USGS Streamgage 06437500
Bear Butte Creek near Sturgis, SD
Bear Butte Creek near Sturgis, SD is USGS streamgage 06437500 in South Dakota, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 10120202. It sits on the Bear Butte Creek, alongside 2 other gauges Rivermatics tracks on the same river. It drains a watershed of about 181 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1945. Typical flow runs near 2.6 cfs in July and 6.3 cfs in April, with the higher of the two arriving in April.
Gauge details
- State
- South Dakota
- Drainage area
- 181 sq mi
- Gauge elevation
- 2,792 ft
- Subbasin (HUC-8)
- 10120202
- Coordinates
- 44.48085, -103.27599
- USGS site number
- 06437500
- Records begin
- 1945-10-01 (81 years)
Typical flow by month
Long-term daily discharge percentiles from the USGS record (up to 74 years of data), averaged within each month. These describe the historical normal range — they are not a forecast and not today's reading.
| Month | Low p10 | Typical p50 | High p90 | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 0 | 1.4 | 9.5 | |
| February | 0 | 2.4 | 42.6 | |
| March | 0.4 | 3.9 | 51.6 | |
| April | 0.2 | 6.3 | 78.5 | |
| May | 0 | 12.1 | 199 | |
| June | 0 | 10.3 | 160.9 | |
| July | 0 | 2.6 | 23.7 | |
| August | 0 | 0.4 | 5.5 | |
| September | 0 | 0.2 | 3.4 | |
| October | 0 | 1 | 5.5 | |
| November | 0 | 1.7 | 9.9 | |
| December | 0 | 1.6 | 8 |
All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).
Common questions
- When does Bear Butte Creek near Sturgis, SD normally run highest?
- May, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 12.1 cfs, against 0.2 cfs in September, the lowest month. These are historical normals for the date, not a forecast and not today's reading.
- What is a normal flow for Bear Butte Creek near Sturgis, SD?
- It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 1.4 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 0 and 9.5 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
- How long has Bear Butte Creek near Sturgis, SD been measured?
- Discharge records at USGS site 06437500 begin in 1945, about 81 years, covering roughly 209 days of published daily values. The long record is what makes the monthly percentiles on this page meaningful.
- Where is Bear Butte Creek near Sturgis, SD?
- The gauge sits at 44.48085, -103.27599, in South Dakota, in hydrologic subbasin 10120202, at an elevation of about 2,792 feet, draining roughly 181 square miles.
- Can I use Bear Butte Creek near Sturgis, SD data for flood or safety decisions?
- No. Rivermatics provides estimates, not guarantees, and the readings and forecasts here may be delayed, inaccurate, or wrong. Do not use them for navigation or for any safety, rescue, or emergency decision. Check the National Weather Service and USGS directly, and use your own judgment.
Upstream and downstream on the Bear Butte Creek
Every gauge Rivermatics tracks on this river, ordered by drainage area — upstream first. See the Bear Butte Creek in full.
- Bear Butte Creek near Deadwood, SD 16 sq mi
- Bear Butte Creek near Galena, SD 52 sq mi
- Bear Butte Creek near Sturgis, SD this page