Rivermatics

USGS Streamgage 06479770

Big Sioux River near Bruce, SD

Big Sioux River near Bruce, SD is USGS streamgage 06479770 in South Dakota, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 10170202. It sits on the Big Sioux River, alongside 16 other gauges Rivermatics tracks on the same river. It drains a watershed of about 2,396 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 2000. Typical flow runs near 156.1 cfs in July and 345.7 cfs in April, with the higher of the two arriving in April. Rivermatics issues a daily machine-learned flow outlook for this gauge, reaching 14 days ahead.

View live conditions & forecast →

Gauge details

State
South Dakota
Drainage area
2,396 sq mi
Gauge elevation
1,621 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8)
10170202
Coordinates
44.46756, -96.88708
USGS site number
06479770
Records begin
2000-10-01 (26 years)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through for Big Sioux River near Bruce, 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
58 62.9 67.7
54.4 60.4 66.3
52.4 59.1 66.1
51.5 58.9 68.7
49.8 58 68.7
51.6 61.6 81
54.5 69.2 113
53.8 71.2 138
52 70.8 145
50 68.7 133
47.6 66.4 126
44.3 62.1 111
43.4 60.7 101
42 58.6 93

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 26 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 51.4 176.7
February 2.1 43.7 216.8
March 6.4 183.9 1,309.9
April 117.3 345.7 2,375.7
May 142.4 402.2 1,761.3
June 86.1 295.3 1,411
July 32.6 156.1 1,252.8
August 20.9 127 905.5
September 23.6 84.3 936.8
October 21.3 87.4 642.7
November 21.6 76.5 409.3
December 11.8 52.9 250.4

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does Big Sioux River near Bruce, SD normally run highest?
May, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 402.2 cfs, against 43.7 cfs in February, the lowest month. These are historical normals for the date, not a forecast and not today's reading.
What is a normal flow for Big Sioux River near Bruce, SD?
It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 51.4 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 4.5 and 176.7 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has Big Sioux River near Bruce, SD been measured?
Discharge records at USGS site 06479770 begin in 2000, about 26 years, covering roughly 8,345 days of published daily values. The long record is what makes the monthly percentiles on this page meaningful.
Is there a flow forecast for Big Sioux River near Bruce, 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 Big Sioux River near Bruce, SD?
The gauge sits at 44.46756, -96.88708, in South Dakota, in hydrologic subbasin 10170202, at an elevation of about 1,621 feet, draining roughly 2,396 square miles.
Can I use Big Sioux River near Bruce, 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 Big Sioux River

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

Other gauges in this subbasin