James River near Scotland
South Dakota — Water Level & Flood Stage
Located in Hutchinson County, South Dakota on the James River. Live water level data from USGS gauge 06478500, updated every 15 minutes.
Current Water Level
Gage Height
Loading...
Streamflow
Loading...
Last Reading
Loading...
Flood Stages
Major Flood
18 ft
Moderate Flood
16 ft
Minor Flood
13 ft
Action Stage
11 ft
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
What Floods at Each Level
27 ft
Portions of the bridge on Maxwell Road begin to flood.
25 ft
Water reaches the bottom of the bridge at the Maxwell Colony, and the bridge on Highway 18 near Olivet is overtopped.
24 ft
The bridge on 431st Avenue 4 miles southeast of the Maxwell Colony is overtopped.
22 ft
Water reaches the bottom of the bridge on Highway 18 near Olivet and begins to flood the low spot of the road east of the bridge.
21 ft
Additional levees protecting structures along the river may be overtopped. Water reaches the bottom of the bridge on 431st Avenue 4 miles southeast of the Maxwell Colony. Maxwell road about 200 yards northeast of the bridge begins to flood.
20 ft
Highway 44 between Parkston and Freeman, Highway 46 west of Irene, Stone Church Road between Highway 46 and Menno, Highway 81 north of Yankton, and the Jamesville Colony Road in northern Yankton County will all be flooded.
19 ft
Structures near the mouth of Wolf Creek may flood if the flow from the creek is also high.
18 ft
Residential structures are at risk of flooding, especially if levee protection fails. Highway 44 south of Milltown and Keiber Road in Milltown will be flooded.
17.5 ft
Flooding begins to affect some farm buildings and rural structures and 431st Ave is flooded.
16 ft
Approximately 22850 acres of farmland are flooded between Mitchell and Yankton. The lowest portions of SW Jim River Rd between Maxwell rd and Hwy 18 begin to flood and water approaches 431st Ave.
14 ft
Approximately 4400 acres of farmland are flooded between Mitchell and Yankton.
13 ft
Significant agricultural flooding begins.
11 ft
The lower left bank overflows with some very minor flooding of low lying areas.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
7-Day Water Level Chart
Loading chart data...
Historic Crests
| Date | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2019 | 22.22 ft | 59,000 cfs |
| Sep 12, 2019 | 22.22 ft | 59,000 cfs |
| Jun 22, 1984 | 20.45 ft | 29,400 cfs |
| Jun 22, 1984 | 20.45 ft | 29,400 cfs |
| Jun 20, 2024 | 20.23 ft | 27,700 cfs |
About This Gauge
USGS Site
NWS LID
SCOS2
River
James River
County
Hutchinson, SD
Coordinates
43.1858°N, 97.6353°W
Get Flood Alerts for James 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 James River near Scotland?
The James River near Scotland gauge is maintained by USGS (site 06478500) 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 Scotland?
The NWS-defined flood stage for James River near Scotland is 13 feet. Action stage begins at 11 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 Scotland to your watchlist. StormCast will send a push notification to your phone whenever the water level crosses into a new NWS flood category — even when your screen is off.
Where is the James River near Scotland gauge located?
The gauge is located in Hutchinson County, South Dakota at coordinates 43.1858°N, 97.6353°W. USGS site number: 06478500. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
More Gauges on James River
On This River
More Resources
Source & Notes
Data provided by: Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey, Observations courtesy of U.S. Army Corp of Engineers
- 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.
- 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.
- Gauge reading may be affected by ice.