Major Flood
12 ft
Current Water Level
Gage Height
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Streamflow
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Last Reading
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FLOOD STAGES
Know the flood categories.
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
Moderate Flood
11 ft
Minor Flood
10 ft
Action Stage
9 ft
What Floods at Each Level
20 ft
The bridge at the gaging location is overtopped
19 ft
The bridge 1 mile south of the gage is overtopped
16 ft
The water reaches the bottom of the bridge at the gage and the bridge 1 mile south of the gage
13 ft
Flooding begins to affect the city of watertown and the sidewalk on the highway 81 bridge is overtopped
12.5 ft
County roads begin to flood
11.5 ft
Significant amounts of pasture and crop land are flooded
9 ft
The lowest banks are overtopped and minimal areas of pasture land will be flooded
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
7-Day Water Level Chart
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Historic Crests
| Date | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 6, 2001 | 12.33 ft | 8,000 cfs |
| Apr 4, 1997 | 12.09 ft | 7,820 cfs |
| Apr 12, 2023 | 11.85 ft | 6,450 cfs |
About This Gauge
USGS Site
NWS LID
WTRS2
River
Big Sioux River
County
Codington, SD
Coordinates
45.0061°N, 97.1647°W
Get Flood Alerts for Big Sioux River
StormCast monitors this gauge and sends a push notification to your phone when the water level crosses into a new flood category — even at 3 AM.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current water level of Big Sioux River near Watertown?
The Big Sioux River near Watertown gauge is maintained by USGS (site 06479438) and reports water levels every 15 minutes. Visit this page to see the latest reading updated live, or download StormCast to get push alerts when levels rise.
What is flood stage for Big Sioux River near Watertown?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Big Sioux River near Watertown is 10 feet. Action stage begins at 9 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 11 feet, and major flooding at 12 feet.
How do I get alerts when Big Sioux River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Big Sioux River near Watertown to your watchlist. StormCast will send a push notification to your phone whenever the water level crosses into a new NWS flood category.
Where is the Big Sioux River near Watertown gauge located?
The gauge is located in Codington County, South Dakota at coordinates 45.0061°N, 97.1647°W. USGS site number: 06479438. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
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Source & Notes
Data provided by: Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey
- River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 24 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time.
- River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 48 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time.
- Gauge reading may be affected by ice.