South Fork Bad River near Cottonwood water level

Name: South Fork Bad River near Cottonwood 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, South Fork Bad River, South Dakota, United States

Directions

Below flood stage

Water level

3.47ft Down 0.24 ft over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 17, 2026, 02:45 PM MDT (4 days ago)

Flow: 0.0 cfs

History

7 days 30 days 1 year Years compared

20252026

Water level Minor flood stage

What this means

The South Fork Bad River near Cottonwood is at 3.47 ft, in the normal range.

It is 8.53 ft below the flood stage of 12.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 4.28 ft, a difference of −0.81 ft.

It has dropped 0.24 ft over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 3.22 ft and 3.74 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: 4.28 ft−0.81 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 3.22 ft – 3.74 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 3.22 ft – 6.63 ft
Highest on record: 17.89 ftMay 31, 1991

Floating and fishing near South Fork Bad River near Cottonwood

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

Flood stage here is 12.00 ft, 8.53 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.

What happens at each level

18.00 ft: Major flood stage. Extensive flooding of agricultural land and inundation of structures and roads.
16.00 ft: Moderate flood stage. Extensive flooding of agricultural land with some inundation of structures and roads possible.
12.00 ft: Flood stage. Flooding of agricultural land begins.
10.00 ft: Action stage. Low land flooding along Cottonwood Creek especially along the east side of the river.
3.47 ft: Right now

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

Highest crests on record

Rank	Level	Date
1	17.89 ft	May 31, 1991
2	16.71 ft	May 28, 1996
3	16.59 ft	May 22, 2019
4	15.75 ft	February 8, 1997
5	14.39 ft	June 3, 1997
6	14.30 ft	May 25, 2015
7	13.22 ft	June 6, 2008
8	13.13 ft	May 14, 1995
9	12.95 ft	May 21, 2011
10	12.64 ft	April 21, 2000

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:10 AM Sunset 05:55 PM Daylight 10 hr, 45 min Waxing gibbous 76%

Map

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
White River near KadokaRiver gauge, White River	3.92 ft	Below flood stage	−0.10 ft	19 mi
White River near InteriorRiver gauge, White River	3.57 ft	Below flood stage	−0.05 ft	21 mi
Bear in The Lodge Creek near WanbleeRiver gauge, Bear in The Lodge Creek	1.58 ft	Below flood stage	−0.02 ft	30 mi
Black Pipe Creek near BelvidereRiver gauge, Black Pipe Creek	2.27 ft	Below flood stage	+0.03 ft	31 mi
Cheyenne River near WastaRiver gauge, Cheyenne River	0.45 ft	Below flood stage	−0.01 ft	32 mi
Cheyenne River near PlainviewRiver gauge, Cheyenne River	8.17 ft	Below flood stage	−0.02 ft	40 mi
Elk Creek near Elm SpringsRiver gauge, Elk Creek	3.48 ft	Below flood stage	±0	41 mi
Belle Fourche River near Elm SpringsRiver gauge, Belle Fourche River	3.75 ft	Below flood stage	+0.02 ft	48 mi

Questions and answers

Is the South Fork Bad River near Cottonwood higher than last year?

No, it is 0.81 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 4.28 ft.

What is flood stage for the South Fork Bad River near Cottonwood?

The official flood stage is 12.00 ft. The level is currently 8.53 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 South Fork Bad River near Cottonwood today?

On Oct 17, 2026, 02:45 PM MDT, the water level was 3.47 ft. Down 0.24 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is South Fork Bad River near Cottonwood rising or falling?

Down 0.24 ft over the last 24 hours. Up 0.24 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of South Fork Bad River near Cottonwood normal?

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

What is the highest water level ever recorded at South Fork Bad River near Cottonwood?

The highest level on record is 17.89 ft on May 31, 1991.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads

Operator: U.S. Geological Survey
Station code: usgs:06440200 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 43.96903, -101.76681 (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	3.47 ft	2026-10-17 20:45	Provisional
Flow	0.0 cfs	2026-10-17 20:45	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: South Fork Bad River near Cottonwood (usgs:06440200). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/south-dakota/south-fork-bad-river-near-cottonwood

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