Rivermatics

USGS Streamgage 06478000

James River near Mitchell, SD

James River near Mitchell, SD is USGS streamgage 06478000 in South Dakota, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 10160011. It sits on the James River, alongside 14 other gauges Rivermatics tracks on the same river. It drains a watershed of about 19,088 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1953. Typical flow runs near 863.8 cfs in July and 880 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
19,088 sq mi
Gauge elevation
1,208 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8)
10160011
Coordinates
43.65889, -97.91889
USGS site number
06478000
Records begin
1953-07-01 (73 years)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through for James River near Mitchell, 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
580 722 979
528 696 1,057
496 678 1,046
468 662 1,038
441 643 1,012
412 621 984
384 602 959
362 591 930
343 572 933
314 553 893
303 550 889
293 544 888
273 517 867
243 496 856

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 73 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 3.5 34.9 1,904.5
February 5.2 41.3 1,473.6
March 39.3 629.8 6,856.8
April 124.1 880 9,497.3
May 100.4 1,100.7 7,467.4
June 91.1 914 5,063.3
July 63.4 863.8 5,607.1
August 22.3 758.9 4,322.6
September 3.7 251.5 2,499
October 3.9 454 2,335.8
November 8.6 97.6 2,714
December 8.6 55.6 2,511

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does James River near Mitchell, SD normally run highest?
May, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 1,100.7 cfs, against 34.9 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 James River near Mitchell, SD?
It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 34.9 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 3.5 and 1,904.5 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has James River near Mitchell, SD been measured?
Discharge records at USGS site 06478000 begin in 1953, about 73 years, covering roughly 4,669 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 near Mitchell, 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 near Mitchell, SD?
The gauge sits at 43.65889, -97.91889, in South Dakota, in hydrologic subbasin 10160011, at an elevation of about 1,208 feet, draining roughly 19,088 square miles.
Can I use James River near Mitchell, 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