Bear Creek at Ottumwa, IA
USGS 05489490 · Iowa · reports gauge height
Reading Bear Creek at Ottumwa, IA…
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USGS 05489490 · Iowa · reports 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, 8:45 PM CST · provisional USGS data
Steady · 24 h
No flow at this gauge. USGS does not publish discharge here, so there are no flow statistics either; it reports what is shown. We found no other gauge on the same river that publishes flow.
Gauge height, last 7 days: 169 readings from Oct 29, 10:00 PM CDT to Nov 5, 8:45 PM CST; ranging 79.4 to 80.5 ft; latest 79.7 ft.
USGS provisional data may be revised. Source: USGS instantaneous values.
| Time | Gauge height (ft) |
|---|---|
| Nov 5, 8:45 PM CST | 79.7 |
| Nov 5, 7:45 PM CST | 79.7 |
| Nov 5, 6:45 PM CST | 79.7 |
| Nov 5, 5:45 PM CST | 79.7 |
| Nov 5, 4:45 PM CST | 79.7 |
| Nov 5, 3:45 PM CST | 79.7 |
| Nov 5, 2:45 PM CST | 79.7 |
| Nov 5, 1:45 PM CST | 79.7 |
| Nov 5, 12:45 PM CST | 79.7 |
| Nov 5, 11:45 AM CST | 79.7 |
| Nov 5, 10:45 AM CST | 79.7 |
| Nov 5, 9:45 AM CST | 79.7 |
| Nov 5, 8:45 AM CST | 79.7 |
| Nov 5, 7:45 AM CST | 79.7 |
| Nov 5, 6:45 AM CST | 79.7 |
| Nov 5, 5:45 AM CST | 79.7 |
| Nov 5, 4:45 AM CST | 79.8 |
| Nov 5, 3:45 AM CST | 79.8 |
| Nov 5, 2:45 AM CST | 79.8 |
| Nov 5, 1:45 AM CST | 79.8 |
| Nov 5, 12:45 AM CST | 79.8 |
| Nov 4, 11:45 PM CST | 79.8 |
| Nov 4, 10:45 PM CST | 79.8 |
| Nov 4, 9:45 PM CST | 79.8 |
| Nov 4, 8:45 PM CST | 79.8 |
| Nov 4, 7:45 PM CST | 79.8 |
| Nov 4, 6:45 PM CST | 79.8 |
| Nov 4, 5:45 PM CST | 79.8 |
| Nov 4, 4:45 PM CST | 79.9 |
| Nov 4, 3:45 PM CST | 79.9 |
| Nov 4, 2:45 PM CST | 79.9 |
| Nov 4, 1:45 PM CST | 79.9 |
| Nov 4, 12:45 PM CST | 79.9 |
| Nov 4, 11:45 AM CST | 79.9 |
| Nov 4, 10:45 AM CST | 79.9 |
| Nov 4, 9:45 AM CST | 80 |
| Nov 4, 8:45 AM CST | 80 |
| Nov 4, 7:45 AM CST | 80 |
| Nov 4, 6:45 AM CST | 80 |
| Nov 4, 5:45 AM CST | 80 |
| Nov 4, 4:45 AM CST | 80.1 |
| Nov 4, 3:45 AM CST | 80.1 |
| Nov 4, 2:45 AM CST | 80.1 |
| Nov 4, 1:45 AM CST | 80.1 |
| Nov 4, 12:45 AM CST | 80.2 |
| Nov 3, 11:45 PM CST | 80.2 |
| Nov 3, 10:45 PM CST | 80.3 |
| Nov 3, 9:45 PM CST | 80.3 |
| Nov 3, 8:45 PM CST | 80.3 |
| Nov 3, 7:45 PM CST | 80.4 |
| Nov 3, 6:45 PM CST | 80.4 |
| Nov 3, 5:45 PM CST | 80.5 |
| Nov 3, 4:45 PM CST | 80.5 |
| Nov 3, 3:45 PM CST | 80.2 |
| Nov 3, 2:45 PM CST | 80.1 |
| Nov 3, 1:45 PM CST | 80.1 |
| Nov 3, 12:45 PM CST | 79.9 |
| Nov 3, 11:45 AM CST | 79.7 |
| Nov 3, 10:45 AM CST | 79.7 |
| Nov 3, 9:45 AM CST | 79.7 |
| Nov 3, 8:45 AM CST | 79.7 |
| Nov 3, 7:45 AM CST | 79.7 |
| Nov 3, 6:45 AM CST | 79.7 |
| Nov 3, 5:45 AM CST | 79.6 |
| Nov 3, 4:45 AM CST | 79.6 |
| Nov 3, 3:45 AM CST | 79.6 |
| Nov 3, 2:45 AM CST | 79.6 |
| Nov 3, 1:45 AM CST | 79.6 |
| Nov 3, 12:45 AM CST | 79.6 |
| Nov 2, 11:45 PM CST | 79.6 |
| Nov 2, 10:45 PM CST | 79.6 |
| Nov 2, 9:45 PM CST | 79.6 |
| Nov 2, 8:45 PM CST | 79.6 |
| Nov 2, 7:45 PM CST | 79.6 |
| Nov 2, 6:45 PM CST | 79.6 |
| Nov 2, 5:45 PM CST | 79.6 |
| Nov 2, 4:45 PM CST | 79.6 |
| Nov 2, 3:45 PM CST | 79.6 |
| Nov 2, 2:45 PM CST | 79.6 |
| Nov 2, 1:45 PM CST | 79.6 |
| Nov 2, 12:45 PM CST | 79.6 |
| Nov 2, 11:45 AM CST | 79.6 |
| Nov 2, 10:45 AM CST | 79.6 |
| Nov 2, 9:45 AM CST | 79.6 |
| Nov 2, 8:45 AM CST | 79.6 |
| Nov 2, 7:45 AM CST | 79.6 |
| Nov 2, 6:45 AM CST | 79.6 |
| Nov 2, 5:45 AM CST | 79.6 |
| Nov 2, 4:45 AM CST | 79.6 |
| Nov 2, 3:45 AM CST | 79.6 |
| Nov 2, 2:45 AM CST | 79.6 |
| Nov 2, 1:45 AM CST | 79.7 |
| Nov 2, 12:45 AM CST | 79.7 |
| Nov 1, 11:45 PM CST | 79.7 |
| Nov 1, 10:45 PM CST | 79.7 |
| Nov 1, 9:45 PM CST | 79.7 |
| Nov 1, 8:45 PM CST | 79.7 |
| Nov 1, 7:45 PM CST | 79.7 |
| Nov 1, 6:45 PM CST | 79.7 |
| Nov 1, 5:45 PM CST | 79.7 |
| Nov 1, 4:45 PM CST | 79.7 |
| Nov 1, 3:45 PM CST | 79.7 |
| Nov 1, 2:45 PM CST | 79.7 |
| Nov 1, 1:45 PM CST | 79.7 |
| Nov 1, 12:45 PM CST | 79.7 |
| Nov 1, 11:45 AM CST | 79.7 |
| Nov 1, 10:45 AM CST | 79.7 |
| Nov 1, 9:45 AM CST | 79.7 |
| Nov 1, 8:45 AM CST | 79.7 |
| Nov 1, 7:45 AM CST | 79.8 |
| Nov 1, 6:45 AM CST | 79.8 |
| Nov 1, 5:45 AM CST | 79.8 |
| Nov 1, 4:45 AM CST | 79.8 |
| Nov 1, 3:45 AM CST | 79.8 |
| Nov 1, 2:45 AM CST | 79.8 |
| Nov 1, 1:45 AM CST | 79.8 |
| Nov 1, 1:45 AM CDT | 79.8 |
| Nov 1, 12:45 AM CDT | 79.8 |
| Oct 31, 11:45 PM CDT | 79.9 |
| Oct 31, 10:45 PM CDT | 79.9 |
| Oct 31, 9:45 PM CDT | 79.9 |
| Oct 31, 8:45 PM CDT | 79.9 |
| Oct 31, 7:45 PM CDT | 79.9 |
| Oct 31, 6:45 PM CDT | 79.9 |
| Oct 31, 5:45 PM CDT | 80 |
| Oct 31, 4:45 PM CDT | 80 |
| Oct 31, 3:45 PM CDT | 80 |
| Oct 31, 2:45 PM CDT | 80 |
| Oct 31, 1:45 PM CDT | 80.1 |
| Oct 31, 12:45 PM CDT | 80.1 |
| Oct 31, 11:45 AM CDT | 80.1 |
| Oct 31, 10:45 AM CDT | 80.1 |
| Oct 31, 9:45 AM CDT | 80 |
| Oct 31, 8:45 AM CDT | 80 |
| Oct 31, 7:45 AM CDT | 80 |
| Oct 31, 6:45 AM CDT | 79.9 |
| Oct 31, 5:45 AM CDT | 79.9 |
| Oct 31, 4:45 AM CDT | 79.9 |
| Oct 31, 3:45 AM CDT | 79.9 |
| Oct 31, 2:45 AM CDT | 79.9 |
| Oct 31, 1:45 AM CDT | 79.9 |
| Oct 31, 12:45 AM CDT | 79.9 |
| Oct 30, 11:45 PM CDT | 80 |
| Oct 30, 10:45 PM CDT | 80 |
| Oct 30, 9:45 PM CDT | 80 |
| Oct 30, 8:45 PM CDT | 79.9 |
| Oct 30, 7:45 PM CDT | 80 |
| Oct 30, 6:45 PM CDT | 79.9 |
| Oct 30, 5:45 PM CDT | 79.9 |
| Oct 30, 4:45 PM CDT | 79.9 |
| Oct 30, 3:45 PM CDT | 79.9 |
| Oct 30, 2:45 PM CDT | 79.9 |
| Oct 30, 1:45 PM CDT | 79.9 |
| Oct 30, 12:45 PM CDT | 79.9 |
| Oct 30, 11:45 AM CDT | 79.7 |
| Oct 30, 10:45 AM CDT | 79.7 |
| Oct 30, 9:45 AM CDT | 79.7 |
| Oct 30, 8:45 AM CDT | 79.7 |
| Oct 30, 7:45 AM CDT | 79.6 |
| Oct 30, 6:45 AM CDT | 79.6 |
| Oct 30, 5:45 AM CDT | 79.5 |
| Oct 30, 4:45 AM CDT | 79.5 |
| Oct 30, 3:45 AM CDT | 79.5 |
| Oct 30, 2:45 AM CDT | 79.5 |
| Oct 30, 1:45 AM CDT | 79.5 |
| Oct 30, 12:45 AM CDT | 79.5 |
| Oct 29, 11:45 PM CDT | 79.4 |
| Oct 29, 10:45 PM CDT | 79.5 |
| Oct 29, 10:00 PM CDT | 79.5 |
USGS keeps no flow statistics at this gauge, so there is no normal range for flow; the chart shows gauge height as USGS publishes it.
Map of USGS gauge 05489490 and the river around it
Where Bear Creek at Ottumwa, IA sits.
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.
Steady over 24 hours (gauge height −0.12 ft). 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.
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.
NWS observed 79.7 ft stage at Nov 5, 8:45 PM CST (NWS gauge BCOI4; its stage datum can differ from the USGS gauge height).
NWS has not set flood categories for this gauge.
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, 9:53 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.