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Des Moines River at Des Moines SE 6th St

Highest listed crest 35.55 ftFlood stage 24.0 ft87 crests since 1903

The Des Moines River at Des Moines SE 6th St crested at major flood stage 6 times among the 87 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1903 to 2025. The highest, 35.55 ft on June 13, 2008, was major flooding, 11.55 feet above flood stage. 9 other gauges on the Des Moines River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 1 at its own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
35.55 ft
June 13, 2008; 104,000 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
24.0 ft
Major flooding from 30.0 ft
Crests at major
6
41st of 203 gauges in Iowa
Most recent flood crest
May 22, 2024
25.22 ft, minor flooding
Location
Polk County
Near Des Moines (0.5 mi), Pleasant Hill (5.4 mi), Norwalk (8.0 mi)

Flood stages

The thresholds the National Weather Service uses for this gauge today, and how many listed crests reached each.

Flood categories, Des Moines River at Des Moines SE 6th St
Action stage20.029Jul 31, 2025The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)24.011May 22, 2024Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage26.023Mar 16, 2019Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage30.06Jun 26, 2015Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

87 crests from 1903 to 2025. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Des Moines River at Des Moines SE 6th St, 1903 to 2025 10203040ft Flood stage 24.0 ftMajor 30.0 ft May 31, 1903: 32.06 ft, major floodingAug 30, 1940: 18.06 ft, below flood stage; 8,990 cubic feet per secondMay 12, 1942: 20.19 ft, action stage; 17,000 cubic feet per secondAug 17, 1943: 19.16 ft, below flood stage; 15,100 cubic feet per secondMay 24, 1944: 28.76 ft, moderate flooding; 53,200 cubic feet per secondJun 4, 1945: 23.93 ft, action stage; 28,900 cubic feet per secondMay 29, 1946: 21.98 ft, action stage; 22,800 cubic feet per secondJun 26, 1947: 31.96 ft, major flooding; 77,000 cubic feet per secondMar 20, 1948: 26.85 ft, moderate flooding; 44,400 cubic feet per secondMar 7, 1949: 23.74 ft, action stage; 28,100 cubic feet per secondJun 21, 1950: 22.72 ft, action stage; 24,800 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 1951: 28.91 ft, moderate flooding; 54,800 cubic feet per secondApr 1, 1952: 22.50 ft, action stage; 28,900 cubic feet per secondJun 12, 1953: 24.50 ft, minor flooding; 34,200 cubic feet per secondJun 24, 1954: 31.24 ft, major flooding; 67,300 cubic feet per secondJul 11, 1955: 18.43 ft, below flood stage; 11,600 cubic feet per secondSep 5, 1956: 16.87 ft, below flood stage; 3,850 cubic feet per secondJun 19, 1957: 22.76 ft, action stage; 25,700 cubic feet per secondJul 4, 1958: 26.12 ft, moderate flooding; 39,000 cubic feet per secondJun 3, 1959: 23.98 ft, action stage; 27,700 cubic feet per secondApr 2, 1960: 28.86 ft, moderate flooding; 68,900 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 1961: 25.10 ft, minor flooding; 37,600 cubic feet per secondApr 3, 1962: 27.35 ft, moderate flooding; 48,600 cubic feet per secondMay 15, 1963: 18.15 ft, below flood stage; 16,200 cubic feet per secondJun 23, 1964: 20.62 ft, action stage; 19,800 cubic feet per secondApr 11, 1965: 29.78 ft, moderate flooding; 65,500 cubic feet per secondJun 13, 1966: 23.34 ft, action stage; 29,200 cubic feet per secondJun 13, 1967: 25.70 ft, minor flooding; 38,600 cubic feet per secondJul 1, 1968: 13.85 ft, below flood stage; 8,270 cubic feet per secondMar 27, 1969: 26.24 ft, moderate flooding; 41,200 cubic feet per secondMay 18, 1970: 21.08 ft, action stage; 22,600 cubic feet per secondFeb 21, 1971: 22.76 ft, action stage; 27,300 cubic feet per secondAug 9, 1972: 18.44 ft, below flood stage; 16,700 cubic feet per secondJul 5, 1973: 26.93 ft, moderate flooding; 45,500 cubic feet per secondMay 20, 1974: 27.15 ft, moderate flooding; 48,400 cubic feet per secondMay 2, 1975: 23.61 ft, action stage; 33,200 cubic feet per secondApr 24, 1976: 19.07 ft, below flood stage; 18,700 cubic feet per secondAug 28, 1977: 16.98 ft, below flood stage; 13,600 cubic feet per secondMar 21, 1978: 20.40 ft, action stage; 22,200 cubic feet per secondMar 21, 1979: 25.07 ft, minor flooding; 35,800 cubic feet per secondJun 19, 1980: 18.17 ft, below flood stage; 14,900 cubic feet per secondJul 4, 1981: 18.53 ft, below flood stage; 15,900 cubic feet per secondMay 21, 1982: 21.99 ft, action stage; 24,900 cubic feet per secondJul 4, 1983: 25.70 ft, minor flooding; 38,800 cubic feet per secondJun 19, 1984: 28.46 ft, moderate flooding; 58,400 cubic feet per secondApr 30, 1985: 17.71 ft, below flood stage; 13,900 cubic feet per secondJul 2, 1986: 27.31 ft, moderate flooding; 47,900 cubic feet per secondOct 17, 1986: 22.61 ft, action stage; 26,800 cubic feet per secondJan 31, 1988: 13.95 ft, below flood stageMay 26, 1989: 14.44 ft, below flood stage; 7,890 cubic feet per secondJun 19, 1990: 26.95 ft, moderate flooding; 45,200 cubic feet per secondJun 10, 1991: 27.05 ft, moderate flooding; 45,900 cubic feet per secondApr 24, 1992: 22.18 ft, action stage; 27,700 cubic feet per secondJul 11, 1993: 34.29 ft, major flooding; 116,000 cubic feet per secondMar 8, 1994: 20.29 ft, action stage; 20,600 cubic feet per secondJun 1, 1995: 21.86 ft, action stage; 24,000 cubic feet per secondJun 26, 1996: 22.62 ft, action stage; 26,100 cubic feet per secondFeb 21, 1997: 20.53 ft, action stage; 21,100 cubic feet per secondJun 16, 1998: 28.65 ft, moderate flooding; 49,600 cubic feet per secondMay 22, 1999: 26.11 ft, moderate flooding; 35,500 cubic feet per secondJul 14, 2000: 17.16 ft, below flood stage; 11,800 cubic feet per secondMar 25, 2001: 23.46 ft, action stage; 28,000 cubic feet per secondMay 7, 2001: 23.58 ft, action stageMay 14, 2002: 18.38 ft, below flood stage; 14,800 cubic feet per secondMay 9, 2003: 24.40 ft, minor flooding; 29,200 cubic feet per secondMay 25, 2004: 27.71 ft, moderate flooding; 39,400 cubic feet per secondMay 13, 2005: 24.52 ft, minor flooding; 29,600 cubic feet per secondMay 3, 2006: 21.16 ft, action stage; 21,300 cubic feet per secondApr 27, 2007: 27.37 ft, moderate flooding; 41,900 cubic feet per secondJun 13, 2008: 35.55 ft, major flooding; 104,000 cubic feet per secondApr 28, 2009: 22.91 ft, action stage; 26,000 cubic feet per secondJul 2, 2010: 29.83 ft, moderate flooding; 57,700 cubic feet per secondJun 21, 2011: 24.09 ft, minor flooding; 28,500 cubic feet per secondMay 7, 2012: 17.67 ft, below flood stage; 13,000 cubic feet per secondJun 1, 2013: 26.75 ft, moderate floodingJul 1, 2014: 25.97 ft, minor flooding; 36,800 cubic feet per secondJun 26, 2015: 30.14 ft, major flooding; 56,400 cubic feet per secondDec 15, 2015: 26.93 ft, moderate flooding; 38,600 cubic feet per secondMay 24, 2017: 24.15 ft, minor floodingJul 1, 2018: 28.87 ft, moderate flooding; 48,800 cubic feet per secondMar 16, 2019: 29.16 ft, moderate flooding; 51,400 cubic feet per secondOct 12, 2019: 23.58 ft, action stage; 26,800 cubic feet per secondMar 27, 2021: 13.54 ft, below flood stage; 5,650 cubic feet per secondJun 7, 2022: 22.42 ft, action stage; 24,400 cubic feet per secondMar 1, 2023: 21.70 ft, action stage; 23,000 cubic feet per secondMay 22, 2024: 25.22 ft, minor flooding; 34,600 cubic feet per secondJul 31, 2025: 23.54 ft, action stage; 29,500 cubic feet per second Highest, 35.55 ft, Jun 13, 2008 192019401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Des Moines River at Des Moines SE 6th St 1900s: 1 1910s: 0 1920s: 0 1930s: 0 1940s: 3 1950s: 4 1960s: 6 1970s: 3 1980s: 3 1990s: 5 2000s: 5 2010s: 9 9 2020s: 1 1900s1910s1920s1930s1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  1. These are the crests the local National Weather Service office lists for the gauge: the highest on record and recent crests. Lesser floods between them may be missing, so counts by decade are a floor.
  2. Categories use today's flood stages. Levees, dams and channel changes since a crest can make old and new stages not directly comparable.

Highest crests

The 50 highest of 87 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Des Moines River at Des Moines SE 6th St
1Jun 13, 200835.55+11.55Major104,000
2Jul 11, 199334.29+10.29Major116,000
3May 31, 190332.06+8.06Major—
4Jun 26, 194731.96+7.96Major77,000
5Jun 24, 195431.24+7.24Major67,300
6Jun 26, 201530.14+6.14Major56,400
7Jul 2, 201029.83+5.83Moderate57,700
8Apr 11, 196529.78+5.78Moderate65,500
9Mar 16, 201929.16+5.16Moderate51,400
10Mar 31, 195128.91+4.91Moderate54,800
11Jul 1, 201828.87+4.87Moderate48,800
12Apr 2, 196028.86+4.86Moderate68,900
13May 24, 194428.76+4.76Moderate53,200
14Jun 16, 199828.65+4.65Moderate49,600
15Jun 19, 198428.46+4.46Moderate58,400
16May 25, 200427.71+3.71Moderate39,400
17Apr 27, 200727.37+3.37Moderate41,900
18Apr 3, 196227.35+3.35Moderate48,600
19Jul 2, 198627.31+3.31Moderate47,900
20May 20, 197427.15+3.15Moderate48,400
21Jun 10, 199127.05+3.05Moderate45,900
22Jun 19, 199026.95+2.95Moderate45,200
23Jul 5, 197326.93+2.93Moderate45,500
24Dec 15, 201526.93+2.93Moderate38,600
25Mar 20, 194826.85+2.85Moderate44,400
26Jun 1, 201326.75+2.75Moderate—
27Mar 27, 196926.24+2.24Moderate41,200
28Jul 4, 195826.12+2.12Moderate39,000
29May 22, 199926.11+2.11Moderate35,500
30Jul 1, 201425.97+1.97Minor36,800
31Jun 13, 196725.70+1.70Minor38,600
32Jul 4, 198325.70+1.70Minor38,800
33May 22, 202425.22+1.22Minor34,600
34Mar 31, 196125.10+1.10Minor37,600
35Mar 21, 197925.07+1.07Minor35,800
36May 13, 200524.52+0.52Minor29,600
37Jun 12, 195324.50+0.50Minor34,200
38May 9, 200324.40+0.40Minor29,200
39May 24, 201724.15+0.15Minor—
40Jun 21, 201124.09+0.09Minor28,500
41Jun 3, 195923.98−0.02Action27,700
42Jun 4, 194523.93−0.07Action28,900
43Mar 7, 194923.74−0.26Action28,100
44May 2, 197523.61−0.39Action33,200
45May 7, 200123.58−0.42Action—
46Oct 12, 201923.58−0.42Action26,800
47Jul 31, 202523.54−0.46Action29,500
48Mar 25, 200123.46−0.54Action28,000
49Jun 13, 196623.34−0.66Action29,200
50Apr 28, 200922.91−1.09Action26,000

The worst floods along the Des Moines River

For this gauge's highest crests, the other gauges on the Des Moines River that crested above flood stage within a week.

June 13, 2008: 35.55 ft here, major flooding

July 11, 1993: 34.29 ft here, major flooding

  • EddyvilleIA · Jul 12, 1993 · 72.00 ft · Major · its highest
  • KeosauquaIA · Jul 13, 1993 · 32.66 ft · Major · its highest
  • St. FrancisvilleIA · Jul 15, 1993 · 32.02 ft · Major · its highest
  • TracyIA · Jul 12, 1993 · 24.16 ft · Major
  • OttumwaIA · Jul 12, 1993 · 22.15 ft · Major · its highest
  • Saylorville ReservoirIA · Jul 11, 1993 · 892.03 ft · Minor · its highest
  • Red Rock ReservoirIA · Jul 13, 1993 · 782.67 ft · Minor · its highest

May 31, 1903: 32.06 ft here, major flooding

  • TracyIA · May 31, 1903 · 25.00 ft · Major
  • OttumwaIA · May 31, 1903 · 20.23 ft · Major
  • Des Moines 2nd AveIA · May 31, 1903 · 27.40 ft · Moderate

Gauges on the Des Moines River

Flood gauges sharing the river's name, linked within 80 miles of one another.

Flood gauges on the Des Moines River
Des Moines 2nd AveIA23.031.57 ft, Jun 13, 20082
Des Moines SE 6th St this gaugeIA24.035.55 ft, Jun 13, 20086
Fort DodgeIA10.520.28 ft, Jun 23, 19474
KeosauquaIA22.032.66 ft, Jul 13, 19938
OttumwaIA13.022.15 ft, Jul 12, 19935
Red Rock ReservoirIA780.0782.67 ft, Jul 13, 19930
Saylorville ReservoirIA884.0892.03 ft, Jul 11, 19930
St. FrancisvilleIA18.032.02 ft, Jul 15, 199313
EddyvilleIA63.072.00 ft, Jul 12, 19932
StratfordIA19.028.42 ft, Jun 28, 20102
TracyIA14.026.50 ft, Jun 14, 19476

Other gauges in Polk County

Flood gauges in Polk County
Grimes14.016.58 ft, Jul 10, 19930
Des Moines 2nd Ave23.031.57 ft, Jun 13, 20082
Saylorville Reservoir884.0892.03 ft, Jul 11, 19930
Des Moines Easton Blvd12.517.51 ft, Jul 1, 20183
Ankeny NE 86th Ave11.016.17 ft, Jul 1, 20180
Des Moines Fleur Dr12.026.80 ft, Jul 11, 19931
Des Moines IA 2836.041.31 ft, Jun 13, 20083
Clive I-80/359.013.41 ft, Jun 25, 20150
Des Moines 63rd St14.019.08 ft, Jun 30, 20189

Polk County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Iowa

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge DESI4, retrieved October 30, 2026. Stages in feet on the gauge's own datum, not elevation. Crests are as the National Weather Service lists them; preliminary values may be revised.