SOUTH FORK ROOT RIVER NEAR HOUSTON, MN
USGS 05385500 · Minnesota · reports discharge (live), gauge height
USGS 05385500 · Minnesota · reports discharge (live), gauge height
What the agencies suggest
Carry a pocket thermometer to monitor water temperatureNational Park Service
General guidance from the readings and the published lines named above, not a fishing forecast. Local rules and closures come first.
Reading Nov 5, 7:30 PM CST · provisional USGS data
Above normal for Nov 5 Steady · 24 h Below NWS action stage
Discharge, last 7 days: 169 readings from Oct 29, 8:30 PM CDT to Nov 5, 7:30 PM CST; ranging 190 to 256 ft³/s; latest 219 ft³/s; shaded band: typical range (25th–75th percentile) for each date.
USGS provisional data may be revised. Source: USGS instantaneous values.
| Time | Discharge (ft³/s) | Gauge height (ft) | Normal, 25th–75th (ft³/s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 5, 7:30 PM CST | 219 | 2.26 | 93–172 |
| Nov 5, 6:30 PM CST | 219 | 2.26 | 93–172 |
| Nov 5, 5:30 PM CST | 219 | 2.26 | 93–172 |
| Nov 5, 4:30 PM CST | 219 | 2.26 | 93–172 |
| Nov 5, 3:30 PM CST | 219 | 2.26 | 93–172 |
| Nov 5, 2:30 PM CST | 223 | 2.27 | 93–172 |
| Nov 5, 1:30 PM CST | 219 | 2.26 | 93–172 |
| Nov 5, 12:30 PM CST | 223 | 2.27 | 93–172 |
| Nov 5, 11:30 AM CST | 219 | 2.26 | 93–172 |
| Nov 5, 10:30 AM CST | 219 | 2.26 | 93–172 |
| Nov 5, 9:30 AM CST | 223 | 2.27 | 93–172 |
| Nov 5, 8:30 AM CST | 226 | 2.28 | 93–172 |
| Nov 5, 7:30 AM CST | 223 | 2.27 | 93–172 |
| Nov 5, 6:30 AM CST | 223 | 2.27 | 93–172 |
| Nov 5, 5:30 AM CST | 226 | 2.28 | 93–172 |
| Nov 5, 4:30 AM CST | 226 | 2.28 | 93–172 |
| Nov 5, 3:30 AM CST | 226 | 2.28 | 93–172 |
| Nov 5, 2:30 AM CST | 230 | 2.29 | 93–172 |
| Nov 5, 1:30 AM CST | 226 | 2.28 | 93–172 |
| Nov 5, 12:30 AM CST | 230 | 2.29 | 93–172 |
| Nov 4, 11:30 PM CST | 234 | 2.3 | 93–172 |
| Nov 4, 10:30 PM CST | 230 | 2.29 | 93–172 |
| Nov 4, 9:30 PM CST | 230 | 2.29 | 93–172 |
| Nov 4, 8:30 PM CST | 234 | 2.3 | 93–172 |
| Nov 4, 7:30 PM CST | 237 | 2.31 | 93–172 |
| Nov 4, 6:30 PM CST | 237 | 2.31 | 93–172 |
| Nov 4, 5:30 PM CST | 237 | 2.31 | 93–172 |
| Nov 4, 4:30 PM CST | 237 | 2.31 | 93–172 |
| Nov 4, 3:30 PM CST | 245 | 2.33 | 93–172 |
| Nov 4, 2:30 PM CST | 249 | 2.34 | 93–172 |
| Nov 4, 1:30 PM CST | 245 | 2.33 | 93–172 |
| Nov 4, 12:30 PM CST | 245 | 2.33 | 93–172 |
| Nov 4, 11:30 AM CST | 245 | 2.33 | 93–172 |
| Nov 4, 10:30 AM CST | 249 | 2.34 | 93–172 |
| Nov 4, 9:30 AM CST | 249 | 2.34 | 93–172 |
| Nov 4, 8:30 AM CST | 249 | 2.34 | 93–172 |
| Nov 4, 7:30 AM CST | 249 | 2.34 | 93–172 |
| Nov 4, 6:30 AM CST | 249 | 2.34 | 93–172 |
| Nov 4, 5:30 AM CST | 249 | 2.34 | 93–172 |
| Nov 4, 4:30 AM CST | 252 | 2.35 | 93–172 |
| Nov 4, 3:30 AM CST | 252 | 2.35 | 93–172 |
| Nov 4, 2:30 AM CST | 256 | 2.36 | 93–172 |
| Nov 4, 1:30 AM CST | 252 | 2.35 | 93–172 |
| Nov 4, 12:30 AM CST | 252 | 2.35 | 93–172 |
| Nov 3, 11:30 PM CST | 249 | 2.34 | 93–166 |
| Nov 3, 10:30 PM CST | 249 | 2.34 | 93–166 |
| Nov 3, 9:30 PM CST | 249 | 2.34 | 93–166 |
| Nov 3, 8:30 PM CST | 245 | 2.33 | 93–166 |
| Nov 3, 7:30 PM CST | 245 | 2.33 | 93–166 |
| Nov 3, 6:30 PM CST | 245 | 2.33 | 93–166 |
| Nov 3, 5:30 PM CST | 245 | 2.33 | 93–166 |
| Nov 3, 4:30 PM CST | 241 | 2.32 | 93–166 |
| Nov 3, 3:30 PM CST | 241 | 2.32 | 93–166 |
| Nov 3, 2:30 PM CST | 241 | 2.32 | 93–166 |
| Nov 3, 1:30 PM CST | 237 | 2.31 | 93–166 |
| Nov 3, 12:30 PM CST | 234 | 2.3 | 93–166 |
| Nov 3, 11:30 AM CST | 234 | 2.3 | 93–166 |
| Nov 3, 10:30 AM CST | 230 | 2.29 | 93–166 |
| Nov 3, 9:30 AM CST | 234 | 2.3 | 93–166 |
| Nov 3, 8:30 AM CST | 230 | 2.29 | 93–166 |
| Nov 3, 7:30 AM CST | 226 | 2.28 | 93–166 |
| Nov 3, 6:30 AM CST | 219 | 2.26 | 93–166 |
| Nov 3, 5:30 AM CST | 215 | 2.25 | 93–166 |
| Nov 3, 4:30 AM CST | 212 | 2.24 | 93–166 |
| Nov 3, 3:30 AM CST | 208 | 2.23 | 93–166 |
| Nov 3, 2:30 AM CST | 212 | 2.24 | 93–166 |
| Nov 3, 1:30 AM CST | 208 | 2.23 | 93–166 |
| Nov 3, 12:30 AM CST | 208 | 2.23 | 93–166 |
| Nov 2, 11:30 PM CST | 205 | 2.22 | 90–170 |
| Nov 2, 10:30 PM CST | 205 | 2.22 | 90–170 |
| Nov 2, 9:30 PM CST | 198 | 2.2 | 90–170 |
| Nov 2, 8:30 PM CST | 198 | 2.2 | 90–170 |
| Nov 2, 7:30 PM CST | 195 | 2.19 | 90–170 |
| Nov 2, 6:30 PM CST | 198 | 2.2 | 90–170 |
| Nov 2, 5:30 PM CST | 198 | 2.2 | 90–170 |
| Nov 2, 4:30 PM CST | 195 | 2.19 | 90–170 |
| Nov 2, 3:30 PM CST | 195 | 2.19 | 90–170 |
| Nov 2, 2:30 PM CST | 195 | 2.19 | 90–170 |
| Nov 2, 1:30 PM CST | 192 | 2.18 | 90–170 |
| Nov 2, 12:30 PM CST | 192 | 2.18 | 90–170 |
| Nov 2, 11:30 AM CST | 192 | 2.18 | 90–170 |
| Nov 2, 10:30 AM CST | 192 | 2.18 | 90–170 |
| Nov 2, 9:30 AM CST | 192 | 2.18 | 90–170 |
| Nov 2, 8:30 AM CST | 192 | 2.18 | 90–170 |
| Nov 2, 7:30 AM CST | 195 | 2.19 | 90–170 |
| Nov 2, 6:30 AM CST | 192 | 2.18 | 90–170 |
| Nov 2, 5:30 AM CST | 192 | 2.18 | 90–170 |
| Nov 2, 4:30 AM CST | 192 | 2.18 | 90–170 |
| Nov 2, 3:30 AM CST | 192 | 2.18 | 90–170 |
| Nov 2, 2:30 AM CST | 190 | 2.17 | 90–170 |
| Nov 2, 1:30 AM CST | 190 | 2.17 | 90–170 |
| Nov 2, 12:30 AM CST | 192 | 2.18 | 90–170 |
| Nov 1, 11:30 PM CST | 190 | 2.17 | 91–173 |
| Nov 1, 10:30 PM CST | 192 | 2.18 | 91–173 |
| Nov 1, 9:30 PM CST | 192 | 2.18 | 91–173 |
| Nov 1, 8:30 PM CST | 190 | 2.17 | 91–173 |
| Nov 1, 7:30 PM CST | 192 | 2.18 | 91–173 |
| Nov 1, 6:30 PM CST | 195 | 2.19 | 91–173 |
| Nov 1, 5:30 PM CST | 192 | 2.18 | 91–173 |
| Nov 1, 4:30 PM CST | 192 | 2.18 | 91–173 |
| Nov 1, 3:30 PM CST | 192 | 2.18 | 91–173 |
| Nov 1, 2:30 PM CST | 192 | 2.18 | 91–173 |
| Nov 1, 1:30 PM CST | 192 | 2.18 | 91–173 |
| Nov 1, 12:30 PM CST | 192 | 2.18 | 91–173 |
| Nov 1, 11:30 AM CST | 192 | 2.18 | 91–173 |
| Nov 1, 10:30 AM CST | 192 | 2.18 | 91–173 |
| Nov 1, 9:30 AM CST | 192 | 2.18 | 91–173 |
| Nov 1, 8:30 AM CST | 192 | 2.18 | 91–173 |
| Nov 1, 7:30 AM CST | 192 | 2.18 | 91–173 |
| Nov 1, 6:30 AM CST | 192 | 2.18 | 91–173 |
| Nov 1, 5:30 AM CST | 192 | 2.18 | 91–173 |
| Nov 1, 4:30 AM CST | 192 | 2.18 | 91–173 |
| Nov 1, 3:30 AM CST | 192 | 2.18 | 91–173 |
| Nov 1, 2:30 AM CST | 190 | 2.17 | 91–173 |
| Nov 1, 1:30 AM CST | 192 | 2.18 | 91–173 |
| Nov 1, 1:30 AM CDT | 192 | 2.18 | 91–173 |
| Nov 1, 12:30 AM CDT | 192 | 2.18 | 91–173 |
| Oct 31, 11:30 PM CDT | 192 | 2.18 | 91–172 |
| Oct 31, 10:30 PM CDT | 192 | 2.18 | 91–172 |
| Oct 31, 9:30 PM CDT | 192 | 2.18 | 91–172 |
| Oct 31, 8:30 PM CDT | 192 | 2.18 | 91–172 |
| Oct 31, 7:30 PM CDT | 192 | 2.18 | 91–172 |
| Oct 31, 6:30 PM CDT | 192 | 2.18 | 91–172 |
| Oct 31, 5:30 PM CDT | 192 | 2.18 | 91–172 |
| Oct 31, 4:30 PM CDT | 192 | 2.18 | 91–172 |
| Oct 31, 3:30 PM CDT | 192 | 2.18 | 91–172 |
| Oct 31, 2:30 PM CDT | 192 | 2.18 | 91–172 |
| Oct 31, 1:30 PM CDT | 192 | 2.18 | 91–172 |
| Oct 31, 12:30 PM CDT | 192 | 2.18 | 91–172 |
| Oct 31, 11:30 AM CDT | 192 | 2.18 | 91–172 |
| Oct 31, 10:30 AM CDT | 190 | 2.17 | 91–172 |
| Oct 31, 9:30 AM CDT | 192 | 2.18 | 91–172 |
| Oct 31, 8:30 AM CDT | 190 | 2.17 | 91–172 |
| Oct 31, 7:30 AM CDT | 192 | 2.18 | 91–172 |
| Oct 31, 6:30 AM CDT | 192 | 2.18 | 91–172 |
| Oct 31, 5:30 AM CDT | 192 | 2.18 | 91–172 |
| Oct 31, 4:30 AM CDT | 190 | 2.17 | 91–172 |
| Oct 31, 3:30 AM CDT | 192 | 2.18 | 91–172 |
| Oct 31, 2:30 AM CDT | 190 | 2.17 | 91–172 |
| Oct 31, 1:30 AM CDT | 192 | 2.18 | 91–172 |
| Oct 31, 12:30 AM CDT | 190 | 2.17 | 91–172 |
| Oct 30, 11:30 PM CDT | 190 | 2.17 | 88–170 |
| Oct 30, 10:30 PM CDT | 190 | 2.17 | 88–170 |
| Oct 30, 9:30 PM CDT | 190 | 2.17 | 88–170 |
| Oct 30, 8:30 PM CDT | 192 | 2.18 | 88–170 |
| Oct 30, 7:30 PM CDT | 190 | 2.17 | 88–170 |
| Oct 30, 6:30 PM CDT | 192 | 2.18 | 88–170 |
| Oct 30, 5:30 PM CDT | 192 | 2.18 | 88–170 |
| Oct 30, 4:30 PM CDT | 192 | 2.18 | 88–170 |
| Oct 30, 3:30 PM CDT | 192 | 2.18 | 88–170 |
| Oct 30, 2:30 PM CDT | 192 | 2.18 | 88–170 |
| Oct 30, 1:30 PM CDT | 192 | 2.18 | 88–170 |
| Oct 30, 12:30 PM CDT | 192 | 2.18 | 88–170 |
| Oct 30, 11:30 AM CDT | 192 | 2.18 | 88–170 |
| Oct 30, 10:30 AM CDT | 192 | 2.18 | 88–170 |
| Oct 30, 9:30 AM CDT | 192 | 2.18 | 88–170 |
| Oct 30, 8:30 AM CDT | 192 | 2.18 | 88–170 |
| Oct 30, 7:30 AM CDT | 192 | 2.18 | 88–170 |
| Oct 30, 6:30 AM CDT | 190 | 2.17 | 88–170 |
| Oct 30, 5:30 AM CDT | 190 | 2.17 | 88–170 |
| Oct 30, 4:30 AM CDT | 192 | 2.18 | 88–170 |
| Oct 30, 3:30 AM CDT | 192 | 2.18 | 88–170 |
| Oct 30, 2:30 AM CDT | 192 | 2.18 | 88–170 |
| Oct 30, 1:30 AM CDT | 192 | 2.18 | 88–170 |
| Oct 30, 12:30 AM CDT | 192 | 2.18 | 88–170 |
| Oct 29, 11:30 PM CDT | 195 | 2.19 | 87–173 |
| Oct 29, 10:30 PM CDT | 192 | 2.18 | 87–173 |
| Oct 29, 9:30 PM CDT | 195 | 2.19 | 87–173 |
| Oct 29, 8:30 PM CDT | 195 | 2.19 | 87–173 |
Map of USGS gauge 05385500 and the river around it
Where SOUTH FORK ROOT RIVER NEAR HOUSTON, MN sits and our water's map point.
No current water-temperature reading at this gauge, so no temperature guidance is given. Take a stream thermometer. Minnesota DNR publishes no water-temperature line for trout anglers that we found. The lines below are the National Park Service's, federal guidance, not a Minnesota rule, with Minnesota DNR's own figure added: 68°F and 75°F.
This gauge is on our page for South Fork Root River, but no agency page we read lists its species.
Normal for Nov 5: 93–172 ft³/s (middle half of 45 years of record). Now: 219 ft³/s, above normal.
Above normal for this date. 219 ft³/s is between the 75th and 90th percentiles of daily mean flow for Nov 5 at this gauge over 45 years of record (1954–2026): 10th 76, 25th 93, median 123, 75th 172, 90th 266 ft³/s.
Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 67 ft³/s, highest 461 ft³/s.
Classes as USGS labels them (hyswap: flow categories (WDFN_stats schema) (U.S. Geological Survey) ); percentiles from the USGS daily statistics (U.S. Geological Survey) (approved daily means; the reading is provisional and instantaneous).
Steady over 24 hours (−7.6% discharge). Rising or falling means a change of more than 10% in discharge (or 0.2 ft of gauge height) over 24 hours; our rule of thumb, not a USGS class.
Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
Flood categories: action stage, minor, moderate and major flooding (National Weather Service)Turn Around Don't Drown. “A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult.” No flow number makes a crossing safe; if in doubt, stay out.
Turn Around Don't Drown (National Weather Service)Guidance from the readings above and the published thresholds named with each line; not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access. Local rules and closures come first.
Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
NWS observed 2.26 ft stage, 225 ft³/s at Nov 5, 7:30 PM CST (NWS gauge HUSM5; its stage datum can differ from the USGS gauge height).
Forecasts are not available. Only observed stages are available for this point.
Open the NWS gauge page · What the categories mean (National Weather Service)
Checked Nov 5, 8:15 PM CST; readings refresh at most every 15 minutes and statistics daily. Provisional USGS data can be revised. Conditions change: re-check before you go. This is general guidance, not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access.