Rivermatics

USGS Streamgage 06412500

Rapid Creek above Canyon Lake near Rapid City, SD

Rapid Creek above Canyon Lake near Rapid City, SD is USGS streamgage 06412500 in South Dakota, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 10120110. It sits on the Rapid Creek, alongside 10 other gauges Rivermatics tracks on the same river. It drains a watershed of about 374 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1946. Typical flow runs near 74.8 cfs in July and 32 cfs in April, with the higher of the two arriving in July. 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
374 sq mi
Gauge elevation
3,406 ft
Subbasin (HUC-8)
10120110
Coordinates
44.05278, -103.31139
USGS site number
06412500
Records begin
1946-08-01 (80 years)
Rivermatics forecast
14-day flow outlook

14-day flow forecast

Based on observations through for Rapid Creek above Canyon Lake near Rapid City, 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
34.7 37.4 39.4
31.3 36.3 39.7
29.5 36 41.6
26 34.6 40.8
25.4 34.2 42.2
22.5 33.2 42.6
19.2 31.5 40.8
17.1 30.1 40.1
16 29.5 40.1
15.4 29.3 40.6
15.7 28.9 40.5
14 27.3 39.3
12.9 26.3 38.5
11.2 24.7 37.3

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 63 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 5.3 15.5 48.5
February 6.1 15 46.1
March 7.1 19.4 67.6
April 7.8 32 141.1
May 19.3 63.1 293.3
June 25.7 68.8 436.7
July 38.5 74.8 185.6
August 30.9 55.9 138.9
September 17.6 37.3 89.4
October 6.5 19.6 65.5
November 5.5 17.2 50.6
December 5.1 13.8 50.2

All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).

Common questions

When does Rapid Creek above Canyon Lake near Rapid City, SD normally run highest?
July, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 74.8 cfs, against 13.8 cfs in December, the lowest month. These are historical normals for the date, not a forecast and not today's reading.
What is a normal flow for Rapid Creek above Canyon Lake near Rapid City, SD?
It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 15.5 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 5.3 and 48.5 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
How long has Rapid Creek above Canyon Lake near Rapid City, SD been measured?
Discharge records at USGS site 06412500 begin in 1946, about 80 years, covering roughly 9,176 days of published daily values. The long record is what makes the monthly percentiles on this page meaningful.
Is there a flow forecast for Rapid Creek above Canyon Lake near Rapid City, 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 Rapid Creek above Canyon Lake near Rapid City, SD?
The gauge sits at 44.05278, -103.31139, in South Dakota, in hydrologic subbasin 10120110, at an elevation of about 3,406 feet, draining roughly 374 square miles.
Can I use Rapid Creek above Canyon Lake near Rapid City, 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 Rapid Creek

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

Other gauges in this subbasin