BIG SIOUX RIVER NEAR DELL RAPIDS, SD
USGS 06481000 · South Dakota · reports discharge (live), gauge height
Reading BIG SIOUX RIVER NEAR DELL RAPIDS, SD…
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USGS 06481000 · South Dakota · reports discharge (live), gauge height
What the agencies suggest
Stand back from the shoreline and be aware of surroundingsRhode Island Department of Environmental Management
General guidance from the readings and the published lines named above, not a fishing forecast. Local rules and closures come first.
Reading Nov 5, 11:30 PM CST · provisional USGS data
Above normal for Nov 5 Rising · 24 h Below NWS action stage
Discharge, last 7 days: 169 readings from Oct 30, 12:30 AM CDT to Nov 5, 11:30 PM CST; ranging 126 to 595 ft³/s; latest 595 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, 11:30 PM CST | 595 | 4.99 | 45–343 |
| Nov 5, 10:30 PM CST | 585 | 4.96 | 45–343 |
| Nov 5, 9:30 PM CST | 574 | 4.93 | 45–343 |
| Nov 5, 8:30 PM CST | 563 | 4.9 | 45–343 |
| Nov 5, 7:30 PM CST | 557 | 4.88 | 45–343 |
| Nov 5, 6:30 PM CST | 546 | 4.85 | 45–343 |
| Nov 5, 5:30 PM CST | 539 | 4.83 | 45–343 |
| Nov 5, 4:30 PM CST | 533 | 4.81 | 45–343 |
| Nov 5, 3:30 PM CST | 526 | 4.79 | 45–343 |
| Nov 5, 2:30 PM CST | 519 | 4.77 | 45–343 |
| Nov 5, 1:30 PM CST | 516 | 4.76 | 45–343 |
| Nov 5, 12:30 PM CST | 513 | 4.75 | 45–343 |
| Nov 5, 11:30 AM CST | 509 | 4.74 | 45–343 |
| Nov 5, 10:30 AM CST | 506 | 4.73 | 45–343 |
| Nov 5, 9:30 AM CST | 503 | 4.72 | 45–343 |
| Nov 5, 8:30 AM CST | 496 | 4.7 | 45–343 |
| Nov 5, 7:30 AM CST | 493 | 4.69 | 45–343 |
| Nov 5, 6:30 AM CST | 487 | 4.67 | 45–343 |
| Nov 5, 5:30 AM CST | 484 | 4.66 | 45–343 |
| Nov 5, 4:30 AM CST | 480 | 4.65 | 45–343 |
| Nov 5, 3:30 AM CST | 480 | 4.65 | 45–343 |
| Nov 5, 2:30 AM CST | 474 | 4.63 | 45–343 |
| Nov 5, 1:30 AM CST | 468 | 4.61 | 45–343 |
| Nov 5, 12:30 AM CST | 459 | 4.58 | 45–343 |
| Nov 4, 11:30 PM CST | 452 | 4.56 | 44–354 |
| Nov 4, 10:30 PM CST | 449 | 4.55 | 44–354 |
| Nov 4, 9:30 PM CST | 443 | 4.53 | 44–354 |
| Nov 4, 8:30 PM CST | 434 | 4.5 | 44–354 |
| Nov 4, 7:30 PM CST | 428 | 4.48 | 44–354 |
| Nov 4, 6:30 PM CST | 419 | 4.45 | 44–354 |
| Nov 4, 5:30 PM CST | 410 | 4.42 | 44–354 |
| Nov 4, 4:30 PM CST | 399 | 4.38 | 44–354 |
| Nov 4, 3:30 PM CST | 393 | 4.36 | 44–354 |
| Nov 4, 2:30 PM CST | 384 | 4.33 | 44–354 |
| Nov 4, 1:30 PM CST | 376 | 4.3 | 44–354 |
| Nov 4, 12:30 PM CST | 368 | 4.27 | 44–354 |
| Nov 4, 11:30 AM CST | 359 | 4.24 | 44–354 |
| Nov 4, 10:30 AM CST | 349 | 4.2 | 44–354 |
| Nov 4, 9:30 AM CST | 343 | 4.18 | 44–354 |
| Nov 4, 8:30 AM CST | 338 | 4.16 | 44–354 |
| Nov 4, 7:30 AM CST | 330 | 4.13 | 44–354 |
| Nov 4, 6:30 AM CST | 325 | 4.11 | 44–354 |
| Nov 4, 5:30 AM CST | 320 | 4.09 | 44–354 |
| Nov 4, 4:30 AM CST | 315 | 4.07 | 44–354 |
| Nov 4, 3:30 AM CST | 310 | 4.05 | 44–354 |
| Nov 4, 2:30 AM CST | 307 | 4.04 | 44–354 |
| Nov 4, 1:30 AM CST | 300 | 4.01 | 44–354 |
| Nov 4, 12:30 AM CST | 294 | 3.99 | 44–354 |
| Nov 3, 11:30 PM CST | 294 | 3.99 | 41–366 |
| Nov 3, 10:30 PM CST | 291 | 3.98 | 41–366 |
| Nov 3, 9:30 PM CST | 288 | 3.97 | 41–366 |
| Nov 3, 8:30 PM CST | 285 | 3.96 | 41–366 |
| Nov 3, 7:30 PM CST | 279 | 3.94 | 41–366 |
| Nov 3, 6:30 PM CST | 276 | 3.93 | 41–366 |
| Nov 3, 5:30 PM CST | 270 | 3.91 | 41–366 |
| Nov 3, 4:30 PM CST | 270 | 3.91 | 41–366 |
| Nov 3, 3:30 PM CST | 267 | 3.9 | 41–366 |
| Nov 3, 2:30 PM CST | 264 | 3.89 | 41–366 |
| Nov 3, 1:30 PM CST | 267 | 3.9 | 41–366 |
| Nov 3, 12:30 PM CST | 264 | 3.89 | 41–366 |
| Nov 3, 11:30 AM CST | 267 | 3.9 | 41–366 |
| Nov 3, 10:30 AM CST | 267 | 3.9 | 41–366 |
| Nov 3, 9:30 AM CST | 267 | 3.9 | 41–366 |
| Nov 3, 8:30 AM CST | 267 | 3.9 | 41–366 |
| Nov 3, 7:30 AM CST | 267 | 3.9 | 41–366 |
| Nov 3, 6:30 AM CST | 270 | 3.91 | 41–366 |
| Nov 3, 5:30 AM CST | 270 | 3.91 | 41–366 |
| Nov 3, 4:30 AM CST | 273 | 3.92 | 41–366 |
| Nov 3, 3:30 AM CST | 276 | 3.93 | 41–366 |
| Nov 3, 2:30 AM CST | 279 | 3.94 | 41–366 |
| Nov 3, 1:30 AM CST | 279 | 3.94 | 41–366 |
| Nov 3, 12:30 AM CST | 279 | 3.94 | 41–366 |
| Nov 2, 11:30 PM CST | 285 | 3.96 | 45–378 |
| Nov 2, 10:30 PM CST | 288 | 3.97 | 45–378 |
| Nov 2, 9:30 PM CST | 291 | 3.98 | 45–378 |
| Nov 2, 8:30 PM CST | 291 | 3.98 | 45–378 |
| Nov 2, 7:30 PM CST | 291 | 3.98 | 45–378 |
| Nov 2, 6:30 PM CST | 291 | 3.98 | 45–378 |
| Nov 2, 5:30 PM CST | 288 | 3.97 | 45–378 |
| Nov 2, 4:30 PM CST | 288 | 3.97 | 45–378 |
| Nov 2, 3:30 PM CST | 282 | 3.95 | 45–378 |
| Nov 2, 2:30 PM CST | 276 | 3.93 | 45–378 |
| Nov 2, 1:30 PM CST | 270 | 3.91 | 45–378 |
| Nov 2, 12:30 PM CST | 261 | 3.88 | 45–378 |
| Nov 2, 11:30 AM CST | 247 | 3.83 | 45–378 |
| Nov 2, 10:30 AM CST | 242 | 3.81 | 45–378 |
| Nov 2, 9:30 AM CST | 234 | 3.78 | 45–378 |
| Nov 2, 8:30 AM CST | 221 | 3.73 | 45–378 |
| Nov 2, 7:30 AM CST | 216 | 3.71 | 45–378 |
| Nov 2, 6:30 AM CST | 211 | 3.69 | 45–378 |
| Nov 2, 5:30 AM CST | 211 | 3.69 | 45–378 |
| Nov 2, 4:30 AM CST | 201 | 3.65 | 45–378 |
| Nov 2, 3:30 AM CST | 194 | 3.62 | 45–378 |
| Nov 2, 2:30 AM CST | 190 | 3.6 | 45–378 |
| Nov 2, 1:30 AM CST | 188 | 3.59 | 45–378 |
| Nov 2, 12:30 AM CST | 183 | 3.57 | 45–378 |
| Nov 1, 11:30 PM CST | 181 | 3.56 | 47–321 |
| Nov 1, 10:30 PM CST | 181 | 3.56 | 47–321 |
| Nov 1, 9:30 PM CST | 181 | 3.56 | 47–321 |
| Nov 1, 8:30 PM CST | 181 | 3.56 | 47–321 |
| Nov 1, 7:30 PM CST | 179 | 3.55 | 47–321 |
| Nov 1, 6:30 PM CST | 179 | 3.55 | 47–321 |
| Nov 1, 5:30 PM CST | 179 | 3.55 | 47–321 |
| Nov 1, 4:30 PM CST | 179 | 3.55 | 47–321 |
| Nov 1, 3:30 PM CST | 181 | 3.56 | 47–321 |
| Nov 1, 2:30 PM CST | 181 | 3.56 | 47–321 |
| Nov 1, 1:30 PM CST | 181 | 3.56 | 47–321 |
| Nov 1, 12:30 PM CST | 181 | 3.56 | 47–321 |
| Nov 1, 11:30 AM CST | 183 | 3.57 | 47–321 |
| Nov 1, 10:30 AM CST | 181 | 3.56 | 47–321 |
| Nov 1, 9:30 AM CST | 183 | 3.57 | 47–321 |
| Nov 1, 8:30 AM CST | 181 | 3.56 | 47–321 |
| Nov 1, 7:30 AM CST | 183 | 3.57 | 47–321 |
| Nov 1, 6:30 AM CST | 183 | 3.57 | 47–321 |
| Nov 1, 5:30 AM CST | 183 | 3.57 | 47–321 |
| Nov 1, 4:30 AM CST | 183 | 3.57 | 47–321 |
| Nov 1, 3:30 AM CST | 185 | 3.58 | 47–321 |
| Nov 1, 2:30 AM CST | 185 | 3.58 | 47–321 |
| Nov 1, 1:30 AM CST | 188 | 3.59 | 47–321 |
| Nov 1, 1:30 AM CDT | 188 | 3.59 | 47–321 |
| Nov 1, 12:30 AM CDT | 190 | 3.6 | 47–321 |
| Oct 31, 11:30 PM CDT | 192 | 3.61 | 48–309 |
| Oct 31, 10:30 PM CDT | 194 | 3.62 | 48–309 |
| Oct 31, 9:30 PM CDT | 194 | 3.62 | 48–309 |
| Oct 31, 8:30 PM CDT | 197 | 3.63 | 48–309 |
| Oct 31, 7:30 PM CDT | 199 | 3.64 | 48–309 |
| Oct 31, 6:30 PM CDT | 204 | 3.66 | 48–309 |
| Oct 31, 5:30 PM CDT | 209 | 3.68 | 48–309 |
| Oct 31, 4:30 PM CDT | 214 | 3.7 | 48–309 |
| Oct 31, 3:30 PM CDT | 219 | 3.72 | 48–309 |
| Oct 31, 2:30 PM CDT | 224 | 3.74 | 48–309 |
| Oct 31, 1:30 PM CDT | 229 | 3.76 | 48–309 |
| Oct 31, 12:30 PM CDT | 231 | 3.77 | 48–309 |
| Oct 31, 11:30 AM CDT | 234 | 3.78 | 48–309 |
| Oct 31, 10:30 AM CDT | 231 | 3.77 | 48–309 |
| Oct 31, 9:30 AM CDT | 226 | 3.75 | 48–309 |
| Oct 31, 8:30 AM CDT | 216 | 3.71 | 48–309 |
| Oct 31, 7:30 AM CDT | 214 | 3.7 | 48–309 |
| Oct 31, 6:30 AM CDT | 211 | 3.69 | 48–309 |
| Oct 31, 5:30 AM CDT | 199 | 3.64 | 48–309 |
| Oct 31, 4:30 AM CDT | 181 | 3.56 | 48–309 |
| Oct 31, 3:30 AM CDT | 166 | 3.49 | 48–309 |
| Oct 31, 2:30 AM CDT | 155 | 3.44 | 48–309 |
| Oct 31, 1:30 AM CDT | 147 | 3.4 | 48–309 |
| Oct 31, 12:30 AM CDT | 137 | 3.35 | 48–309 |
| Oct 30, 11:30 PM CDT | 135 | 3.34 | 47–326 |
| Oct 30, 10:30 PM CDT | 133 | 3.33 | 47–326 |
| Oct 30, 9:30 PM CDT | 135 | 3.34 | 47–326 |
| Oct 30, 8:30 PM CDT | 133 | 3.33 | 47–326 |
| Oct 30, 7:30 PM CDT | 133 | 3.33 | 47–326 |
| Oct 30, 6:30 PM CDT | 133 | 3.33 | 47–326 |
| Oct 30, 5:30 PM CDT | 133 | 3.33 | 47–326 |
| Oct 30, 4:30 PM CDT | 133 | 3.33 | 47–326 |
| Oct 30, 3:30 PM CDT | 133 | 3.33 | 47–326 |
| Oct 30, 2:30 PM CDT | 133 | 3.33 | 47–326 |
| Oct 30, 1:30 PM CDT | 133 | 3.33 | 47–326 |
| Oct 30, 12:30 PM CDT | 133 | 3.33 | 47–326 |
| Oct 30, 11:30 AM CDT | 133 | 3.33 | 47–326 |
| Oct 30, 10:30 AM CDT | 133 | 3.33 | 47–326 |
| Oct 30, 9:30 AM CDT | 131 | 3.32 | 47–326 |
| Oct 30, 8:30 AM CDT | 129 | 3.31 | 47–326 |
| Oct 30, 7:30 AM CDT | 129 | 3.31 | 47–326 |
| Oct 30, 6:30 AM CDT | 129 | 3.31 | 47–326 |
| Oct 30, 5:30 AM CDT | 129 | 3.31 | 47–326 |
| Oct 30, 4:30 AM CDT | 128 | 3.3 | 47–326 |
| Oct 30, 3:30 AM CDT | 128 | 3.3 | 47–326 |
| Oct 30, 2:30 AM CDT | 128 | 3.3 | 47–326 |
| Oct 30, 1:30 AM CDT | 126 | 3.29 | 47–326 |
| Oct 30, 12:30 AM CDT | 126 | 3.29 | 47–326 |
Map of USGS gauge 06481000 and the river around it
Where BIG SIOUX RIVER NEAR DELL RAPIDS, SD sits, with 4 other gauges on the same river.
No current water-temperature reading at this gauge, so no temperature guidance is given. Take a stream thermometer. South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks publishes no water-temperature line for trout anglers that we found. The lines below are the National Park Service's, federal guidance, not a South Dakota rule: 68°F.
Normal for Nov 5: 45–343 ft³/s (middle half of 78 years of record). Now: 595 ft³/s, above normal.
Above normal for this date. 595 ft³/s is between the 75th and 90th percentiles of daily mean flow for Nov 5 at this gauge over 78 years of record (1949–2026): 10th 19, 25th 45, median 89, 75th 343, 90th 625 ft³/s.
Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 2.4 ft³/s, highest 2,270 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).
Rising over 24 hours: discharge up 31.6%, from 452 to 595 ft³/s. 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.
Species list not on file for this gauge. Check the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks: South Dakota fishery surveys, reports and stocking · South Dakota regulations and handbooks.
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)Rising water. Rising over the last 24 hours (discharge up 31.6%). Keep your way back to the bank in sight and watch the level while you fish. “Rising” is our rule of thumb: more than 10% in discharge or 0.2 ft of gauge height in 24 hours, not a USGS or NWS 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.
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 4.96 ft stage, 589 ft³/s at Nov 5, 10:30 PM CST (NWS gauge DERS2; 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, 11:46 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.