11 USGS Streamgages · Mississippi River system
Rapid Creek flows and levels
Rapid Creek is gauged at 11 USGS streamgages in South Dakota, each tracked by Rivermatics. The mainstem runs about 128 miles (207 km) from headwaters to outlet. It drains into the Mississippi River system. Drainage area at the gauges ranges from 293 square miles at Rapid Creek above Pactola Reservoir at Silver City, SD up to 603 at Rapid Creek near Farmingdale, SD. The gauged reach falls about 1,954 feet, from 4,660 feet down to 2,706. Rivermatics issues a daily machine-learned 14-day flow outlook at 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid Creek above Pactola Reservoir at Silver City, SD | SD | 293 | 4,660 | 55.7 | 46.3 | 14-day |
| Rapid Creek below Pactola Dam, SD | SD | 321 | 4,417 | 36.3 | 79.3 | 14-day |
| Rapid Creek above Johnson Siding below Pactola Dam, SD | SD | 332 | 4,304 | — | — | — |
| Rapid Creek at Big Bend near Rapid City, SD | SD | 338 | 4,110 | — | — | — |
| Rapid Creek above Victoria Creek near Rapid City, SD | SD | 356 | 3,557 | 22.8 | 99.8 | — |
| Rapid Creek above Canyon Lake near Rapid City, SD | SD | 374 | 3,406 | 32 | 74.8 | 14-day |
| Rapid Creek below Cleghorn Springs at Rapid City, SD | SD | 381 | 3,378 | 25.2 | 91.3 | — |
| Rapid Creek at Rapid City, SD | SD | 413 | 3,242 | 55.2 | 83.8 | 14-day |
| Rapid Creek below Hawthorn Ditch at Rapid City, SD | SD | 422 | 3,143 | — | — | — |
| Rapid Creek above Wrf near Rapid City, SD | SD | 449 | 3,007 | 71.4 | 77.8 | 14-day |
| Rapid Creek near Farmingdale, SD | SD | 603 | 2,706 | 75.1 | 45.7 | 14-day |
Typical flow by month at Rapid Creek near Farmingdale, SD
The furthest-downstream gauge on this river, so the fullest flow it carries here. 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.
| Month | Low p10 | Typical p50 | High p90 | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26.1 | 48.7 | 91.4 | |
| February | 30.4 | 49.4 | 96.8 | |
| March | 35.6 | 65.3 | 136.8 | |
| April | 29.7 | 75.1 | 246 | |
| May | 15.7 | 84 | 396.1 | |
| June | 12.9 | 81.5 | 575.9 | |
| July | 8.9 | 45.7 | 238.5 | |
| August | 8.2 | 33 | 170.6 | |
| September | 13.3 | 39.1 | 119.2 | |
| October | 21.2 | 46.7 | 121.4 | |
| November | 32.6 | 53.3 | 101.4 | |
| December | 27.8 | 47.8 | 92 |
All values in cubic feet per second (cfs).
Common questions
- When does the Rapid Creek run highest?
- May, on the long-term record at Rapid Creek near Farmingdale, SD — the furthest-downstream gauge Rivermatics tracks on this river. Median daily flow there is about 84 cfs that month, against 33 cfs in August, the lowest. Upstream gauges peak on their own schedule; the table on this page gives April and July for each.
- How many gauges are on the Rapid Creek?
- Rivermatics tracks 11 USGS streamgages on the Rapid Creek, 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 Rapid Creek?
- Yes, at 6 of the 11 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 Rapid Creek part of?
- The Rapid Creek 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 Rapid Creek 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
- Republican River 11 gauges
- Yellowstone River 10 gauges