USGS Streamgage 06474000
Turtle Creek near Tulare, SD
Turtle Creek near Tulare, SD is USGS streamgage 06474000 in South Dakota, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 10160009. It drains a watershed of about 1,125 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1953. Typical flow runs near 0.1 cfs in July and 4.2 cfs in April, with the higher of the two arriving in April.
Gauge details
- State
- South Dakota
- Drainage area
- 1,125 sq mi
- Gauge elevation
- 1,305 ft
- Subbasin (HUC-8)
- 10160009
- Coordinates
- 44.73498, -98.58621
- USGS site number
- 06474000
- Records begin
- 1953-08-01 (73 years)
Typical flow by month
Long-term daily discharge percentiles from the USGS record (up to 37 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 | 0 | 0.1 | 0.7 | |
| February | 0 | 0.2 | 2 | |
| March | 0 | 2.4 | 331 | |
| April | 0 | 4.2 | 144.8 | |
| May | 0 | 1.4 | 55 | |
| June | 0 | 0.3 | 28 | |
| July | 0 | 0.1 | 11.7 | |
| August | 0 | 0 | 2.2 | |
| September | 0 | 0 | 0.9 | |
| October | 0 | 0 | 0.6 | |
| November | 0 | 0.1 | 0.9 | |
| December | 0 | 0.2 | 0.7 |
All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).
Common questions
- When does Turtle Creek near Tulare, SD normally run highest?
- April, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 4.2 cfs, against 0 cfs in August, the lowest month. These are historical normals for the date, not a forecast and not today's reading.
- What is a normal flow for Turtle Creek near Tulare, SD?
- It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 0.1 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 0 and 0.7 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
- How long has Turtle Creek near Tulare, SD been measured?
- Discharge records at USGS site 06474000 begin in 1953, about 73 years. The long record is what makes the monthly percentiles on this page meaningful.
- Where is Turtle Creek near Tulare, SD?
- The gauge sits at 44.73498, -98.58621, in South Dakota, in hydrologic subbasin 10160009, at an elevation of about 1,305 feet, draining roughly 1,125 square miles.
- Can I use Turtle Creek near Tulare, 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.