Oak Creek near Rattlesnake Butte near Wakpala water level

Name: Oak Creek near Rattlesnake Butte near Wakpala 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, Oak Creek, South Dakota, United States

Directions

Below flood stage

Water level

5.24ft Up 0.05 ft over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 21, 2026, 01:45 AM CDT (57 min ago)

History

7 days 30 days 1 year Years compared

20252026

Water level Normal range (10–90 %) Minor flood stage

What this means

Water levels are unremarkable at Oak Creek near Rattlesnake Butte near Wakpala, where the gauge shows 5.24 ft.

It is 4.76 ft below the flood stage of 10.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 3.81 ft (+1.43 ft).

It is on the way up, by 0.05 ft over the past 24 hours. There is still 4.76 ft of room before flood stage. The 30-day range is 3.50 ft – 5.24 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: 3.81 ft+1.43 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 3.50 ft – 5.24 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 2.48 ft – 8.60 ft
Highest on record: 19.83 ftMarch 27, 1997

Paddling and fishing conditions

Most paddlers and anglers will find the river in good shape at this stage.

For reference, flood stage is 10.00 ft.

What happens at each level

25.00 ft: The bridge at Mahto is overtopped
22.50 ft: The water reaches the bottom of the bridge at Mahto
20.50 ft: The bridge just northwest of the gage is overtopped
18.00 ft: The water reaches the bottom of the bridge just northwest of the gage
5.24 ft: Right now

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

Highest crests on record

Rank	Level	Date
1	19.83 ft	March 27, 1997
2	19.52 ft	March 23, 2009
3	18.62 ft	March 14, 1995
4	18.35 ft	March 23, 1987
5	17.73 ft	April 4, 1986
6	17.46 ft	July 2, 2015
7	16.95 ft	March 31, 2019
8	15.33 ft	July 17, 2001
9	14.95 ft	June 18, 2014
10	14.89 ft	March 26, 1989

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 08:08 AM Sunset 06:48 PM Daylight 10 hr, 40 min Waxing gibbous 75%

Map

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Grand River at Little EagleRiver gauge, Grand River	2.61 ft	Below flood stage	+0.01 ft	12 mi
Moreau River at PromiseRiver gauge, Moreau River	6.48 ft	Very low	+0.12 ft	27 mi
Porcupine Creek near Fort YatesRiver gauge, Porcupine Creek	1.73 ft	Very low	±0	33 mi
Moreau River near WhitehorseRiver gauge, Moreau River	1.69 ft	Below flood stage	−0.03 ft	35 mi
Beaver Creek below LintonRiver gauge, Beaver Creek	4.45 ft	Normal	−0.03 ft	41 mi
Cedar Creek near RaleighRiver gauge, Cedar Creek	−0.09 ft	Low	±0	43 mi
Cannonball River near RaleighRiver gauge, Cannonball River	1.77 ft	Very low	±0	45 mi

Questions and answers

How does Oak Creek near Rattlesnake Butte near Wakpala compare with last year?

It is 1.43 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 3.81 ft.

What is flood stage for Oak Creek near Rattlesnake Butte near Wakpala?

The official flood stage is 10.00 ft. The level is currently 4.76 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 Oak Creek near Rattlesnake Butte near Wakpala today?

On Oct 21, 2026, 01:45 AM CDT, the water level was 5.24 ft. Up 0.05 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is Oak Creek near Rattlesnake Butte near Wakpala rising or falling?

Up 0.05 ft over the last 24 hours. Up 0.22 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Oak Creek near Rattlesnake Butte near Wakpala normal?

Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.

What is the highest water level ever recorded at Oak Creek near Rattlesnake Butte near Wakpala?

The highest level on record is 19.83 ft on March 27, 1997.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads

Operator: U.S. Geological Survey
Station code: usgs:06354881 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 45.72843, -100.59628 (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	5.24 ft	2026-10-21 06:45	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Oak Creek near Rattlesnake Butte near Wakpala (usgs:06354881). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/south-dakota/oak-creek-near-rattlesnake-butte-near-wakpala

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