Rivermatics

USGS Streamgage 06478500

James River near Scotland, SD

James River near Scotland, SD is USGS streamgage 06478500 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 20,672 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1928. Typical flow runs near 356.7 cfs in July and 742 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
20,672 sq mi
Gauge elevation
1,174 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8)
10160011
Coordinates
43.18583, -97.63528
USGS site number
06478500
Records begin
1928-09-01 (98 years)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through for James River near Scotland, 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
401 441 482
343 404 475
301 375 470
273 355 482
246 339 487
236 333 499
237 341 561
227 346 602
213 342 653
203 338 679
187 321 668
181 314 662
176 310 643
177 312 630

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 98 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 6.3 49 265
February 12.8 76.3 440.8
March 34.8 370.8 2,533.8
April 62.2 742 6,316.7
May 63.2 791.8 5,708.1
June 38 679.9 4,200
July 18.2 356.7 2,929.4
August 7.9 189.5 1,983.5
September 6.8 104.1 1,613.7
October 4.6 74.1 1,137.2
November 6.6 80.3 800.1
December 7.6 68.3 452.5

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does James River near Scotland, SD normally run highest?
May, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 791.8 cfs, against 49 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 Scotland, SD?
It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 49 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 6.3 and 265 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has James River near Scotland, SD been measured?
Discharge records at USGS site 06478500 begin in 1928, about 98 years, covering roughly 9,102 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 Scotland, 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 Scotland, SD?
The gauge sits at 43.18583, -97.63528, in South Dakota, in hydrologic subbasin 10160011, at an elevation of about 1,174 feet, draining roughly 20,672 square miles.
Can I use James River near Scotland, 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