Rivermatics

USGS Streamgage 06472000

James River near Stratford, SD

James River near Stratford, SD is USGS streamgage 06472000 in South Dakota, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 10160003. It sits on the James River, alongside 14 other gauges Rivermatics tracks on the same river. It drains a watershed of about 8,780 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1950. Typical flow runs near 238.4 cfs in July and 273.7 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.

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Gauge details

State
South Dakota
Drainage area
8,780 sq mi
Gauge elevation
1,283 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8)
10160003
Coordinates
45.24167, -98.39111
USGS site number
06472000
Records begin
1950-03-01 (76 years)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through for James River near Stratford, 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
44.5 51.1 57.4
41.5 49 56.4
38.7 47 55.8
37 46.7 58.5
34.4 45.5 58.5
32.7 44.7 59.7
32.3 45 63.9
30.3 44.1 65
28 42.7 66.4
26.1 41.4 67.4
24.3 40 67.5
22.6 38.6 66.2
21.6 37.8 65.1
20.8 37.4 65.7

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 76 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 22.7 141.5
February 0 10.8 170.3
March 0 53.1 483.4
April 18.8 273.7 3,348.7
May 40.9 437.5 3,200.3
June 28.7 366.4 2,360
July 15 238.4 1,891.9
August 0.2 146.1 1,643.9
September 0 51.5 1,354.7
October 0 62.1 1,073.7
November 0 74.7 573.9
December 0 48.2 285.1

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does James River near Stratford, SD normally run highest?
May, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 437.5 cfs, against 10.8 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 near Stratford, SD?
It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 22.7 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 0 and 141.5 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has James River near Stratford, SD been measured?
Discharge records at USGS site 06472000 begin in 1950, about 76 years, covering roughly 9,079 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 Stratford, 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 Stratford, SD?
The gauge sits at 45.24167, -98.39111, in South Dakota, in hydrologic subbasin 10160003, at an elevation of about 1,283 feet, draining roughly 8,780 square miles.
Can I use James River near Stratford, 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