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SwedenMissouri River at Farm Island near Pierre water level
River gauge, Missouri River, South Dakota, United States
Right now
Low for mid-October
Water level
History
20252026
What this means
At 20.48 ft, the Missouri River at Farm Island near Pierre is below normal for mid-October.
It is 5.52 ft below the flood stage of 26.00 ft. That puts it 0.52 ft below the median of 21.00 ft for mid-October, based on 30 years of readings. A year ago it stood at 20.58 ft (−0.10 ft).
The water is rising: up 0.40 ft over the past 24 hours. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 19.96 ft and 22.12 ft.
Early fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Compared with 30 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 21.00 ft0.52 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 20.44 ft – 22.49 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (30 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 20.58 ft−0.10 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 19.96 ft – 22.12 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 19.05 ft – 22.12 ft
- Highest on record
- 29.52 ftJune 21, 2011
What the stage means on the water
Low water means more dragging on shallow riffles and slower floats. Fish crowd into the deeper runs, and warm, low water stresses them, so play and release them quickly.
The National Weather Service puts flood stage for this gauge at 26.00 ft, still 5.52 ft away.
What happens at each level
- 29.00 ft
- The road leading into Farm Island is flooded.
- 27.00 ft
- Cabins at Farm Island State Park begin to flood.
- 26.00 ft
- Camping areas at Farm Island State Park begin to flood.
- 20.48 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29.52 ft | June 21, 2011 |
| 2 | 24.69 ft | January 19, 1996 |
| 3 | 24.53 ft | October 20, 2019 |
| 4 | 24.40 ft | September 29, 2019 |
| 5 | 23.87 ft | August 30, 2018 |
| 6 | 23.76 ft | October 22, 1997 |
| 7 | 23.47 ft | January 6, 2014 |
| 8 | 23.10 ft | August 16, 1995 |
| 9 | 22.95 ft | September 13, 2010 |
| 10 | 22.70 ft | November 21, 2011 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on the Missouri River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri River at PierreRiver gauge, Missouri River | 6.60 ft | Low | +0.60 ft | 5.7 mi |
| Missouri River at Laframboise Island at PierreRiver gauge, Missouri River | 20.83 ft | Low | +0.52 ft | 4.8 mi |
| Missouri River below La Framboise Island, at PierreRiver gauge, Missouri River | 20.55 ft | No reference yet | +0.46 ft | 2.8 mi |
| Missouri River below GreenwoodRiver gauge, Missouri River | 24.39 ft | Normal | −1.83 ft | 138 mi |
| Missouri River below Ponca Creek near VerdelRiver gauge, Missouri River | 19.64 ft | Very low | −2.01 ft | 153 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bad River near Fort PierreRiver gauge, Bad River | 4.3 cfs | Normal | 5.9 mi | |
| Cedar Creek near PreshoRiver gauge, Cedar Creek | 6.82 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 16 mi |
| Medicine Creek near Lower BruleRiver gauge, Medicine Creek | 6.3 cfs | Normal | 34 mi | |
| White River near OacomaRiver gauge, White River | 7.82 ft | Below flood stage | +0.02 ft | 54 mi |
Questions and answers
How does the Missouri River at Farm Island near Pierre compare with last year?
It is 0.10 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 20.58 ft.
What is flood stage for the Missouri River at Farm Island near Pierre?
The official flood stage is 26.00 ft. The river is currently 5.52 ft below it.
What is the record level at Missouri River at Farm Island near Pierre?
The highest reading on record is 29.52 ft (June 21, 2011).
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 Missouri River at Farm Island near Pierre today?
On Oct 16, 2026, 04:15 PM CDT, the water level was 20.48 ft. Up 0.40 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Missouri River at Farm Island near Pierre rising or falling?
Up 0.40 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 0.04 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Missouri River at Farm Island near Pierre normal?
Low for mid-October. Compared with 30 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:06441595(Agency page)- Coordinates
44.33417, -100.26500(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 stage | 20.48 ft | 2026-10-16 21:15 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Missouri River at Farm Island near Pierre (usgs:06441595). Accessed October 16, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/south-dakota/missouri-river-at-farm-island-near-pierre
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