Nivelmap
EN

How to read levelsSources and methods

North America

Western Europe

Central Europe

Mediterranean

Nordic countries

Rapid Creek above Pactola Reservoir at Silver City water level

River gauge, Rapid Creek, South Dakota, United States

Directions

Below flood stage

Water level

4.75ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Flow
33.7 cfs
5 10 Minor floodstage 13.00 ft Highest onrecord 10.44 ft

History

4.754.764.774.78ftOct 16Oct 17Oct 18Oct 20Oct 214.754.764.774.78ftOct 16Oct 18Oct 21
4.64.7ftSep 22Sep 29Oct 6Oct 14Oct 214.64.7ftSep 22Oct 6Oct 21
4.55.05.5ftOct 2025Jan 2026Apr 2026Jul 2026Oct 20264.55.05.5ftOct 2025Apr 2026Oct 2026
4.55.05.5ftJanMarMayJulSepNov20264.55.05.5ftJanAprJulOct2026

20252026

Water level Minor flood stage

What this means

Water levels are unremarkable at Rapid Creek above Pactola Reservoir at Silver City, where the gauge shows 4.75 ft.

It is 8.25 ft below the flood stage of 13.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 4.70 ft (+0.05 ft).

The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. The 30-day range is 4.58 ft – 4.78 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
4.70 ft+0.05 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days
4.58 ft – 4.78 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months
4.45 ft – 5.48 ft
Highest on record
10.44 ftMay 15, 1965

Paddling and fishing conditions

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

For reference, flood stage is 13.00 ft.

What happens at each level

18.70 ft
Water covers the floor of the gage house.
14.50 ft
Hiking trail along Rapid Creek above Silver City begins to flood.
14.00 ft
Major flood stage. Extensive flooding along Rapid Creek with extensive inundation of structures and roads.
13.50 ft
Moderate flood stage. Some inundation of structures and roads near and along Rapid Creek above Pactola Dam.
13.00 ft
Flood stage. Water begins to approach Silver City Road around Silver City.
10.00 ft
The lowest areas along the river begin to flood.
4.75 ft
Right now

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

Highest crests on record

RankLevelDate
110.44 ftMay 15, 1965
29.59 ftJuly 7, 2008
39.00 ftJune 18, 1998
48.90 ftJuly 28, 1955
58.46 ftJuly 5, 2019
67.98 ftApril 19, 1970
77.94 ftMay 10, 1995
87.91 ftMay 10, 1993
97.50 ftMay 31, 1996
107.49 ftFebruary 12, 2012

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:17 AM Sunset 06:02 PM Daylight 10 hr, 45 min Waxing gibbous 76%

Map

Other gauges on Rapid Creek

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Rapid Creek below Pactola DamRiver gauge, Rapid Creek 7.22 ft Below flood stage ±0 4.9 mi
Rapid Creek above Johnson Siding below Pactola DamRiver gauge, Rapid Creek 2.87 ft Below flood stage +0.01 ft 7 mi
Rapid Creek at Big Bend near Rapid CityRiver gauge, Rapid Creek 2.82 ft Below flood stage ±0 8 mi
Rapid Creek above Victoria Creek near Rapid CityRiver gauge, Rapid Creek 5.23 ft Below flood stage +0.02 ft 12 mi
Rapid Creek above Canyon Lake near Rapid CityRiver gauge, Rapid Creek 1.55 ft Below flood stage −0.07 ft 14 mi
Rapid Creek at Rapid CityRiver gauge, Rapid Creek 3.23 ft Below flood stage −0.02 ft 17 mi
Rapid Creek below Hawthorn Ditch at Rapid CityRiver gauge, Rapid Creek 9.36 ft Below flood stage ±0 20 mi
Rapid Creek above Wrf near Rapid CityRiver gauge, Rapid Creek 3.40 ft Below flood stage +0.02 ft 24 mi
Rapid Creek near FarmingdaleRiver gauge, Rapid Creek 5.64 ft Below flood stage ±0 37 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Pactola ReservoirReservoir 4,558.75 ft Very low 4.6 mi
Boxelder Creek near NemoRiver gauge, Boxelder Creek 1.15 ft Very low ±0 7 mi
Wild Irishman Gulch near Rapid CityRiver gauge, Wild Irishman Gulch 3.55 ft Below flood stage +0.01 ft 11 mi
Victoria Creek below Victoria Dam near Rapid CityRiver gauge, Victoria Creek 3.46 ft Below flood stage −0.01 ft 11 mi
Castle Creek below Deerfield DamRiver gauge, Castle Creek 3.51 ft Below flood stage ±0 11 mi
Deerfield ReservoirReservoir 5,902.11 ft Low 11 mi

Questions and answers

How does Rapid Creek above Pactola Reservoir at Silver City compare with last year?

It is 0.05 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 4.70 ft.

What is flood stage for Rapid Creek above Pactola Reservoir at Silver City?

The official flood stage is 13.00 ft. The level is currently 8.25 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 Pactola Reservoir at Silver City today?

On Oct 21, 2026, 02:30 AM MDT, the water level was 4.75 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is Rapid Creek above Pactola Reservoir at Silver City rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours. Steady over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Rapid Creek above Pactola Reservoir at Silver City 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 Pactola Reservoir at Silver City?

The highest level on record is 10.44 ft on May 15, 1965.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
Operator
U.S. Geological Survey
Station code
usgs:06410500 (Agency page)
Coordinates
44.08472, -103.58000 (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

ParameterLast valueTime (UTC)Quality
Water level 4.75 ft 2026-10-21 08:30 Provisional
Flow 33.7 cfs 2026-10-21 08:30 Provisional

Download

Embed this gauge

Add a live card for this gauge to your website. It updates on its own and links back here.

How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Rapid Creek above Pactola Reservoir at Silver City (usgs:06410500). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/south-dakota/rapid-creek-above-pactola-reservoir-at-silver-city

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