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)

Deer Creek near Carpenter, IA

USGS 05457440

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: 80 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.

Falling · 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, 7:45 PM CST	80
Nov 5, 6:45 PM CST	80
Nov 5, 5:45 PM CST	80
Nov 5, 4:45 PM CST	80
Nov 5, 3:45 PM CST	80
Nov 5, 2:45 PM CST	80
Nov 5, 1:45 PM CST	80.1
Nov 5, 12:45 PM CST	80.1
Nov 5, 11:45 AM CST	80.1
Nov 5, 10:45 AM CST	80.1
Nov 5, 9:45 AM CST	80.1
Nov 5, 8:45 AM CST	80.1
Nov 5, 7:45 AM CST	80.2
Nov 5, 6:45 AM CST	80.2
Nov 5, 5:45 AM CST	80.2
Nov 5, 4:45 AM CST	80.2
Nov 5, 3:45 AM CST	80.2
Nov 5, 2:45 AM CST	80.3
Nov 5, 1:45 AM CST	80.3
Nov 5, 12:45 AM CST	80.3
Nov 4, 11:45 PM CST	80.3
Nov 4, 10:45 PM CST	80.4
Nov 4, 9:45 PM CST	80.4
Nov 4, 8:45 PM CST	80.4
Nov 4, 7:45 PM CST	80.4
Nov 4, 6:45 PM CST	80.4
Nov 4, 5:45 PM CST	80.4

Reading Nov 5, 7:45 PM CST · checked 8:35 PM CST

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3.5 miles away in a straight line

CEDAR RIVER NEAR AUSTIN, MN

USGS 05457000

Warning: High, fast water: above NWS action stage: don't wade

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

Discharge: 1,640 ft³/s
Gauge height: 6.35 ft

Highest for this date on record for Nov 5 Steady · 24 h Above 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, 8:00 PM CST	1,640	6.35
Nov 5, 7:00 PM CST	1,650	6.36
Nov 5, 6:00 PM CST	1,650	6.37
Nov 5, 5:00 PM CST	1,660	6.39
Nov 5, 4:00 PM CST	1,660	6.39
Nov 5, 3:00 PM CST	1,680	6.42
Nov 5, 2:00 PM CST	1,690	6.43
Nov 5, 1:00 PM CST	1,690	6.44
Nov 5, 12:00 PM CST	1,690	6.44
Nov 5, 11:00 AM CST	1,700	6.45
Nov 5, 10:00 AM CST	1,710	6.47
Nov 5, 9:00 AM CST	1,710	6.47
Nov 5, 8:00 AM CST	1,720	6.48
Nov 5, 7:00 AM CST	1,720	6.48
Nov 5, 6:00 AM CST	1,730	6.5
Nov 5, 5:00 AM CST	1,730	6.5
Nov 5, 4:00 AM CST	1,720	6.48
Nov 5, 3:00 AM CST	1,720	6.49
Nov 5, 2:00 AM CST	1,720	6.49
Nov 5, 1:00 AM CST	1,720	6.49
Nov 5, 12:00 AM CST	1,700	6.46
Nov 4, 11:00 PM CST	1,690	6.44
Nov 4, 10:00 PM CST	1,670	6.41
Nov 4, 9:00 PM CST	1,670	6.41
Nov 4, 8:00 PM CST	1,660	6.38
Nov 4, 7:00 PM CST	1,630	6.33
Nov 4, 6:00 PM CST	1,610	6.3

Spring Creek near Mason City, IA

USGS 05459490

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: 81.8 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.

Falling · 24 h

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, 7:45 PM CST	81.8
Nov 5, 6:45 PM CST	81.9
Nov 5, 5:45 PM CST	81.8
Nov 5, 4:45 PM CST	81.9
Nov 5, 3:45 PM CST	81.9
Nov 5, 2:45 PM CST	81.9
Nov 5, 1:45 PM CST	81.9
Nov 5, 12:45 PM CST	81.9
Nov 5, 11:45 AM CST	82
Nov 5, 10:45 AM CST	82
Nov 5, 9:45 AM CST	82
Nov 5, 8:45 AM CST	82
Nov 5, 7:45 AM CST	82
Nov 5, 6:45 AM CST	82
Nov 5, 5:45 AM CST	82.1
Nov 5, 4:45 AM CST	82.1
Nov 5, 3:45 AM CST	82.1
Nov 5, 2:45 AM CST	82.1
Nov 5, 1:45 AM CST	82.1
Nov 5, 12:45 AM CST	82.1
Nov 4, 11:45 PM CST	82.2
Nov 4, 10:45 PM CST	82.2
Nov 4, 9:45 PM CST	82.2
Nov 4, 8:45 PM CST	82.2
Nov 4, 7:45 PM CST	82.2
Nov 4, 6:45 PM CST	82.2
Nov 4, 5:45 PM CST	82.2

Reading Nov 5, 7:45 PM CST · checked 8:35 PM CST

Winnebago River at Mason City, IA

USGS 05459500

Caution: High water: fish the edges; wading risky

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

Discharge: 913 ft³/s
Gauge height: 6.92 ft

Much above normal for Nov 5 Steady · 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, 8:15 PM CST	913	6.92
Nov 5, 7:15 PM CST	919	6.93
Nov 5, 6:15 PM CST	919	6.93
Nov 5, 5:15 PM CST	929	6.95
Nov 5, 4:15 PM CST	929	6.95
Nov 5, 3:15 PM CST	929	6.95
Nov 5, 2:15 PM CST	939	6.97
Nov 5, 1:15 PM CST	950	6.99
Nov 5, 12:15 PM CST	945	6.98
Nov 5, 11:15 AM CST	950	6.99
Nov 5, 10:15 AM CST	960	7.01
Nov 5, 9:15 AM CST	955	7
Nov 5, 8:15 AM CST	960	7.01
Nov 5, 7:15 AM CST	966	7.02
Nov 5, 6:15 AM CST	971	7.03
Nov 5, 5:15 AM CST	971	7.03
Nov 5, 4:15 AM CST	966	7.02
Nov 5, 3:15 AM CST	971	7.03
Nov 5, 2:15 AM CST	960	7.01
Nov 5, 1:15 AM CST	955	7
Nov 5, 12:15 AM CST	955	7
Nov 4, 11:15 PM CST	960	7.01
Nov 4, 10:15 PM CST	955	7
Nov 4, 9:15 PM CST	955	7
Nov 4, 8:15 PM CST	945	6.98
Nov 4, 7:15 PM CST	945	6.98
Nov 4, 6:15 PM CST	919	6.93

Willow Creek near Mason City, IA

USGS 05460100

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: 86.6 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.

Falling · 24 h

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, 7:45 PM CST	86.6
Nov 5, 6:45 PM CST	86.6
Nov 5, 5:45 PM CST	86.6
Nov 5, 4:45 PM CST	86.6
Nov 5, 3:45 PM CST	86.6
Nov 5, 2:45 PM CST	86.6
Nov 5, 1:45 PM CST	86.7
Nov 5, 12:45 PM CST	86.7
Nov 5, 11:45 AM CST	86.7
Nov 5, 10:45 AM CST	86.7
Nov 5, 9:45 AM CST	86.7
Nov 5, 8:45 AM CST	86.7
Nov 5, 7:45 AM CST	86.7
Nov 5, 6:45 AM CST	86.7
Nov 5, 5:45 AM CST	86.7
Nov 5, 4:45 AM CST	86.8
Nov 5, 3:45 AM CST	86.8
Nov 5, 2:45 AM CST	86.8
Nov 5, 1:45 AM CST	86.8
Nov 5, 12:45 AM CST	86.8
Nov 4, 11:45 PM CST	86.8
Nov 4, 10:45 PM CST	86.9
Nov 4, 9:45 PM CST	86.9
Nov 4, 8:45 PM CST	86.9
Nov 4, 7:45 PM CST	86.9
Nov 4, 6:45 PM CST	86.9
Nov 4, 5:45 PM CST	86.9

Reading Nov 5, 7:45 PM CST · checked 8:35 PM CST

Cedar River at Charles City, IA

USGS 05457700

Caution: High water: fish the edges; wading risky

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

Discharge: 3,210 ft³/s
Gauge height: 6.24 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, 8:15 PM CST	3,210	6.24
Nov 5, 7:15 PM CST	3,180	6.2
Nov 5, 6:15 PM CST	3,150	6.17
Nov 5, 5:15 PM CST	3,090	6.11
Nov 5, 4:15 PM CST	3,070	6.08
Nov 5, 3:15 PM CST	3,020	6.03
Nov 5, 2:15 PM CST	3,000	6
Nov 5, 1:15 PM CST	2,970	5.97
Nov 5, 12:15 PM CST	2,930	5.93
Nov 5, 11:15 AM CST	2,920	5.91
Nov 5, 10:15 AM CST	2,880	5.87
Nov 5, 9:15 AM CST	2,840	5.83
Nov 5, 8:15 AM CST	2,820	5.8
Nov 5, 7:15 AM CST	2,770	5.74
Nov 5, 6:15 AM CST	2,720	5.69
Nov 5, 5:15 AM CST	2,660	5.62
Nov 5, 4:15 AM CST	2,630	5.58
Nov 5, 3:15 AM CST	2,600	5.55
Nov 5, 2:15 AM CST	2,560	5.5
Nov 5, 1:15 AM CST	2,540	5.47
Nov 5, 12:15 AM CST	2,510	5.44
Nov 4, 11:15 PM CST	2,450	5.37
Nov 4, 10:15 PM CST	2,430	5.34
Nov 4, 9:15 PM CST	2,360	5.26
Nov 4, 8:15 PM CST	2,280	5.16
Nov 4, 7:15 PM CST	2,160	5.01
Nov 4, 6:15 PM CST	2,010	4.81

Checked Nov 5, 8:35 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.

Deer Creek near Carpenter, IA
USGS 05457440 · IA · no flow · gauge height · 3.5 mi
Reading the gauge…
CEDAR RIVER NEAR AUSTIN, MN
USGS 05457000 · MN · live flow · gauge height · 17.1 mi
Reading the gauge…
Spring Creek near Mason City, IA
USGS 05459490 · IA · no flow · gauge height · 19.1 mi
Reading the gauge…
Winnebago River at Mason City, IA
USGS 05459500 · IA · live flow · gauge height · 20.8 mi
Reading the gauge…
Willow Creek near Mason City, IA
USGS 05460100 · IA · no flow · gauge height · 24.3 mi
Reading the gauge…
Cedar River at Charles City, IA
USGS 05457700 · IA · live flow · gauge height · 26.1 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.