USGS Streamgage 06605000
Ocheyedan River near Spencer, IA
Ocheyedan River near Spencer, IA is USGS streamgage 06605000 in Iowa, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 10230003. It drains a watershed of about 426 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1953. Typical flow runs near 149.8 cfs in July and 327.9 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
- Iowa
- Drainage area
- 426 sq mi
- Gauge elevation
- 1,328 ft
- Subbasin (HUC-8)
- 10230003
- Coordinates
- 43.12767, -95.21044
- USGS site number
- 06605000
- Records begin
- 1953-06-18 (73 years)
- Rivermatics forecast
- 14-day flow outlook
14-day flow forecast
Based on observations through for Ocheyedan River near Spencer, IA. 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.
| Date | Low p10 | Expected p50 | High p90 | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 62.1 | 72.1 | 85 | ||
| 46.5 | 60 | 82.7 | ||
| 37.6 | 50.9 | 74.1 | ||
| 33.8 | 47.6 | 81.3 | ||
| 32.8 | 51.8 | 153 | ||
| 37.1 | 83.9 | 388 | ||
| 52.9 | 202 | 1,040 | ||
| 89.3 | 413 | 1,693 | ||
| 102 | 466 | 1,612 | ||
| 88.2 | 352 | 1,188 | ||
| 74 | 260 | 863 | ||
| 61.7 | 193 | 634 | ||
| 53.2 | 154 | 515 | ||
| 45.9 | 118 | 368 |
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 49 years of data), averaged within each month. These describe the historical normal range — they are not a forecast and not today's reading.
| Month | Low p10 | Typical p50 | High p90 | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 4 | 38.6 | 142.6 | |
| February | 6.1 | 50.2 | 260 | |
| March | 23.8 | 158.6 | 916 | |
| April | 45.5 | 327.9 | 1,104.1 | |
| May | 59.2 | 322.1 | 1,081.6 | |
| June | 87.6 | 307.4 | 1,379.6 | |
| July | 36.7 | 149.8 | 734.6 | |
| August | 16.8 | 56.3 | 289.9 | |
| September | 9.7 | 35.9 | 336 | |
| October | 9.8 | 43.7 | 489.1 | |
| November | 12.6 | 56.4 | 321.8 | |
| December | 7.2 | 49.8 | 242.7 |
All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).
Common questions
- When does Ocheyedan River near Spencer, IA normally run highest?
- April, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 327.9 cfs, against 35.9 cfs in September, the lowest month. These are historical normals for the date, not a forecast and not today's reading.
- What is a normal flow for Ocheyedan River near Spencer, IA?
- It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 38.6 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 4 and 142.6 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
- How long has Ocheyedan River near Spencer, IA been measured?
- Discharge records at USGS site 06605000 begin in 1953, about 73 years, covering roughly 9,198 days of published daily values. The long record is what makes the monthly percentiles on this page meaningful.
- Is there a flow forecast for Ocheyedan River near Spencer, IA?
- 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 Ocheyedan River near Spencer, IA?
- The gauge sits at 43.12767, -95.21044, in Iowa, in hydrologic subbasin 10230003, at an elevation of about 1,328 feet, draining roughly 426 square miles.
- Can I use Ocheyedan River near Spencer, IA 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.