Rivermatics

USGS Streamgage 06438000

Belle Fourche River near Elm Springs, SD

Belle Fourche River near Elm Springs, SD is USGS streamgage 06438000 in South Dakota, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 10120202. It sits on the Belle Fourche River, alongside 5 other gauges Rivermatics tracks on the same river. It drains a watershed of about 7,004 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1927. Typical flow runs near 270.1 cfs in July and 167.6 cfs in April, with the higher of the two arriving in July. Rivermatics issues a daily machine-learned flow outlook for this gauge, reaching 14 days ahead.

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Gauge details

State
South Dakota
Drainage area
7,004 sq mi
Gauge elevation
2,172 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8)
10120202
Coordinates
44.37, -102.56608
USGS site number
06438000
Records begin
1927-05-01 (99 years)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through for Belle Fourche River near Elm Springs, SD. Each day carries a median estimate and the band the model expects the flow to fall within — not a single number to plan against. Forecasts are re-issued daily; see the live screen for the current outlook.

Forecast daily mean discharge in cubic feet per second, by date
Date Low p10 Expected p50 High p90 Range
125 136 150
121 138 160
116 137 165
111 134 165
107 134 169
104 132 166
109 139 183
117 149 202
114 149 203
106 144 192
97 137 180
90.1 132 175
83.1 127 171
80.1 123 165

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs). Estimates only — do not use them for navigation or for any safety, rescue, or emergency decision.

Typical flow by month

Long-term daily discharge percentiles from the USGS record (up to 72 years of data), averaged within each month. These describe the historical normal range — they are not a forecast and not today's reading.

Historical monthly discharge percentiles in cubic feet per second
Month Low p10 Typical p50 High p90 Range
January 4.5 28.3 277.3
February 7.2 47.5 517.9
March 25.5 130.4 1,479
April 35.3 167.6 1,519.6
May 47.7 274.2 2,582.3
June 90.6 300.3 2,291.7
July 118 270.1 734.7
August 127.8 255 459.7
September 83.9 218.6 374.4
October 31 80.8 294.7
November 26.8 52.7 223.2
December 12 35.8 254.3

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does Belle Fourche River near Elm Springs, SD normally run highest?
June, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 300.3 cfs, against 28.3 cfs in January, the lowest month. These are historical normals for the date, not a forecast and not today's reading.
What is a normal flow for Belle Fourche River near Elm Springs, SD?
It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 28.3 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 4.5 and 277.3 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has Belle Fourche River near Elm Springs, SD been measured?
Discharge records at USGS site 06438000 begin in 1927, about 99 years, covering roughly 9,089 days of published daily values. The long record is what makes the monthly percentiles on this page meaningful.
Is there a flow forecast for Belle Fourche River near Elm Springs, SD?
Yes. Rivermatics trains a machine-learned model — a temporal-fusion transformer — on this basin's observed flows, weather, and snowpack, and issues a daily flow outlook reaching 14 days ahead: a median estimate inside a confidence band, not a single number to bet on. Every forecast is scored against days the model never trained on, and that track record is published on the live gauge screen. Open live conditions to see the current outlook.
Where is Belle Fourche River near Elm Springs, SD?
The gauge sits at 44.37, -102.56608, in South Dakota, in hydrologic subbasin 10120202, at an elevation of about 2,172 feet, draining roughly 7,004 square miles.
Can I use Belle Fourche River near Elm Springs, 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 Belle Fourche River

Every gauge Rivermatics tracks on this river, ordered by drainage area — upstream first. See the Belle Fourche River in full.

Other gauges in this subbasin