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SwedenWillow Creek near Watertown water level
River gauge, Willow Creek, South Dakota, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
History
What this means
The gauge at Willow Creek near Watertown reads 5.63 ft, a normal level.
It is 4.37 ft below the flood stage of 10.00 ft.
The level is falling, down 0.10 ft over the past 24 hours. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 5.63 ft and 6.31 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
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 5.63 ft – 6.31 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 5.23 ft – 8.91 ft
- Highest on record
- 13.55 ftApril 11, 2023
What the stage means on the water
A normal level is usually prime time for floating and wade fishing, as long as the weather holds upstream.
The National Weather Service puts flood stage for this gauge at 10.00 ft, still 4.37 ft away.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13.55 ft | April 11, 2023 |
| 2 | 12.86 ft | August 22, 2025 |
| 3 | 12.51 ft | April 7, 2001 |
| 4 | 12.45 ft | March 24, 2019 |
| 5 | 11.70 ft | March 16, 2009 |
| 6 | 11.45 ft | March 21, 2011 |
| 7 | 10.93 ft | April 5, 1997 |
| 8 | 10.76 ft | March 15, 2010 |
| 9 | 10.46 ft | February 18, 2017 |
| 10 | 9.77 ft | March 19, 2007 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on Willow Creek
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willow Creek near CrooksRiver gauge, Willow Creek | 3.70 ft | Below flood stage | +0.02 ft | 90 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Branch Tributary Mud Creek near RauvilleRiver gauge, South Branch Tributary Mud Creek | 0.19 ft | Below flood stage | −0.06 ft | 3.8 mi |
| Big Sioux River at Broadway at WatertownRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 5.03 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 4.1 mi |
| Big Sioux River below WatertownRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 4.48 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 4.9 mi |
| Big Sioux River at WatertownRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 3.15 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 5.2 mi |
| Big Sioux River at Lake Kampeska near WatertownRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 18.54 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 6.0 mi |
| Mud Creek near RauvilleRiver gauge, Mud Creek | 7.65 ft | Below flood stage | +0.01 ft | 7 mi |
| Lake Kampeska at Water Plant at WatertownLake, Lake Kampeska | 17.41 ft | Normal | −0.02 ft | 7 mi |
| Big Sioux River near WatertownRiver gauge, Big Sioux River | 3.81 ft | Very low | −0.01 ft | 8 mi |
Questions and answers
What is flood stage for Willow Creek near Watertown?
The official flood stage is 10.00 ft. The level is currently 4.37 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 Willow Creek near Watertown today?
On Oct 21, 2026, 04:00 AM CDT, the water level was 5.63 ft. Down 0.10 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Willow Creek near Watertown rising or falling?
Down 0.10 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 0.16 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Willow Creek near Watertown normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Willow Creek near Watertown?
The highest level on record is 13.55 ft on April 11, 2023.
How often is this data updated?
The U.S. Geological Survey publishes a new reading every 15 minutes. This page refreshes within minutes of each update.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:06479515(Agency page)- Coordinates
44.91889, -97.04528(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 | 5.63 ft | 2026-10-21 09:00 | Provisional |
Download
Embed this gauge
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Willow Creek near Watertown (usgs:06479515). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/south-dakota/willow-creek-near-watertown
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