Rivermatics

USGS Streamgage 06473000

James River at Ashton, SD

James River at Ashton, SD is USGS streamgage 06473000 in South Dakota, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 10160006. It sits on the James River, alongside 14 other gauges Rivermatics tracks on the same river. It drains a watershed of about 9,712 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1945. Typical flow runs near 236.8 cfs in July and 327.4 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.

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Gauge details

State
South Dakota
Drainage area
9,712 sq mi
Gauge elevation
1,251 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8)
10160006
Coordinates
44.99833, -98.48056
USGS site number
06473000
Records begin
1945-10-01 (81 years)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through for James River at Ashton, 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
97.8 109 119
91.8 105 116
86.4 101 115
83 99.9 118
78.2 97.4 116
74.9 95.5 117
72.6 94.5 120
69.6 93.6 121
64.3 89.7 119
60 86.4 119
56.3 83.5 118
53.3 81.2 118
51.1 79.8 117
48.9 78.5 117

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 81 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 0 16.4 142
February 0 7.6 129.2
March 0.1 56.5 525.3
April 16.5 327.4 2,743.7
May 19.6 562.7 3,155.8
June 13.2 421 2,144.7
July 4.3 236.8 1,821.3
August 0.1 133.8 1,460.6
September 0 49.9 1,323.7
October 0 44.5 845
November 0 67.1 577.5
December 0 35.7 288.8

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does James River at Ashton, SD normally run highest?
May, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 562.7 cfs, against 7.6 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 James River at Ashton, SD?
It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 16.4 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 0 and 142 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has James River at Ashton, SD been measured?
Discharge records at USGS site 06473000 begin in 1945, about 81 years, covering roughly 9,085 days of published daily values. The long record is what makes the monthly percentiles on this page meaningful.
Is there a flow forecast for James River at Ashton, 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 James River at Ashton, SD?
The gauge sits at 44.99833, -98.48056, in South Dakota, in hydrologic subbasin 10160006, at an elevation of about 1,251 feet, draining roughly 9,712 square miles.
Can I use James River at Ashton, 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 James River

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

Other gauges in this subbasin