Is the Des Moines River flooding?
The Des Moines River is tracked by 14 USGS streamgauges in Iowa. This page compares each gauge’s live water level against its official National Weather Service flood stage, refreshed every 15 minutes, so you can tell whether the Des Moines River is running normal, rising toward flood stage, or already flooding. 11 of 14 gauges have both a usable water-level reading and a published minor flood stage. Gauges without a published flood stage show water level and flow only. For nearby rivers, see all Iowa river levels.
River facts
The longest-running gauge on this river is Des Moines River at Keosauqua, IA. The highest level ever recorded there was 32.66 ft on 13 July 1993, carrying 111,000 cfs. Peak records there go back to 1851 (119 annual peaks). It is currently at 13.60 ft, 19.1 ft below that record.
| Gauge | Status | Stage | Flood stage | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines River at Estherville, IA | No flooding | 2.34 ft | 10 ft | |
| Des Moines River at Emmetsburg, IA | No flooding | 1.06 ft | 11 ft | |
| Des Moines River at Humboldt, IA | No flooding | 4.01 ft | 10 ft | |
| Des Moines River at Fort Dodge, IA | No flooding | 4.55 ft | 10.5 ft | |
| Des Moines River near Stratford, IA | No flooding | 6.98 ft | 19 ft | |
| Des Moines River at 2nd Avenue at Des Moines, IA | No flooding | 14.22 ft | 23 ft | |
| Des Moines River below Raccoon Riv at Des Moines, IA | No flooding | 13.56 ft | 24 ft | |
| Des Moines River near Tracy, IA | No flooding | 5.85 ft | 14 ft | |
| Des Moines River at Eddyville, IA | No flooding | 53.12 ft | 63 ft | |
| Des Moines River at Ottumwa, IA | No flooding | 4.83 ft | 13 ft | |
| Des Moines River at Keosauqua, IA | No flooding | 13.60 ft | 22 ft | |
| Des Moines River near Saylorville, IA | No flood stage defined | 4.59 ft | — | |
| Des Moines River near Swan, IA | No flood stage defined | 47.24 ft | — | |
| Des Moines River near Pella, IA | No flood stage defined | 88.96 ft | — |