3 USGS Streamgages · Mississippi River system
Elm River flows and levels
Elm River is gauged at 3 USGS streamgages in South Dakota, each tracked by Rivermatics. The mainstem runs about 106 miles (170 km) from headwaters to outlet. It drains into the Mississippi River system. Drainage area at the gauges ranges from 282 square miles at Elm River near Frederick, SD up to 1,520 at Elm River near Ordway, SD. The gauged reach falls about 113 feet, from 1,425 feet down to 1,312. Rivermatics issues a daily machine-learned 14-day flow outlook at 1 of them.
Gauges on this river, upstream to downstream
Ordered by drainage area, which is how far down the river each gauge sits. April and July figures are long-term median daily flows for that month from the USGS record — historical normals, not a forecast and not today's reading.
| Gauge | State | Drainage sq mi | Elevation ft | April p50 cfs | July p50 cfs | Forecast |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elm River near Frederick, SD | SD | 282 | 1,425 | — | — | — |
| Elm River at Westport, SD | SD | 1,505 | 1,314 | 48.1 | 11.1 | 14-day |
| Elm River near Ordway, SD | SD | 1,520 | 1,312 | — | — | — |
Common questions
- How many gauges are on the Elm River?
- Rivermatics tracks 3 USGS streamgages on the Elm River, across South Dakota. Each has its own page with the site's full flow record and monthly normals. The river may carry other gauges that publish neither daily values nor discharge statistics; those are not tracked here.
- Is there a flow forecast for the Elm River?
- Yes, at 1 of the 3 gauges. Rivermatics trains a machine-learned model — a temporal-fusion transformer — on each basin's observed flows, weather and snowpack, and issues a daily 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 each gauge's live screen.
- What river system is the Elm River part of?
- The Elm River drains into the Mississippi River system — it is a tributary somewhere in that chain, following the flowpath down to its terminal river. Rivermatics builds this from the USGS/geoconnex reference-mainstem network rather than from names.
- Can I use Elm River 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.
Other rivers in the Mississippi River system
- Missouri River 52 gauges
- Big Sioux River 17 gauges
- James River 15 gauges
- Kansas River 12 gauges
- Smoky Hill River 12 gauges
- Platte River 11 gauges
- Rapid Creek 11 gauges
- Republican River 11 gauges