A small USGS stream gaging station with an antenna on its roof under a cloudy evening sky

Check a river’s flow.

Search any USGS stream gauge by river or station name, by state, or near you. Each card shows the latest flow and how it compares with the normal range for today’s date; open a gauge for the full picture: trend, water temperature and what it means for trout, safety and the official NWS flood stage.

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6 USGS gauges near your location (within 30 miles)

Upper Iowa River at Decorah, IA

USGS 05387500

Caution: High water: fish the edges; wading risky

No water temperature here. The full view adds the NWS forecast.

Discharge: 1,060 ft³/s
Gauge height: 2.88 ft

Much above normal for Nov 5 Rising · 24 h Below NWS action stage

Last 24 hours

View data as a table

Discharge, last 7 days: readings, about hourly, newest first. USGS provisional data may be revised.
Time	Discharge (ft³/s)	Gauge height (ft)
Nov 5, 6:45 PM CST	1,060	2.88
Nov 5, 5:45 PM CST	1,050	2.87
Nov 5, 4:45 PM CST	1,050	2.87
Nov 5, 3:45 PM CST	1,050	2.87
Nov 5, 2:45 PM CST	1,080	2.9
Nov 5, 1:45 PM CST	1,050	2.87
Nov 5, 12:45 PM CST	1,020	2.84
Nov 5, 11:45 AM CST	1,020	2.84
Nov 5, 10:45 AM CST	1,000	2.82
Nov 5, 9:45 AM CST	1,010	2.83
Nov 5, 8:45 AM CST	971	2.79
Nov 5, 7:45 AM CST	1,000	2.82
Nov 5, 6:45 AM CST	971	2.79
Nov 5, 5:45 AM CST	941	2.76
Nov 5, 4:45 AM CST	941	2.76
Nov 5, 3:45 AM CST	903	2.72
Nov 5, 2:45 AM CST	922	2.74
Nov 5, 1:45 AM CST	903	2.72
Nov 5, 12:45 AM CST	884	2.7
Nov 4, 11:45 PM CST	875	2.69
Nov 4, 10:45 PM CST	857	2.67
Nov 4, 9:45 PM CST	839	2.65
Nov 4, 8:45 PM CST	821	2.63
Nov 4, 7:45 PM CST	821	2.63
Nov 4, 6:45 PM CST	794	2.6
Nov 4, 5:45 PM CST	794	2.6
Nov 4, 4:45 PM CST	786	2.59

Reading Nov 5, 6:45 PM CST · checked 7:20 PM CST

Open full screen USGS NWS

4.4 miles away in a straight line

Upper Iowa River at Bluffton, IA

USGS 05387440

Caution: High water: fish the edges; wading risky

No water temperature here. The full view adds the NWS forecast.

Discharge: 891 ft³/s
Gauge height: 4.72 ft

Highest for this date on record for Nov 5 Rising · 24 h Below NWS action stage

Last 24 hours

View data as a table

Discharge, last 7 days: readings, about hourly, newest first. USGS provisional data may be revised.
Time	Discharge (ft³/s)	Gauge height (ft)
Nov 5, 6:45 PM CST	891	4.72
Nov 5, 5:45 PM CST	891	4.72
Nov 5, 4:45 PM CST	871	4.69
Nov 5, 3:45 PM CST	878	4.7
Nov 5, 2:45 PM CST	878	4.7
Nov 5, 1:45 PM CST	878	4.7
Nov 5, 12:45 PM CST	858	4.67
Nov 5, 11:45 AM CST	858	4.67
Nov 5, 10:45 AM CST	864	4.68
Nov 5, 9:45 AM CST	858	4.67
Nov 5, 8:45 AM CST	845	4.65
Nov 5, 7:45 AM CST	838	4.64
Nov 5, 6:45 AM CST	832	4.63
Nov 5, 5:45 AM CST	819	4.61
Nov 5, 4:45 AM CST	806	4.59
Nov 5, 3:45 AM CST	800	4.58
Nov 5, 2:45 AM CST	781	4.55
Nov 5, 1:45 AM CST	768	4.53
Nov 5, 12:45 AM CST	756	4.51
Nov 4, 11:45 PM CST	744	4.49
Nov 4, 10:45 PM CST	732	4.47
Nov 4, 9:45 PM CST	714	4.44
Nov 4, 8:45 PM CST	702	4.42
Nov 4, 7:45 PM CST	690	4.4
Nov 4, 6:45 PM CST	672	4.37
Nov 4, 5:45 PM CST	655	4.34
Nov 4, 4:45 PM CST	632	4.3

Turkey River at Spillville, IA

USGS 05411600

Caution: High water: fish the edges; wading risky

No water temperature here. The full view adds the NWS forecast.

Discharge: 519 ft³/s
Gauge height: 3.87 ft

Much above normal for Nov 5 Falling · 24 h Below NWS action stage

Last 24 hours

View data as a table

Discharge, last 7 days: readings, about hourly, newest first. USGS provisional data may be revised.
Time	Discharge (ft³/s)	Gauge height (ft)
Nov 5, 6:30 PM CST	519	3.87
Nov 5, 5:30 PM CST	523	3.88
Nov 5, 4:30 PM CST	526	3.89
Nov 5, 3:30 PM CST	536	3.92
Nov 5, 2:30 PM CST	536	3.92
Nov 5, 1:30 PM CST	539	3.93
Nov 5, 12:30 PM CST	549	3.96
Nov 5, 11:30 AM CST	549	3.96
Nov 5, 10:30 AM CST	549	3.96
Nov 5, 9:30 AM CST	555	3.98
Nov 5, 8:30 AM CST	565	4.01
Nov 5, 7:30 AM CST	562	4
Nov 5, 6:30 AM CST	568	4.02
Nov 5, 5:30 AM CST	572	4.03
Nov 5, 4:30 AM CST	572	4.03
Nov 5, 3:30 AM CST	585	4.07
Nov 5, 2:30 AM CST	588	4.08
Nov 5, 1:30 AM CST	592	4.09
Nov 5, 12:30 AM CST	602	4.12
Nov 4, 11:30 PM CST	612	4.15
Nov 4, 10:30 PM CST	612	4.15
Nov 4, 9:30 PM CST	622	4.18
Nov 4, 8:30 PM CST	615	4.16
Nov 4, 7:30 PM CST	629	4.2
Nov 4, 6:30 PM CST	629	4.2
Nov 4, 5:30 PM CST	643	4.24
Nov 4, 4:30 PM CST	646	4.25

Upper Iowa River near Dorchester, IA

USGS 05388250

Caution: High water: fish the edges; wading risky

No water temperature here. The full view adds the NWS forecast.

Discharge: 1,140 ft³/s
Gauge height: 8.19 ft

Much above normal for Nov 5 Rising · 24 h Below NWS action stage

Last 24 hours

View data as a table

Discharge, last 7 days: readings, about hourly, newest first. USGS provisional data may be revised.
Time	Discharge (ft³/s)	Gauge height (ft)
Nov 5, 7:00 PM CST	1,140	8.19
Nov 5, 6:00 PM CST	1,130	8.18
Nov 5, 5:00 PM CST	1,120	8.17
Nov 5, 4:00 PM CST	1,120	8.17
Nov 5, 3:00 PM CST	1,100	8.15
Nov 5, 2:00 PM CST	1,100	8.14
Nov 5, 1:00 PM CST	1,080	8.12
Nov 5, 12:00 PM CST	1,070	8.11
Nov 5, 11:00 AM CST	1,060	8.1
Nov 5, 10:00 AM CST	1,050	8.08
Nov 5, 9:00 AM CST	1,030	8.06
Nov 5, 8:00 AM CST	1,020	8.05
Nov 5, 7:00 AM CST	1,010	8.03
Nov 5, 6:00 AM CST	999	8.02
Nov 5, 5:00 AM CST	991	8.01
Nov 5, 4:00 AM CST	983	8
Nov 5, 3:00 AM CST	975	7.99
Nov 5, 2:00 AM CST	968	7.98
Nov 5, 1:00 AM CST	960	7.97
Nov 5, 12:00 AM CST	960	7.97
Nov 4, 11:00 PM CST	952	7.96
Nov 4, 10:00 PM CST	952	7.96
Nov 4, 9:00 PM CST	952	7.96
Nov 4, 8:00 PM CST	952	7.96
Nov 4, 7:00 PM CST	952	7.96
Nov 4, 6:00 PM CST	960	7.97
Nov 4, 5:00 PM CST	952	7.96

Turkey River near Eldorado, IA

USGS 05411850

Caution: High water: fish the edges; wading risky

No water temperature here. The full view adds the NWS forecast.

Discharge: 1,530 ft³/s
Gauge height: 7.64 ft

Much above normal for Nov 5 Falling · 24 h Below NWS action stage

Last 24 hours

View data as a table

Discharge, last 7 days: readings, about hourly, newest first. USGS provisional data may be revised.
Time	Discharge (ft³/s)	Gauge height (ft)
Nov 5, 6:45 PM CST	1,530	7.64
Nov 5, 5:45 PM CST	1,540	7.65
Nov 5, 4:45 PM CST	1,550	7.66
Nov 5, 3:45 PM CST	1,570	7.69
Nov 5, 2:45 PM CST	1,590	7.71
Nov 5, 1:45 PM CST	1,600	7.72
Nov 5, 12:45 PM CST	1,610	7.74
Nov 5, 11:45 AM CST	1,640	7.77
Nov 5, 10:45 AM CST	1,640	7.77
Nov 5, 9:45 AM CST	1,660	7.79
Nov 5, 8:45 AM CST	1,670	7.81
Nov 5, 7:45 AM CST	1,680	7.82
Nov 5, 6:45 AM CST	1,710	7.85
Nov 5, 5:45 AM CST	1,740	7.89
Nov 5, 4:45 AM CST	1,760	7.91
Nov 5, 3:45 AM CST	1,770	7.92
Nov 5, 2:45 AM CST	1,770	7.92
Nov 5, 1:45 AM CST	1,790	7.94
Nov 5, 12:45 AM CST	1,790	7.94
Nov 4, 11:45 PM CST	1,830	7.99
Nov 4, 10:45 PM CST	1,820	7.98
Nov 4, 9:45 PM CST	1,830	7.99
Nov 4, 8:45 PM CST	1,840	8
Nov 4, 7:45 PM CST	1,850	8.01
Nov 4, 6:45 PM CST	1,840	8
Nov 4, 5:45 PM CST	1,850	8.01
Nov 4, 4:45 PM CST	1,840	8

Waterloo Creek near Dorchester, IA

USGS 05388310

Limited data: Not enough data: no water temperature or flow statistics here

No water temperature, flow statistics here. The full view adds the NWS forecast.

Gauge height: 7.24 ft

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.

Steady · 24 h Below NWS action stage

Last 24 hours

View data as a table

Gauge height, last 7 days: readings, about hourly, newest first. USGS provisional data may be revised.
Time	Gauge height (ft)
Nov 5, 7:00 PM CST	7.24
Nov 5, 6:00 PM CST	7.24
Nov 5, 5:00 PM CST	7.25
Nov 5, 4:00 PM CST	7.25
Nov 5, 3:00 PM CST	7.25
Nov 5, 2:00 PM CST	7.25
Nov 5, 1:00 PM CST	7.25
Nov 5, 12:00 PM CST	7.25
Nov 5, 11:00 AM CST	7.25
Nov 5, 10:00 AM CST	7.24
Nov 5, 9:00 AM CST	7.26
Nov 5, 8:00 AM CST	7.25
Nov 5, 7:00 AM CST	7.26
Nov 5, 6:00 AM CST	7.25
Nov 5, 5:00 AM CST	7.27
Nov 5, 4:00 AM CST	7.27
Nov 5, 3:00 AM CST	7.26
Nov 5, 2:00 AM CST	7.27
Nov 5, 1:00 AM CST	7.27
Nov 5, 12:00 AM CST	7.27
Nov 4, 11:00 PM CST	7.26
Nov 4, 10:00 PM CST	7.27
Nov 4, 9:00 PM CST	7.28
Nov 4, 8:00 PM CST	7.27
Nov 4, 7:00 PM CST	7.26
Nov 4, 6:00 PM CST	7.27
Nov 4, 5:00 PM CST	7.28

Checked Nov 5, 7:20 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.

Upper Iowa River at Decorah, IA
USGS 05387500 · IA · live flow · gauge height · 4.4 mi
Reading the gauge…
Upper Iowa River at Bluffton, IA
USGS 05387440 · IA · live flow · gauge height · 4.9 mi
Reading the gauge…
Turkey River at Spillville, IA
USGS 05411600 · IA · live flow · gauge height · 9.9 mi
Reading the gauge…
Upper Iowa River near Dorchester, IA
USGS 05388250 · IA · live flow · gauge height · 19 mi
Reading the gauge…
Turkey River near Eldorado, IA
USGS 05411850 · IA · live flow · gauge height · 19.9 mi
Reading the gauge…
Waterloo Creek near Dorchester, IA
USGS 05388310 · IA · no flow · gauge height · 19.9 mi
Reading the gauge…

Quick picks: our 2,852 waters by state

Each state opens its USGS gauges and our water pages there; a water opens the live cards for its gauges, or the NOAA tides for flats and surf.

Search covers 11,178 USGS stream gauges that reported discharge, gauge height or water temperature in the 183 days before 2026-10-23 (USGS series catalog); readings are fetched live when a gauge is shown.

Where these numbers come from

Discharge, gauge height, water temperature and water quality: U.S. Geological Survey readings (provisional, can be revised), cached for 15 minutes. Where USGS publishes a gauge’s flow only once a day, the latest daily mean is shown with its date.
Normal range: the 25th to 75th percentile of daily mean flow for the same calendar day over the gauge’s record (USGS daily statistics), classed as USGS does (hyswap).
Temperature guidance for trout quotes the gauge’s own state fish and wildlife agency; where we found none, it says so and quotes federal guidance (National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). Cold-water safety quotes the NWS; dissolved oxygen and pH are read against EPA criteria. Each line names its source.
Flood stage and forecasts: the National Weather Service’s National Water Prediction Service and its Turn Around Don’t Drown guidance. Tides: NOAA Tides & Currents.

General guidance, not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access. Planning a trip? The trip planner shows these readings on every day you fish a water.