East Fork Des Moines River at Dakota City, IA
USGS 05479000 · Iowa · reports discharge (live), gauge height
USGS 05479000 · 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, 10:00 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, 11:00 PM CDT to Nov 5, 10:00 PM CST; ranging 300 to 993 ft³/s; latest 957 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, 10:00 PM CST | 957 | 9.71 | 40–407 |
| Nov 5, 9:00 PM CST | 939 | 9.68 | 40–407 |
| Nov 5, 8:00 PM CST | 933 | 9.67 | 40–407 |
| Nov 5, 7:00 PM CST | 927 | 9.66 | 40–407 |
| Nov 5, 6:00 PM CST | 933 | 9.67 | 40–407 |
| Nov 5, 5:00 PM CST | 933 | 9.67 | 40–407 |
| Nov 5, 4:00 PM CST | 933 | 9.67 | 40–407 |
| Nov 5, 3:00 PM CST | 927 | 9.66 | 40–407 |
| Nov 5, 2:00 PM CST | 927 | 9.66 | 40–407 |
| Nov 5, 1:00 PM CST | 939 | 9.68 | 40–407 |
| Nov 5, 12:00 PM CST | 939 | 9.68 | 40–407 |
| Nov 5, 11:00 AM CST | 927 | 9.66 | 40–407 |
| Nov 5, 10:00 AM CST | 933 | 9.67 | 40–407 |
| Nov 5, 9:00 AM CST | 927 | 9.66 | 40–407 |
| Nov 5, 8:00 AM CST | 939 | 9.68 | 40–407 |
| Nov 5, 7:00 AM CST | 939 | 9.68 | 40–407 |
| Nov 5, 6:00 AM CST | 927 | 9.66 | 40–407 |
| Nov 5, 5:00 AM CST | 933 | 9.67 | 40–407 |
| Nov 5, 4:00 AM CST | 933 | 9.67 | 40–407 |
| Nov 5, 3:00 AM CST | 945 | 9.69 | 40–407 |
| Nov 5, 2:00 AM CST | 933 | 9.67 | 40–407 |
| Nov 5, 1:00 AM CST | 945 | 9.69 | 40–407 |
| Nov 5, 12:00 AM CST | 957 | 9.71 | 40–407 |
| Nov 4, 11:00 PM CST | 939 | 9.68 | 40–420 |
| Nov 4, 10:00 PM CST | 963 | 9.72 | 40–420 |
| Nov 4, 9:00 PM CST | 957 | 9.71 | 40–420 |
| Nov 4, 8:00 PM CST | 957 | 9.71 | 40–420 |
| Nov 4, 7:00 PM CST | 957 | 9.71 | 40–420 |
| Nov 4, 6:00 PM CST | 969 | 9.73 | 40–420 |
| Nov 4, 5:00 PM CST | 975 | 9.74 | 40–420 |
| Nov 4, 4:00 PM CST | 969 | 9.73 | 40–420 |
| Nov 4, 3:00 PM CST | 981 | 9.75 | 40–420 |
| Nov 4, 2:00 PM CST | 993 | 9.77 | 40–420 |
| Nov 4, 1:00 PM CST | 987 | 9.76 | 40–420 |
| Nov 4, 12:00 PM CST | 987 | 9.76 | 40–420 |
| Nov 4, 11:00 AM CST | 975 | 9.74 | 40–420 |
| Nov 4, 10:00 AM CST | 969 | 9.73 | 40–420 |
| Nov 4, 9:00 AM CST | 981 | 9.75 | 40–420 |
| Nov 4, 8:00 AM CST | 975 | 9.74 | 40–420 |
| Nov 4, 7:00 AM CST | 981 | 9.75 | 40–420 |
| Nov 4, 6:00 AM CST | 963 | 9.72 | 40–420 |
| Nov 4, 5:00 AM CST | 981 | 9.75 | 40–420 |
| Nov 4, 4:00 AM CST | 975 | 9.74 | 40–420 |
| Nov 4, 3:00 AM CST | 963 | 9.72 | 40–420 |
| Nov 4, 2:00 AM CST | 951 | 9.7 | 40–420 |
| Nov 4, 1:00 AM CST | 921 | 9.65 | 40–420 |
| Nov 4, 12:00 AM CST | 909 | 9.63 | 40–420 |
| Nov 3, 11:00 PM CST | 874 | 9.57 | 40–434 |
| Nov 3, 10:00 PM CST | 863 | 9.55 | 40–434 |
| Nov 3, 9:00 PM CST | 829 | 9.49 | 40–434 |
| Nov 3, 8:00 PM CST | 801 | 9.44 | 40–434 |
| Nov 3, 7:00 PM CST | 785 | 9.41 | 40–434 |
| Nov 3, 6:00 PM CST | 736 | 9.32 | 40–434 |
| Nov 3, 5:00 PM CST | 715 | 9.28 | 40–434 |
| Nov 3, 4:00 PM CST | 663 | 9.18 | 40–434 |
| Nov 3, 3:00 PM CST | 617 | 9.09 | 40–434 |
| Nov 3, 2:00 PM CST | 573 | 9 | 40–434 |
| Nov 3, 1:00 PM CST | 535 | 8.92 | 40–434 |
| Nov 3, 12:00 PM CST | 494 | 8.83 | 40–434 |
| Nov 3, 11:00 AM CST | 472 | 8.78 | 40–434 |
| Nov 3, 10:00 AM CST | 432 | 8.7 | 40–434 |
| Nov 3, 9:00 AM CST | 404 | 8.64 | 40–434 |
| Nov 3, 8:00 AM CST | 381 | 8.59 | 40–434 |
| Nov 3, 7:00 AM CST | 367 | 8.56 | 40–434 |
| Nov 3, 6:00 AM CST | 354 | 8.53 | 40–434 |
| Nov 3, 5:00 AM CST | 350 | 8.52 | 40–434 |
| Nov 3, 4:00 AM CST | 346 | 8.51 | 40–434 |
| Nov 3, 3:00 AM CST | 333 | 8.48 | 40–434 |
| Nov 3, 2:00 AM CST | 325 | 8.46 | 40–434 |
| Nov 3, 1:00 AM CST | 325 | 8.46 | 40–434 |
| Nov 3, 12:00 AM CST | 321 | 8.45 | 40–434 |
| Nov 2, 11:00 PM CST | 321 | 8.45 | 36–437 |
| Nov 2, 10:00 PM CST | 321 | 8.45 | 36–437 |
| Nov 2, 9:00 PM CST | 325 | 8.46 | 36–437 |
| Nov 2, 8:00 PM CST | 325 | 8.46 | 36–437 |
| Nov 2, 7:00 PM CST | 321 | 8.45 | 36–437 |
| Nov 2, 6:00 PM CST | 325 | 8.46 | 36–437 |
| Nov 2, 5:00 PM CST | 325 | 8.46 | 36–437 |
| Nov 2, 4:00 PM CST | 325 | 8.46 | 36–437 |
| Nov 2, 3:00 PM CST | 325 | 8.46 | 36–437 |
| Nov 2, 2:00 PM CST | 325 | 8.46 | 36–437 |
| Nov 2, 1:00 PM CST | 325 | 8.46 | 36–437 |
| Nov 2, 12:00 PM CST | 325 | 8.46 | 36–437 |
| Nov 2, 11:00 AM CST | 321 | 8.45 | 36–437 |
| Nov 2, 10:00 AM CST | 316 | 8.44 | 36–437 |
| Nov 2, 9:00 AM CST | 312 | 8.43 | 36–437 |
| Nov 2, 8:00 AM CST | 308 | 8.42 | 36–437 |
| Nov 2, 7:00 AM CST | 308 | 8.42 | 36–437 |
| Nov 2, 6:00 AM CST | 308 | 8.42 | 36–437 |
| Nov 2, 5:00 AM CST | 304 | 8.41 | 36–437 |
| Nov 2, 4:00 AM CST | 304 | 8.41 | 36–437 |
| Nov 2, 3:00 AM CST | 304 | 8.41 | 36–437 |
| Nov 2, 2:00 AM CST | 304 | 8.41 | 36–437 |
| Nov 2, 1:00 AM CST | 304 | 8.41 | 36–437 |
| Nov 2, 12:00 AM CST | 304 | 8.41 | 36–437 |
| Nov 1, 11:00 PM CST | 304 | 8.41 | 41–446 |
| Nov 1, 10:00 PM CST | 304 | 8.41 | 41–446 |
| Nov 1, 9:00 PM CST | 304 | 8.41 | 41–446 |
| Nov 1, 8:00 PM CST | 304 | 8.41 | 41–446 |
| Nov 1, 7:00 PM CST | 304 | 8.41 | 41–446 |
| Nov 1, 6:00 PM CST | 304 | 8.41 | 41–446 |
| Nov 1, 5:00 PM CST | 304 | 8.41 | 41–446 |
| Nov 1, 4:00 PM CST | 300 | 8.4 | 41–446 |
| Nov 1, 3:00 PM CST | 304 | 8.41 | 41–446 |
| Nov 1, 2:00 PM CST | 300 | 8.4 | 41–446 |
| Nov 1, 1:00 PM CST | 304 | 8.41 | 41–446 |
| Nov 1, 12:00 PM CST | 300 | 8.4 | 41–446 |
| Nov 1, 11:00 AM CST | 304 | 8.41 | 41–446 |
| Nov 1, 10:00 AM CST | 304 | 8.41 | 41–446 |
| Nov 1, 9:00 AM CST | 304 | 8.41 | 41–446 |
| Nov 1, 8:00 AM CST | 304 | 8.41 | 41–446 |
| Nov 1, 7:00 AM CST | 300 | 8.4 | 41–446 |
| Nov 1, 6:00 AM CST | 304 | 8.41 | 41–446 |
| Nov 1, 5:00 AM CST | 300 | 8.4 | 41–446 |
| Nov 1, 4:00 AM CST | 300 | 8.4 | 41–446 |
| Nov 1, 3:00 AM CST | 304 | 8.41 | 41–446 |
| Nov 1, 2:00 AM CST | 304 | 8.41 | 41–446 |
| Nov 1, 1:00 AM CST | 304 | 8.41 | 41–446 |
| Nov 1, 1:00 AM CDT | 304 | 8.41 | 41–446 |
| Nov 1, 12:00 AM CDT | 300 | 8.4 | 41–446 |
| Oct 31, 11:00 PM CDT | 304 | 8.41 | 42–468 |
| Oct 31, 10:00 PM CDT | 304 | 8.41 | 42–468 |
| Oct 31, 9:00 PM CDT | 304 | 8.41 | 42–468 |
| Oct 31, 8:00 PM CDT | 304 | 8.41 | 42–468 |
| Oct 31, 7:00 PM CDT | 304 | 8.41 | 42–468 |
| Oct 31, 6:00 PM CDT | 304 | 8.41 | 42–468 |
| Oct 31, 5:00 PM CDT | 304 | 8.41 | 42–468 |
| Oct 31, 4:00 PM CDT | 304 | 8.41 | 42–468 |
| Oct 31, 3:00 PM CDT | 304 | 8.41 | 42–468 |
| Oct 31, 2:00 PM CDT | 304 | 8.41 | 42–468 |
| Oct 31, 1:00 PM CDT | 304 | 8.41 | 42–468 |
| Oct 31, 12:00 PM CDT | 308 | 8.42 | 42–468 |
| Oct 31, 11:00 AM CDT | 308 | 8.42 | 42–468 |
| Oct 31, 10:00 AM CDT | 304 | 8.41 | 42–468 |
| Oct 31, 9:00 AM CDT | 304 | 8.41 | 42–468 |
| Oct 31, 8:00 AM CDT | 304 | 8.41 | 42–468 |
| Oct 31, 7:00 AM CDT | 304 | 8.41 | 42–468 |
| Oct 31, 6:00 AM CDT | 304 | 8.41 | 42–468 |
| Oct 31, 5:00 AM CDT | 304 | 8.41 | 42–468 |
| Oct 31, 4:00 AM CDT | 304 | 8.41 | 42–468 |
| Oct 31, 3:00 AM CDT | 304 | 8.41 | 42–468 |
| Oct 31, 2:00 AM CDT | 308 | 8.42 | 42–468 |
| Oct 31, 1:00 AM CDT | 304 | 8.41 | 42–468 |
| Oct 31, 12:00 AM CDT | 304 | 8.41 | 42–468 |
| Oct 30, 11:00 PM CDT | 304 | 8.41 | 39–493 |
| Oct 30, 10:00 PM CDT | 304 | 8.41 | 39–493 |
| Oct 30, 9:00 PM CDT | 304 | 8.41 | 39–493 |
| Oct 30, 8:00 PM CDT | 308 | 8.42 | 39–493 |
| Oct 30, 7:00 PM CDT | 308 | 8.42 | 39–493 |
| Oct 30, 6:00 PM CDT | 308 | 8.42 | 39–493 |
| Oct 30, 5:00 PM CDT | 308 | 8.42 | 39–493 |
| Oct 30, 4:00 PM CDT | 308 | 8.42 | 39–493 |
| Oct 30, 3:00 PM CDT | 312 | 8.43 | 39–493 |
| Oct 30, 2:00 PM CDT | 312 | 8.43 | 39–493 |
| Oct 30, 1:00 PM CDT | 312 | 8.43 | 39–493 |
| Oct 30, 12:00 PM CDT | 312 | 8.43 | 39–493 |
| Oct 30, 11:00 AM CDT | 312 | 8.43 | 39–493 |
| Oct 30, 10:00 AM CDT | 312 | 8.43 | 39–493 |
| Oct 30, 9:00 AM CDT | 308 | 8.42 | 39–493 |
| Oct 30, 8:00 AM CDT | 308 | 8.42 | 39–493 |
| Oct 30, 7:00 AM CDT | 308 | 8.42 | 39–493 |
| Oct 30, 6:00 AM CDT | 308 | 8.42 | 39–493 |
| Oct 30, 5:00 AM CDT | 308 | 8.42 | 39–493 |
| Oct 30, 4:00 AM CDT | 308 | 8.42 | 39–493 |
| Oct 30, 3:00 AM CDT | 308 | 8.42 | 39–493 |
| Oct 30, 2:00 AM CDT | 308 | 8.42 | 39–493 |
| Oct 30, 1:00 AM CDT | 308 | 8.42 | 39–493 |
| Oct 30, 12:00 AM CDT | 308 | 8.42 | 39–493 |
| Oct 29, 11:00 PM CDT | 308 | 8.42 | 38–478 |
Map of USGS gauge 05479000 and the river around it
Where East Fork Des Moines River at Dakota City, 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: 40–407 ft³/s (middle half of 86 years of record). Now: 957 ft³/s, above normal.
Above normal for this date. 957 ft³/s is between the 75th and 90th percentiles of daily mean flow for Nov 5 at this gauge over 86 years of record (1941–2026): 10th 28, 25th 40, median 124, 75th 407, 90th 1,090 ft³/s.
Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 14 ft³/s, highest 2,760 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 (−0.6% 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 9.68 ft stage, 939 ft³/s at Nov 5, 9:00 PM CST (NWS gauge DAKI4; 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, 10:32 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.