Otter Creek near West Union (IFC)

Highest listed crest 984.96 ftFlood stage 983.0 ft4 crests since 2013

The Otter Creek near West Union (IFC) crested above flood stage 3 times among the 4 crests the National Weather Service lists from 2013 to 2017. The highest, 984.96 ft on September 22, 2016, was minor flooding, 1.96 feet above flood stage. 2 other gauges on the Otter Creek crested above flood stage within a week of it, 1 at its own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest: 984.96 ft; September 22, 2016
Flood stage: 983.0 ft; No major stage set
Crests at major: 0; 3 above flood stage
Most recent flood crest: June 29, 2017; 984.34 ft, minor flooding
Location: Fayette County; Iowa
Identifiers: NWS BNDI4; No USGS station

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Otter Creek near West Union (IFC)

Action stage	981.0	1	Mar 11, 2013	The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)	983.0	3	Jun 29, 2017	Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat

Every listed crest

4 crests from 2013 to 2017. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

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.
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

Highest listed crests, Otter Creek near West Union (IFC)

1	Sep 22, 2016	984.96	+1.96	Minor	—
2	Jun 29, 2017	984.34	+1.34	Minor	—
3	May 31, 2013	983.17	+0.17	Minor	—
4	Mar 11, 2013	981.38	−1.62	Action	—

The worst floods along the Otter Creek

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

September 22, 2016: 984.96 ft here, minor flooding

Elgin (IFC)IA · Sep 22, 2016 · 804.17 ft · Moderate
West Union (IFC)IA · Sep 22, 2016 · 1,089.57 ft · Minor · its highest

June 29, 2017: 984.34 ft here, minor flooding

West Union (IFC)IA · Jun 29, 2017 · 1,089.33 ft · Minor
Brainard (IFC)IA · Jun 29, 2017 · 892.37 ft · Minor · its highest
Elgin (IFC)IA · Jun 29, 2017 · 799.69 ft · Minor

May 31, 2013: 983.17 ft here, minor flooding

Elgin (IFC)IA · May 31, 2013 · 801.64 ft · Minor

Gauges on the Otter Creek

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

Flood gauges on the Otter Creek

Brainard (IFC)	IA	890.0	892.37 ft, Jun 29, 2017
Elgin (IFC)	IA	799.5	805.79 ft, Aug 26, 2016
West Union (IFC)	IA	1,088.0	1,089.57 ft, Sep 22, 2016
West Union (IFC) this gauge	IA	983.0	984.96 ft, Sep 22, 2016

Other gauges in Fayette County

Flood gauges in Fayette County

Alpha (IFC)	992.5	997.76 ft, Jun 19, 2014	2
Oran	89.0	94.49 ft, Jul 22, 2017	2
Brainard (IFC)	890.0	892.37 ft, Jun 29, 2017	0
Elgin (IFC)	799.5	805.79 ft, Aug 26, 2016	0
West Union (IFC)	1,088.0	1,089.57 ft, Sep 22, 2016	0
Eldorado	13.0	21.46 ft, Jun 9, 2008	6
Wadena (IFC)	852.0	861.00 ft, Jul 22, 2017	0
Randalia (IFC)	1,090.5	1,092.75 ft, Jun 29, 2017	0

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge BNDI4, 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.