USGS Streamgage 06436156
Whitetail Creek at Lead, SD
Whitetail Creek at Lead, SD is USGS streamgage 06436156 in South Dakota, monitoring river discharge in hydrologic subbasin 10120202. It drains a watershed of about 7 square miles. Discharge records at this site go back to 1988. Typical flow runs near 3 cfs in July and 5.6 cfs in April, with the higher of the two arriving in April.
Gauge details
- State
- South Dakota
- Drainage area
- 7 sq mi
- Gauge elevation
- 5,077 ft
- Subbasin (HUC-8)
- 10120202
- Coordinates
- 44.34332, -103.76631
- USGS site number
- 06436156
- Records begin
- 1988-10-01 (38 years)
Typical flow by month
Long-term daily discharge percentiles from the USGS record (up to 10 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 | 0.5 | 1 | 2.7 | |
| February | 0.6 | 1 | 2.5 | |
| March | 1 | 2.2 | 7.5 | |
| April | 2.4 | 5.6 | 28.4 | |
| May | 3.8 | 11.2 | 60.5 | |
| June | 2.2 | 5.1 | 43.8 | |
| July | 1.4 | 3 | 11.3 | |
| August | 1 | 1.7 | 12.6 | |
| September | 0.7 | 1.5 | 7.2 | |
| October | 0.7 | 1.4 | 7.2 | |
| November | 0.7 | 1.3 | 3.5 | |
| December | 0.5 | 1.2 | 3.6 |
All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).
Common questions
- When does Whitetail Creek at Lead, SD normally run highest?
- May, on the long-term record. The median daily flow that month is about 11.2 cfs, against 1 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 Whitetail Creek at Lead, SD?
- It depends on the month. In January, half of days historically fall near 1 cfs, with the middle 80% of days between 0.5 and 2.7 cfs. The month-by-month table on this page gives the full range.
- How long has Whitetail Creek at Lead, SD been measured?
- Discharge records at USGS site 06436156 begin in 1988, about 38 years. The long record is what makes the monthly percentiles on this page meaningful.
- Where is Whitetail Creek at Lead, SD?
- The gauge sits at 44.34332, -103.76631, in South Dakota, in hydrologic subbasin 10120202, at an elevation of about 5,077 feet, draining roughly 7 square miles.
- Can I use Whitetail Creek at Lead, 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.