Des Moines River at Emmetsburg, IA
USGS 05476590 · Iowa · reports discharge (live), gauge height
Reading Des Moines River at Emmetsburg, IA…
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USGS 05476590 · Iowa · 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, 8:15 PM CST · provisional USGS data
Normal for Nov 5 Steady · 24 h Below NWS action stage
Discharge, last 7 days: 169 readings from Oct 29, 9:15 PM CDT to Nov 5, 8:15 PM CST; ranging 290 to 902 ft³/s; latest 848 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, 8:15 PM CST | 848 | 2.75 | 68–1,260 |
| Nov 5, 7:15 PM CST | 848 | 2.75 | 68–1,260 |
| Nov 5, 6:15 PM CST | 856 | 2.77 | 68–1,260 |
| Nov 5, 5:15 PM CST | 856 | 2.77 | 68–1,260 |
| Nov 5, 4:15 PM CST | 856 | 2.77 | 68–1,260 |
| Nov 5, 3:15 PM CST | 856 | 2.77 | 68–1,260 |
| Nov 5, 2:15 PM CST | 856 | 2.77 | 68–1,260 |
| Nov 5, 1:15 PM CST | 861 | 2.78 | 68–1,260 |
| Nov 5, 12:15 PM CST | 856 | 2.77 | 68–1,260 |
| Nov 5, 11:15 AM CST | 865 | 2.79 | 68–1,260 |
| Nov 5, 10:15 AM CST | 865 | 2.79 | 68–1,260 |
| Nov 5, 9:15 AM CST | 869 | 2.8 | 68–1,260 |
| Nov 5, 8:15 AM CST | 865 | 2.79 | 68–1,260 |
| Nov 5, 7:15 AM CST | 873 | 2.81 | 68–1,260 |
| Nov 5, 6:15 AM CST | 877 | 2.82 | 68–1,260 |
| Nov 5, 5:15 AM CST | 881 | 2.83 | 68–1,260 |
| Nov 5, 4:15 AM CST | 886 | 2.84 | 68–1,260 |
| Nov 5, 3:15 AM CST | 890 | 2.85 | 68–1,260 |
| Nov 5, 2:15 AM CST | 890 | 2.85 | 68–1,260 |
| Nov 5, 1:15 AM CST | 894 | 2.86 | 68–1,260 |
| Nov 5, 12:15 AM CST | 902 | 2.88 | 68–1,260 |
| Nov 4, 11:15 PM CST | 898 | 2.87 | 68–1,310 |
| Nov 4, 10:15 PM CST | 898 | 2.87 | 68–1,310 |
| Nov 4, 9:15 PM CST | 898 | 2.87 | 68–1,310 |
| Nov 4, 8:15 PM CST | 894 | 2.86 | 68–1,310 |
| Nov 4, 7:15 PM CST | 890 | 2.85 | 68–1,310 |
| Nov 4, 6:15 PM CST | 890 | 2.85 | 68–1,310 |
| Nov 4, 5:15 PM CST | 890 | 2.85 | 68–1,310 |
| Nov 4, 4:15 PM CST | 886 | 2.84 | 68–1,310 |
| Nov 4, 3:15 PM CST | 886 | 2.84 | 68–1,310 |
| Nov 4, 2:15 PM CST | 881 | 2.83 | 68–1,310 |
| Nov 4, 1:15 PM CST | 881 | 2.83 | 68–1,310 |
| Nov 4, 12:15 PM CST | 877 | 2.82 | 68–1,310 |
| Nov 4, 11:15 AM CST | 869 | 2.8 | 68–1,310 |
| Nov 4, 10:15 AM CST | 865 | 2.79 | 68–1,310 |
| Nov 4, 9:15 AM CST | 856 | 2.77 | 68–1,310 |
| Nov 4, 8:15 AM CST | 852 | 2.76 | 68–1,310 |
| Nov 4, 7:15 AM CST | 840 | 2.73 | 68–1,310 |
| Nov 4, 6:15 AM CST | 836 | 2.72 | 68–1,310 |
| Nov 4, 5:15 AM CST | 827 | 2.7 | 68–1,310 |
| Nov 4, 4:15 AM CST | 819 | 2.68 | 68–1,310 |
| Nov 4, 3:15 AM CST | 811 | 2.66 | 68–1,310 |
| Nov 4, 2:15 AM CST | 799 | 2.63 | 68–1,310 |
| Nov 4, 1:15 AM CST | 791 | 2.61 | 68–1,310 |
| Nov 4, 12:15 AM CST | 779 | 2.58 | 68–1,310 |
| Nov 3, 11:15 PM CST | 763 | 2.54 | 65–1,350 |
| Nov 3, 10:15 PM CST | 747 | 2.5 | 65–1,350 |
| Nov 3, 9:15 PM CST | 731 | 2.46 | 65–1,350 |
| Nov 3, 8:15 PM CST | 712 | 2.41 | 65–1,350 |
| Nov 3, 7:15 PM CST | 696 | 2.37 | 65–1,350 |
| Nov 3, 6:15 PM CST | 677 | 2.32 | 65–1,350 |
| Nov 3, 5:15 PM CST | 658 | 2.27 | 65–1,350 |
| Nov 3, 4:15 PM CST | 636 | 2.21 | 65–1,350 |
| Nov 3, 3:15 PM CST | 617 | 2.16 | 65–1,350 |
| Nov 3, 2:15 PM CST | 599 | 2.11 | 65–1,350 |
| Nov 3, 1:15 PM CST | 581 | 2.06 | 65–1,350 |
| Nov 3, 12:15 PM CST | 570 | 2.03 | 65–1,350 |
| Nov 3, 11:15 AM CST | 556 | 1.99 | 65–1,350 |
| Nov 3, 10:15 AM CST | 549 | 1.97 | 65–1,350 |
| Nov 3, 9:15 AM CST | 535 | 1.93 | 65–1,350 |
| Nov 3, 8:15 AM CST | 525 | 1.9 | 65–1,350 |
| Nov 3, 7:15 AM CST | 511 | 1.86 | 65–1,350 |
| Nov 3, 6:15 AM CST | 494 | 1.81 | 65–1,350 |
| Nov 3, 5:15 AM CST | 487 | 1.79 | 65–1,350 |
| Nov 3, 4:15 AM CST | 474 | 1.75 | 65–1,350 |
| Nov 3, 3:15 AM CST | 467 | 1.73 | 65–1,350 |
| Nov 3, 2:15 AM CST | 454 | 1.69 | 65–1,350 |
| Nov 3, 1:15 AM CST | 444 | 1.66 | 65–1,350 |
| Nov 3, 12:15 AM CST | 431 | 1.62 | 65–1,350 |
| Nov 2, 11:15 PM CST | 422 | 1.59 | 65–1,370 |
| Nov 2, 10:15 PM CST | 415 | 1.57 | 65–1,370 |
| Nov 2, 9:15 PM CST | 400 | 1.52 | 65–1,370 |
| Nov 2, 8:15 PM CST | 390 | 1.49 | 65–1,370 |
| Nov 2, 7:15 PM CST | 381 | 1.46 | 65–1,370 |
| Nov 2, 6:15 PM CST | 381 | 1.46 | 65–1,370 |
| Nov 2, 5:15 PM CST | 378 | 1.45 | 65–1,370 |
| Nov 2, 4:15 PM CST | 375 | 1.44 | 65–1,370 |
| Nov 2, 3:15 PM CST | 372 | 1.43 | 65–1,370 |
| Nov 2, 2:15 PM CST | 369 | 1.42 | 65–1,370 |
| Nov 2, 1:15 PM CST | 369 | 1.42 | 65–1,370 |
| Nov 2, 12:15 PM CST | 363 | 1.4 | 65–1,370 |
| Nov 2, 11:15 AM CST | 363 | 1.4 | 65–1,370 |
| Nov 2, 10:15 AM CST | 360 | 1.39 | 65–1,370 |
| Nov 2, 9:15 AM CST | 357 | 1.38 | 65–1,370 |
| Nov 2, 8:15 AM CST | 360 | 1.39 | 65–1,370 |
| Nov 2, 7:15 AM CST | 351 | 1.36 | 65–1,370 |
| Nov 2, 6:15 AM CST | 354 | 1.37 | 65–1,370 |
| Nov 2, 5:15 AM CST | 354 | 1.37 | 65–1,370 |
| Nov 2, 4:15 AM CST | 354 | 1.37 | 65–1,370 |
| Nov 2, 3:15 AM CST | 351 | 1.36 | 65–1,370 |
| Nov 2, 2:15 AM CST | 351 | 1.36 | 65–1,370 |
| Nov 2, 1:15 AM CST | 348 | 1.35 | 65–1,370 |
| Nov 2, 12:15 AM CST | 348 | 1.35 | 65–1,370 |
| Nov 1, 11:15 PM CST | 348 | 1.35 | 67–1,360 |
| Nov 1, 10:15 PM CST | 348 | 1.35 | 67–1,360 |
| Nov 1, 9:15 PM CST | 348 | 1.35 | 67–1,360 |
| Nov 1, 8:15 PM CST | 345 | 1.34 | 67–1,360 |
| Nov 1, 7:15 PM CST | 345 | 1.34 | 67–1,360 |
| Nov 1, 6:15 PM CST | 342 | 1.33 | 67–1,360 |
| Nov 1, 5:15 PM CST | 339 | 1.32 | 67–1,360 |
| Nov 1, 4:15 PM CST | 339 | 1.32 | 67–1,360 |
| Nov 1, 3:15 PM CST | 339 | 1.32 | 67–1,360 |
| Nov 1, 2:15 PM CST | 333 | 1.3 | 67–1,360 |
| Nov 1, 1:15 PM CST | 330 | 1.29 | 67–1,360 |
| Nov 1, 12:15 PM CST | 327 | 1.28 | 67–1,360 |
| Nov 1, 11:15 AM CST | 327 | 1.28 | 67–1,360 |
| Nov 1, 10:15 AM CST | 321 | 1.26 | 67–1,360 |
| Nov 1, 9:15 AM CST | 319 | 1.25 | 67–1,360 |
| Nov 1, 8:15 AM CST | 316 | 1.24 | 67–1,360 |
| Nov 1, 7:15 AM CST | 316 | 1.24 | 67–1,360 |
| Nov 1, 6:15 AM CST | 313 | 1.23 | 67–1,360 |
| Nov 1, 5:15 AM CST | 313 | 1.23 | 67–1,360 |
| Nov 1, 4:15 AM CST | 307 | 1.21 | 67–1,360 |
| Nov 1, 3:15 AM CST | 307 | 1.21 | 67–1,360 |
| Nov 1, 2:15 AM CST | 307 | 1.21 | 67–1,360 |
| Nov 1, 1:15 AM CST | 307 | 1.21 | 67–1,360 |
| Nov 1, 1:15 AM CDT | 304 | 1.2 | 67–1,360 |
| Nov 1, 12:15 AM CDT | 304 | 1.2 | 67–1,360 |
| Oct 31, 11:15 PM CDT | 304 | 1.2 | 59–1,350 |
| Oct 31, 10:15 PM CDT | 307 | 1.21 | 59–1,350 |
| Oct 31, 9:15 PM CDT | 304 | 1.2 | 59–1,350 |
| Oct 31, 8:15 PM CDT | 304 | 1.2 | 59–1,350 |
| Oct 31, 7:15 PM CDT | 304 | 1.2 | 59–1,350 |
| Oct 31, 6:15 PM CDT | 302 | 1.19 | 59–1,350 |
| Oct 31, 5:15 PM CDT | 302 | 1.19 | 59–1,350 |
| Oct 31, 4:15 PM CDT | 299 | 1.18 | 59–1,350 |
| Oct 31, 3:15 PM CDT | 299 | 1.18 | 59–1,350 |
| Oct 31, 2:15 PM CDT | 299 | 1.18 | 59–1,350 |
| Oct 31, 1:15 PM CDT | 299 | 1.18 | 59–1,350 |
| Oct 31, 12:15 PM CDT | 296 | 1.17 | 59–1,350 |
| Oct 31, 11:15 AM CDT | 293 | 1.16 | 59–1,350 |
| Oct 31, 10:15 AM CDT | 293 | 1.16 | 59–1,350 |
| Oct 31, 9:15 AM CDT | 293 | 1.16 | 59–1,350 |
| Oct 31, 8:15 AM CDT | 290 | 1.15 | 59–1,350 |
| Oct 31, 7:15 AM CDT | 290 | 1.15 | 59–1,350 |
| Oct 31, 6:15 AM CDT | 290 | 1.15 | 59–1,350 |
| Oct 31, 5:15 AM CDT | 293 | 1.16 | 59–1,350 |
| Oct 31, 4:15 AM CDT | 290 | 1.15 | 59–1,350 |
| Oct 31, 3:15 AM CDT | 290 | 1.15 | 59–1,350 |
| Oct 31, 2:15 AM CDT | 290 | 1.15 | 59–1,350 |
| Oct 31, 1:15 AM CDT | 293 | 1.16 | 59–1,350 |
| Oct 31, 12:15 AM CDT | 293 | 1.16 | 59–1,350 |
| Oct 30, 11:15 PM CDT | 290 | 1.15 | 51–1,420 |
| Oct 30, 10:15 PM CDT | 290 | 1.15 | 51–1,420 |
| Oct 30, 9:15 PM CDT | 290 | 1.15 | 51–1,420 |
| Oct 30, 8:15 PM CDT | 293 | 1.16 | 51–1,420 |
| Oct 30, 7:15 PM CDT | 293 | 1.16 | 51–1,420 |
| Oct 30, 6:15 PM CDT | 293 | 1.16 | 51–1,420 |
| Oct 30, 5:15 PM CDT | 293 | 1.16 | 51–1,420 |
| Oct 30, 4:15 PM CDT | 293 | 1.16 | 51–1,420 |
| Oct 30, 3:15 PM CDT | 296 | 1.17 | 51–1,420 |
| Oct 30, 2:15 PM CDT | 296 | 1.17 | 51–1,420 |
| Oct 30, 1:15 PM CDT | 296 | 1.17 | 51–1,420 |
| Oct 30, 12:15 PM CDT | 299 | 1.18 | 51–1,420 |
| Oct 30, 11:15 AM CDT | 299 | 1.18 | 51–1,420 |
| Oct 30, 10:15 AM CDT | 299 | 1.18 | 51–1,420 |
| Oct 30, 9:15 AM CDT | 299 | 1.18 | 51–1,420 |
| Oct 30, 8:15 AM CDT | 299 | 1.18 | 51–1,420 |
| Oct 30, 7:15 AM CDT | 302 | 1.19 | 51–1,420 |
| Oct 30, 6:15 AM CDT | 299 | 1.18 | 51–1,420 |
| Oct 30, 5:15 AM CDT | 302 | 1.19 | 51–1,420 |
| Oct 30, 4:15 AM CDT | 304 | 1.2 | 51–1,420 |
| Oct 30, 3:15 AM CDT | 304 | 1.2 | 51–1,420 |
| Oct 30, 2:15 AM CDT | 304 | 1.2 | 51–1,420 |
| Oct 30, 1:15 AM CDT | 307 | 1.21 | 51–1,420 |
| Oct 30, 12:15 AM CDT | 307 | 1.21 | 51–1,420 |
| Oct 29, 11:15 PM CDT | 307 | 1.21 | 50–1,540 |
| Oct 29, 10:15 PM CDT | 310 | 1.22 | 50–1,540 |
| Oct 29, 9:15 PM CDT | 310 | 1.22 | 50–1,540 |
Map of USGS gauge 05476590 and the river around it
Where Des Moines River at Emmetsburg, IA sits, with 1 other gauge on the same river.
No current water-temperature reading at this gauge, so no temperature guidance is given. Take a stream thermometer. Iowa 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 Iowa rule, with Iowa DNR's own figure added: 68°F and 75°F.
Species list not on file for this gauge. Check the Iowa Department of Natural Resources: Iowa fishing regulations and laws.
Normal for Nov 5: 68–1,260 ft³/s (middle half of 15 years of record). Now: 848 ft³/s, normal.
Normal for this date. 848 ft³/s is between the 25th and 75th percentiles of daily mean flow for Nov 5 at this gauge over 15 years of record (2012–2026): 10th 25, 25th 68, median 118, 75th 1,260, 90th 1,970 ft³/s.
Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 24.4 ft³/s, highest 2,010 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 (−5.1% 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 2.73 ft stage, 840 ft³/s at Nov 5, 7:15 PM CST (NWS gauge EMTI4; its stage datum can differ from the USGS gauge height).
Forecasts are issued as needed during times of high water, but are not routinely available.
Open the NWS gauge page · What the categories mean (National Weather Service)
Checked Nov 5, 8:33 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.