Major Flood
18 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
16 ft
Minor Flood
13 ft
Action Stage
12 ft
What Floods at Each Level
23 ft
Water begins to enter the south end of Columbia near the ballfield.
21 ft
The bridge on 127th/Tacoma Park Rd is overtopped.
20 ft
The bridge at the gauge location on 396th/Brown County 16 is overtopped.
19.5 ft
396th/Brown County 16 and Hamlin Garland Memorial Hwy/Brown County 11 both begin to flood, as does 400th Avenue, 123rd Street, Dakota Ave, Larson Road and Tacoma Loop are flooded. The river reaches the top of the levee at the old location of Columbia Park.
18.5 ft
The water reaches the bottom of the bridge at the gauging location on 396th/Brown County 16.
18 ft
127th/Tacoma Park Rd begins to flood, as does 117th St between 395th and 400th Ave.
17 ft
Water reaches the base of the levee at the old location of Columbia Park.
15 ft
Water begins to approach several structures in the Tacoma Park area. Significant amounts of agricultural land are flooded.
13 ft
Flooding of the lower lying agricultural areas begins.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 15, 2011 | 19.81 ft | 6,200 cfs |
| Apr 23, 2009 | 19.73 ft | 9,620 cfs |
| Apr 17, 1997 | 19.08 ft | 4,869 cfs |
About This Gauge
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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 James River near Columbia?
The James River near Columbia gauge is maintained by USGS (site 06471000) 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 James River near Columbia?
The NWS-defined flood stage for James River near Columbia is 13 feet. Action stage begins at 12 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 16 feet, and major flooding at 18 feet.
How do I get alerts when James River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add James River near Columbia 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 James River near Columbia gauge located?
The gauge is located in Brown County, South Dakota at coordinates 45.6036°N, 98.3104°W. USGS site number: 06471000. 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.