Rapid Creek at Big Bend near Rapid City water level

Name: Rapid Creek at Big Bend near Rapid City 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, Rapid Creek, South Dakota, United States

Directions

Below flood stage

Water level

2.82ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 8, 2026, 12:45 PM MDT (13 days ago)

This gauge last reported 13 days ago. The value may be out of date; check the agency page before you rely on it.

History

30 days 1 year Years compared

20252026

Water level Minor flood stage

What this means

Rapid Creek at Big Bend near Rapid City is at 2.82 ft, in the normal range. That reading is from Oct 8, 2026, 12:45 PM MDT, so the gauge may be offline or reporting late.

It is 4.18 ft below the flood stage of 7.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 3.02 ft (−0.20 ft).

The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 2.80 ft and 2.93 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: 3.02 ft−0.20 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 2.80 ft – 2.93 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 2.80 ft – 3.46 ft
Highest on record: 7.43 ftJune 24, 2015

Floating and fishing near Rapid Creek at Big Bend near Rapid City

Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.

Flood stage here is 7.00 ft, 4.18 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. Extensive flooding along Rapid Creek with inundation of structures and roads.
8.00 ft: Moderate Flood Stage. Some inundation of structures and roads along Rapid Creek are possible.
7.00 ft: Minor Flood Stage. Minor flooding along the river begins.
6.50 ft: Action stage. The lowest areas along the river begin to flood.
2.82 ft: Right now

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

Highest crests on record

Rank	Level	Date
1	7.43 ft	June 24, 2015
2	6.76 ft	May 31, 2019
3	6.53 ft	May 30, 2011
4	6.50 ft	June 17, 1999
5	6.39 ft	July 2, 1998
6	5.84 ft	June 13, 2010
7	5.67 ft	October 18, 2013
8	5.54 ft	June 23, 2018
9	5.29 ft	May 2, 2020
10	5.21 ft	April 26, 2009

Weather at the gauge

Rain in the last 3 days: 0.04 in. Rain that falls upstream can take hours or days to show up at a river gauge.

17 Sat 81° 50° – Wind 13 mph

18 Sun 62° 44° – Wind 11 mph

19 Mon 61° 37° – Wind 10 mph

20 Tue 76° 45° – Wind 9 mph

21 Wed 67° 49° – Wind 10 mph

22 Thu 73° 50° 0.01 in Wind 13 mph

23 Fri 74° 40° 0.40 in, 38% Wind 16 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:16 AM Sunset 06:01 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 above Pactola Reservoir at Silver CityRiver gauge, Rapid Creek	4.75 ft	Below flood stage	−0.01 ft	8 mi
Rapid Creek below Pactola DamRiver gauge, Rapid Creek	7.22 ft	Below flood stage	±0	3.6 mi
Rapid Creek above Johnson Siding below Pactola DamRiver gauge, Rapid Creek	2.87 ft	Below flood stage	+0.01 ft	2.3 mi
Rapid Creek above Victoria Creek near Rapid CityRiver gauge, Rapid Creek	5.23 ft	Below flood stage	+0.02 ft	3.3 mi
Rapid Creek above Canyon Lake near Rapid CityRiver gauge, Rapid Creek	1.55 ft	Below flood stage	−0.06 ft	5.2 mi
Rapid Creek at Rapid CityRiver gauge, Rapid Creek	3.23 ft	Below flood stage	−0.02 ft	9 mi
Rapid Creek below Hawthorn Ditch at Rapid CityRiver gauge, Rapid Creek	9.36 ft	Below flood stage	±0	12 mi
Rapid Creek above Wrf near Rapid CityRiver gauge, Rapid Creek	3.40 ft	Below flood stage	+0.04 ft	16 mi
Rapid Creek near FarmingdaleRiver gauge, Rapid Creek	5.62 ft	Below flood stage	+0.01 ft	29 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Victoria Creek below Victoria Dam near Rapid CityRiver gauge, Victoria Creek	3.46 ft	Below flood stage	−0.01 ft	3.0 mi
Wild Irishman Gulch near Rapid CityRiver gauge, Wild Irishman Gulch	3.55 ft	Below flood stage	+0.01 ft	3.1 mi
Pactola ReservoirReservoir	4,558.75 ft	Very low		3.7 mi
South Canyon near Rapid CityRiver gauge, South Canyon	3.59 ft	Below flood stage	−0.01 ft	5.2 mi
Cleghorn Springs at Rapid CityRiver gauge, Cleghorn Springs	8.2 cfs	Very low	−0.4 cfs	6.0 mi
Spring Creek near KeystoneRiver gauge, Spring Creek	3.33 ft	Below flood stage	+0.01 ft	6 mi

Questions and answers

How does Rapid Creek at Big Bend near Rapid City compare with last year?

It is 0.20 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 3.02 ft.

What is flood stage for Rapid Creek at Big Bend near Rapid City?

The official flood stage is 7.00 ft. The level is currently 4.18 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 at Big Bend near Rapid City today?

On Oct 8, 2026, 12:45 PM MDT, the water level was 2.82 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is Rapid Creek at Big Bend near Rapid City rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 0.07 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Rapid Creek at Big Bend near Rapid 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 at Big Bend near Rapid City?

The highest level on record is 7.43 ft on June 24, 2015.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads

Operator: U.S. Geological Survey
Station code: usgs:06412000 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 44.05500, -103.41667 (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	2.82 ft	2026-10-08 18:45	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Rapid Creek at Big Bend near Rapid City (usgs:06412000). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/south-dakota/rapid-creek-at-big-bend-near-rapid-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