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SwedenRapid Creek above Johnson Siding below Pactola Dam water level
River gauge, Rapid Creek, South Dakota, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
This gauge last reported 12 days ago. The value may be out of date; check the agency page before you rely on it.
History
20252026
What this means
Rapid Creek above Johnson Siding below Pactola Dam is at 2.87 ft, in the normal range. That reading is from Oct 8, 2026, 12:40 PM MDT, so the gauge may be offline or reporting late.
It is 1.63 ft below the flood stage of 4.50 ft. A year ago it stood at 2.96 ft (−0.09 ft).
The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 2.84 ft and 2.94 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
- 2.96 ft−0.09 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 2.84 ft – 2.94 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 2.84 ft – 3.32 ft
- Highest on record
- 4.88 ftJune 24, 2015
Floating and fishing near Rapid Creek above Johnson Siding below Pactola Dam
Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.
Flood stage here is 4.50 ft, 1.63 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.
What happens at each level
- 9.00 ft
- Major Flood Stage. Water begins to flow over the intersection of Forest Rd and Sonquist Lane.
- 8.10 ft
- Private property upstream from the bridge is completely flooded.
- 8.00 ft
- Water reaches the bottom of the bridge along Sonquist Lane.
- 6.00 ft
- Moderate Flood Stage.
- 5.00 ft
- Private property along the river is flooded.
- 4.50 ft
- Minor Flood Stage. Private property directly along the river begins to flood.
- 4.20 ft
- Action Stage. Water begins to flow over lowest banks along the creek.
- 2.87 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4.88 ft | June 24, 2015 |
| 2 | 4.65 ft | May 30, 2011 |
| 3 | 4.62 ft | June 24, 1998 |
| 4 | 4.54 ft | May 31, 2019 |
| 5 | 4.37 ft | June 19, 1999 |
| 6 | 4.24 ft | May 26, 2010 |
| 7 | 4.22 ft | May 11, 2014 |
| 8 | 4.09 ft | April 20, 2009 |
| 9 | 4.07 ft | June 23, 2018 |
| 10 | 3.96 ft | July 3, 2023 |
Weather at the gauge
No rain in the last 3 days.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Other gauges on Rapid Creek
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid Creek above Pactola Reservoir at Silver CityRiver gauge, Rapid Creek | 4.76 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 7 mi |
| Rapid Creek below Pactola DamRiver gauge, Rapid Creek | 7.22 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 2.0 mi |
| Rapid Creek at Big Bend near Rapid CityRiver gauge, Rapid Creek | 2.82 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 2.3 mi |
| Rapid Creek above Victoria Creek near Rapid CityRiver gauge, Rapid Creek | 5.23 ft | Below flood stage | +0.02 ft | 5.2 mi |
| Rapid Creek above Canyon Lake near Rapid CityRiver gauge, Rapid Creek | 1.58 ft | Below flood stage | −0.06 ft | 7 mi |
| Rapid Creek at Rapid CityRiver gauge, Rapid Creek | 3.25 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 10 mi |
| Rapid Creek below Hawthorn Ditch at Rapid CityRiver gauge, Rapid Creek | 9.38 ft | Below flood stage | +0.01 ft | 13 mi |
| Rapid Creek above Wrf near Rapid CityRiver gauge, Rapid Creek | 3.38 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 17 mi |
| Rapid Creek near FarmingdaleRiver gauge, Rapid Creek | 5.64 ft | Below flood stage | −0.08 ft | 31 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pactola ReservoirReservoir | 4,558.75 ft | Very low | 2.4 mi | |
| Wild Irishman Gulch near Rapid CityRiver gauge, Wild Irishman Gulch | 3.55 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 3.8 mi |
| Boxelder Creek near NemoRiver gauge, Boxelder Creek | 1.15 ft | Very low | ±0 | 4.3 mi |
| Victoria Creek below Victoria Dam near Rapid CityRiver gauge, Victoria Creek | 3.47 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 5.3 mi |
| South Canyon near Rapid CityRiver gauge, South Canyon | 3.57 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 5.8 mi |
Questions and answers
How does Rapid Creek above Johnson Siding below Pactola Dam compare with last year?
It is 0.09 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 2.96 ft.
What is flood stage for Rapid Creek above Johnson Siding below Pactola Dam?
The official flood stage is 4.50 ft. The level is currently 1.63 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 Rapid Creek above Johnson Siding below Pactola Dam today?
On Oct 8, 2026, 12:40 PM MDT, the water level was 2.87 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Rapid Creek above Johnson Siding below Pactola Dam rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours. Steady over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Rapid Creek above Johnson Siding below Pactola Dam normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Rapid Creek above Johnson Siding below Pactola Dam?
The highest level on record is 4.88 ft on June 24, 2015.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:06411900(Agency page)- Coordinates
44.08200, -103.44247(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 | 2.87 ft | 2026-10-08 18:40 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Rapid Creek above Johnson Siding below Pactola Dam (usgs:06411900). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/south-dakota/rapid-creek-above-johnson-siding-below-pactola-dam
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