stage is 11.00 ft.
What happens at each level
- 15.00 ft
- Access to several homes east of the boat ramp in Santee may be cut off as most of the parking lot is flooded. Most of the park in Springfield is flooded.
- 13.50 ft
- Boat Basin Dr in Springfield floods. Water reaches the top of the boat ramp in Santee.
- 13.00 ft
- The lowest portion of the parking lot at the boat ramp in Santee begins to flood. Water approaches Boat Basin Dr in Springfield and may flood the lowest portions.
- 12.00 ft
- The lowest portions of Springfield Recreational Area will begin to flood.
- 11.00 ft
- The lowest portions of the park in Springfield begin to flood.
- 9.56 ft
- Right now
- 9.40 ft
- The lowest portions of Bottom Rd begin to flood just under 9.5 feet and the road may need to be closed.
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17.73 ft | March 14, 2019 |
| 2 | 14.72 ft | June 22, 2011 |
| 3 | 12.00 ft | October 14, 2018 |
| 4 | 11.90 ft | September 20, 2018 |
| 5 | 11.89 ft | August 23, 1995 |
| 6 | 11.70 ft | September 24, 2010 |
| 7 | 11.43 ft | February 21, 1997 |
| 8 | 11.32 ft | January 11, 2016 |
| 9 | 11.13 ft | December 2, 1985 |
| 10 | 10.74 ft | March 2, 1996 |
Weather at the gauge
Rain in the last 3 days: 0.14 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri River at NiobraraRiver gauge, Missouri River | 15.54 ft | Very low | −0.70 ft | 8 mi |
| Bazile Creek near NiobraraRiver gauge, Bazile Creek | 1.92 ft | Low | −0.02 ft | 9 mi |
| Missouri River below Ponca Creek near VerdelRiver gauge, Missouri River | 19.72 ft | Low | −0.79 ft | 11 mi |
| Niobrara River at NiobraraRiver gauge, Niobrara River | 32.11 ft | High | +0.15 ft | 11 mi |
| Howe Creek below Walker Draw near CenterRiver gauge, Howe Creek | 1.67 ft | Very low | ±0 | 13 mi |
| Ponca Creek at VerdelRiver gauge, Ponca Creek | 5.78 ft | Normal | −0.02 ft | 15 mi |
| Bazile Creek at CenterRiver gauge, Bazile Creek | 8.82 ft | High | −0.07 ft | 17 mi |
| Niobrara River near VerdelRiver gauge, Niobrara River | 3.31 ft | Normal | −0.04 ft | 19 mi |
Questions and answers
How does Lewis and Clark Lake at Springfield compare with last year?
It is 0.50 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 9.06 ft.
What is flood stage for Lewis and Clark Lake at Springfield?
The official flood stage is 11.00 ft. The level is currently 1.44 ft below it.
What is a normal level for Lewis and Clark Lake at Springfield in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 8.90 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 7.83 ft and 10.12 ft, based on 36 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 Lewis and Clark Lake at Springfield today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 02:30 PM CDT, the water level was 9.56 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Lewis and Clark Lake at Springfield rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours. Up 0.33 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Lewis and Clark Lake at Springfield normal?
High for mid-October. Compared with 36 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:06466700(Agency page)- Coordinates
42.85583, -97.88500(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 | 9.56 ft | 2026-10-20 19:30 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Lewis and Clark Lake at Springfield (usgs:06466700). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/south-dakota/lewis-and-clark-lake-at-springfield
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