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Turkey River at Garber

Highest listed crest 32.80 ftFlood stage 17.0 ft116 crests since 1902

The Turkey River at Garber crested at major flood stage 28 times among the 116 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1902 to 2026. The highest, 32.80 ft on May 23, 2004, was major flooding, 15.80 feet above flood stage. 2 other gauges on the Turkey River crested above flood stage within a week of it.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
32.80 ft
May 23, 2004; 66,700 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
17.0 ft
Major flooding from 23.0 ft
Crests at major
28
4th of 203 gauges in Iowa
Most recent flood crest
April 5, 2026
17.41 ft, minor flooding
Location
Clayton County
Iowa

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Turkey River at Garber
Action stage14.017Mar 10, 2015The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)17.030Apr 5, 2026Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage20.033Jun 11, 2020Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage23.028Aug 30, 2021Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

116 crests from 1902 to 2026. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Turkey River at Garber, 1902 to 2026 101520253035ft Flood stage 17.0 ftMajor 23.0 ft May 18, 1902: 23.70 ft, major flooding; 25,000 cubic feet per secondJun 15, 1914: 13.20 ft, below flood stage; 8,960 cubic feet per secondAug 4, 1915: 14.70 ft, action stage; 10,900 cubic feet per secondJun 2, 1916: 22.00 ft, moderate flooding; 20,300 cubic feet per secondJun 4, 1919: 16.80 ft, action stage; 13,100 cubic feet per secondMar 12, 1920: 15.10 ft, action stage; 11,000 cubic feet per secondMay 31, 1921: 14.50 ft, action stage; 10,400 cubic feet per secondFeb 23, 1922: 28.06 ft, major flooding; 32,300 cubic feet per secondApr 3, 1923: 24.20 ft, major flooding; 25,200 cubic feet per secondJul 21, 1924: 17.40 ft, minor flooding; 14,600 cubic feet per secondJun 15, 1925: 24.70 ft, major flooding; 26,200 cubic feet per secondAug 20, 1926: 12.00 ft, below flood stage; 7,130 cubic feet per secondOct 3, 1926: 16.80 ft, action stage; 13,700 cubic feet per secondMar 30, 1933: 22.50 ft, moderate flooding; 20,600 cubic feet per secondJan 22, 1934: 11.50 ft, below flood stage; 6,230 cubic feet per secondMar 4, 1935: 19.90 ft, minor flooding; 17,100 cubic feet per secondMar 11, 1936: 20.70 ft, moderate flooding; 15,000 cubic feet per secondMar 6, 1937: 20.80 ft, moderate flooding; 18,900 cubic feet per secondSep 13, 1938: 21.10 ft, moderate flooding; 19,600 cubic feet per secondMar 14, 1939: 19.13 ft, minor flooding; 9,200 cubic feet per secondJul 27, 1940: 25.30 ft, major flooding; 26,100 cubic feet per secondJun 12, 1941: 23.30 ft, major flooding; 22,100 cubic feet per secondJun 30, 1942: 17.50 ft, minor flooding; 12,000 cubic feet per secondMar 16, 1943: 21.00 ft, moderate flooding; 17,600 cubic feet per secondJun 16, 1944: 20.60 ft, moderate flooding; 16,900 cubic feet per secondJun 2, 1945: 18.20 ft, minor flooding; 13,000 cubic feet per secondJan 5, 1946: 24.30 ft, major flooding; 24,100 cubic feet per secondJun 13, 1947: 26.60 ft, major flooding; 29,000 cubic feet per secondMar 19, 1948: 21.70 ft, moderate flooding; 19,000 cubic feet per secondMar 4, 1949: 20.50 ft, moderate flooding; 16,800 cubic feet per secondMar 7, 1950: 23.70 ft, major flooding; 23,700 cubic feet per secondMar 28, 1951: 22.79 ft, moderate flooding; 21,900 cubic feet per secondApr 1, 1952: 15.88 ft, action stage; 9,840 cubic feet per secondJul 27, 1953: 20.62 ft, moderate flooding; 16,900 cubic feet per secondJun 21, 1954: 19.94 ft, minor flooding; 16,400 cubic feet per secondJun 3, 1955: 15.32 ft, action stage; 9,840 cubic feet per secondMar 28, 1956: 17.00 ft, minor flooding; 12,300 cubic feet per secondMay 31, 1958: 17.61 ft, minor flooding; 12,100 cubic feet per secondMar 26, 1959: 21.06 ft, moderate flooding; 17,000 cubic feet per secondMar 30, 1960: 22.96 ft, moderate flooding; 20,000 cubic feet per secondMar 26, 1961: 22.84 ft, moderate flooding; 19,700 cubic feet per secondMar 29, 1962: 24.70 ft, major flooding; 24,500 cubic feet per secondMar 17, 1963: 20.69 ft, moderate flooding; 16,300 cubic feet per secondApr 3, 1964: 17.00 ft, minor flooding; 10,800 cubic feet per secondApr 1, 1965: 19.15 ft, minor flooding; 13,800 cubic feet per secondFeb 9, 1966: 24.80 ft, major flooding; 24,800 cubic feet per secondJan 24, 1967: 22.18 ft, moderate flooding; 18,900 cubic feet per secondAug 8, 1968: 17.02 ft, minor flooding; 10,500 cubic feet per secondJun 29, 1969: 22.50 ft, moderate flooding; 19,600 cubic feet per secondAug 8, 1970: 17.32 ft, minor flooding; 11,200 cubic feet per secondJun 20, 1971: 20.81 ft, moderate flooding; 16,500 cubic feet per secondSep 28, 1972: 21.41 ft, moderate flooding; 16,300 cubic feet per secondApr 16, 1973: 22.88 ft, moderate flooding; 19,600 cubic feet per secondJun 21, 1974: 21.08 ft, moderate flooding; 15,700 cubic feet per secondMar 24, 1975: 20.93 ft, moderate flooding; 16,700 cubic feet per secondMar 12, 1976: 22.18 ft, moderate flooding; 18,300 cubic feet per secondAug 16, 1977: 15.52 ft, action stage; 8,320 cubic feet per secondMay 13, 1978: 15.46 ft, action stage; 8,250 cubic feet per secondMar 19, 1979: 25.59 ft, major flooding; 26,000 cubic feet per secondJan 16, 1980: 17.77 ft, minor flooding; 11,000 cubic feet per secondAug 2, 1981: 23.29 ft, major flooding; 20,500 cubic feet per secondMar 16, 1982: 20.65 ft, moderate flooding; 15,500 cubic feet per secondNov 12, 1982: 19.37 ft, minor flooding; 13,300 cubic feet per secondApr 30, 1984: 18.50 ft, minor flooding; 11,400 cubic feet per secondFeb 24, 1985: 19.11 ft, minor flooding; 12,300 cubic feet per secondMar 19, 1986: 22.47 ft, moderate flooding; 19,400 cubic feet per secondOct 14, 1986: 15.37 ft, action stage; 7,390 cubic feet per secondMar 9, 1988: 12.83 ft, below flood stage; 3,400 cubic feet per secondMar 12, 1989: 17.82 ft, minor flooding; 9,900 cubic feet per secondAug 27, 1990: 24.63 ft, major flooding; 23,000 cubic feet per secondJun 15, 1991: 30.10 ft, major flooding; 49,900 cubic feet per secondApr 21, 1992: 18.17 ft, minor flooding; 11,400 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 1993: 22.94 ft, moderate flooding; 19,400 cubic feet per secondJul 11, 1993: 22.03 ft, moderate flooding; 18,560 cubic feet per secondAug 18, 1993: 22.67 ft, moderate flooding; 20,000 cubic feet per secondFeb 20, 1994: 18.48 ft, minor floodingJun 23, 1994: 16.98 ft, action stage; 9,700 cubic feet per secondApr 13, 1995: 13.35 ft, below flood stage; 5,230 cubic feet per secondJun 17, 1996: 17.35 ft, minor flooding; 10,100 cubic feet per secondMar 10, 1997: 15.45 ft, action stage; 7,490 cubic feet per secondApr 1, 1998: 20.52 ft, moderate flooding; 15,500 cubic feet per secondJun 30, 1998: 19.40 ft, minor floodingMay 17, 1999: 30.91 ft, major flooding; 53,900 cubic feet per secondJun 15, 2000: 16.94 ft, action stage; 9,610 cubic feet per secondApr 13, 2001: 16.67 ft, action stage; 9,800 cubic feet per secondJun 4, 2002: 19.60 ft, minor flooding; 13,800 cubic feet per secondMay 11, 2003: 17.21 ft, minor flooding; 10,300 cubic feet per secondMay 23, 2004: 32.80 ft, major flooding; 66,700 cubic feet per secondMay 31, 2004: 20.96 ft, moderate flooding; 16,000 cubic feet per secondFeb 15, 2005: 14.43 ft, action stage; 7,750 cubic feet per secondApr 18, 2006: 12.80 ft, below flood stage; 5,820 cubic feet per secondMar 14, 2007: 18.51 ft, minor flooding; 13,300 cubic feet per secondApr 25, 2008: 27.98 ft, major flooding; 39,904 cubic feet per secondJun 10, 2008: 29.13 ft, major flooding; 45,500 cubic feet per secondApr 27, 2009: 17.32 ft, minor flooding; 11,500 cubic feet per secondJul 23, 2010: 24.20 ft, major flooding; 24,800 cubic feet per secondMar 23, 2011: 16.85 ft, action stage; 11,400 cubic feet per secondApr 22, 2012: 10.97 ft, below flood stage; 4,090 cubic feet per secondMay 30, 2013: 22.47 ft, moderate flooding; 21,185 cubic feet per secondJun 22, 2013: 27.18 ft, major flooding; 36,400 cubic feet per secondJun 21, 2014: 24.78 ft, major flooding; 26,800 cubic feet per secondMar 10, 2015: 14.37 ft, action stage; 5,440 cubic feet per secondAug 27, 2016: 23.60 ft, major flooding; 23,418 cubic feet per secondSep 23, 2016: 25.60 ft, major flooding; 29,800 cubic feet per secondJun 29, 2017: 19.37 ft, minor flooding; 15,807 cubic feet per secondJul 12, 2017: 18.50 ft, minor flooding; 14,377 cubic feet per secondJul 22, 2017: 23.75 ft, major flooding; 23,830 cubic feet per secondSep 20, 2018: 24.47 ft, major flooding; 29,200 cubic feet per secondMar 15, 2019: 25.60 ft, major flooding; 35,600 cubic feet per secondOct 2, 2019: 20.24 ft, moderate flooding; 18,900 cubic feet per secondJun 11, 2020: 20.71 ft, moderate flooding; 19,900 cubic feet per secondAug 30, 2021: 23.39 ft, major flooding; 23,000 cubic feet per secondMar 6, 2022: 12.87 ft, below flood stage; 6,510 cubic feet per secondFeb 27, 2023: 18.35 ft, minor flooding; 16,800 cubic feet per secondMay 22, 2024: 17.86 ft, minor floodingApr 5, 2026: 17.41 ft, minor flooding; 15,044 cubic feet per second Highest, 32.80 ft, May 23, 2004 192019401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Turkey River at Garber 1900s: 1 1910s: 1 1920s: 4 1930s: 6 1940s: 10 1950s: 7 1960s: 10 1970s: 8 1980s: 8 1990s: 11 2000s: 8 2010s: 12 12 2020s: 5 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 116 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Turkey River at Garber
1May 23, 200432.80+15.80Major66,700
2May 17, 199930.91+13.91Major53,900
3Jun 15, 199130.10+13.10Major49,900
4Jun 10, 200829.13+12.13Major45,500
5Feb 23, 192228.06+11.06Major32,300
6Apr 25, 200827.98+10.98Major39,904
7Jun 22, 201327.18+10.18Major36,400
8Jun 13, 194726.60+9.60Major29,000
9Sep 23, 201625.60+8.60Major29,800
10Mar 15, 201925.60+8.60Major35,600
11Mar 19, 197925.59+8.59Major26,000
12Jul 27, 194025.30+8.30Major26,100
13Feb 9, 196624.80+7.80Major24,800
14Jun 21, 201424.78+7.78Major26,800
15Jun 15, 192524.70+7.70Major26,200
16Mar 29, 196224.70+7.70Major24,500
17Aug 27, 199024.63+7.63Major23,000
18Sep 20, 201824.47+7.47Major29,200
19Jan 5, 194624.30+7.30Major24,100
20Apr 3, 192324.20+7.20Major25,200
21Jul 23, 201024.20+7.20Major24,800
22Jul 22, 201723.75+6.75Major23,830
23May 18, 190223.70+6.70Major25,000
24Mar 7, 195023.70+6.70Major23,700
25Aug 27, 201623.60+6.60Major23,418
26Aug 30, 202123.39+6.39Major23,000
27Jun 12, 194123.30+6.30Major22,100
28Aug 2, 198123.29+6.29Major20,500
29Mar 30, 196022.96+5.96Moderate20,000
30Mar 31, 199322.94+5.94Moderate19,400
31Apr 16, 197322.88+5.88Moderate19,600
32Mar 26, 196122.84+5.84Moderate19,700
33Mar 28, 195122.79+5.79Moderate21,900
34Aug 18, 199322.67+5.67Moderate20,000
35Mar 30, 193322.50+5.50Moderate20,600
36Jun 29, 196922.50+5.50Moderate19,600
37Mar 19, 198622.47+5.47Moderate19,400
38May 30, 201322.47+5.47Moderate21,185
39Jan 24, 196722.18+5.18Moderate18,900
40Mar 12, 197622.18+5.18Moderate18,300
41Jul 11, 199322.03+5.03Moderate18,560
42Jun 2, 191622.00+5.00Moderate20,300
43Mar 19, 194821.70+4.70Moderate19,000
44Sep 28, 197221.41+4.41Moderate16,300
45Sep 13, 193821.10+4.10Moderate19,600
46Jun 21, 197421.08+4.08Moderate15,700
47Mar 26, 195921.06+4.06Moderate17,000
48Mar 16, 194321.00+4.00Moderate17,600
49May 31, 200420.96+3.96Moderate16,000
50Mar 24, 197520.93+3.93Moderate16,700

The worst floods along the Turkey River

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

May 23, 2004: 32.80 ft here, major flooding

  • ElkaderIA · May 23, 2004 · 25.57 ft · Major
  • EldoradoIA · May 23, 2004 · 19.61 ft · Major

May 17, 1999: 30.91 ft here, major flooding

  • ElkaderIA · May 17, 1999 · 19.35 ft · Moderate

June 15, 1991: 30.10 ft here, major flooding

  • ElkaderIA · Jun 15, 1991 · 27.32 ft · Major
  • EldoradoIA · Jun 15, 1991 · 18.78 ft · Major

Gauges on the Turkey River

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

Flood gauges on the Turkey River
ElkaderIA12.027.77 ft, Jun 10, 20086
Garber this gaugeIA17.032.80 ft, May 23, 200428
SpillvilleIA9.020.25 ft, Aug 24, 201612
Cresco (IFC)IA1,128.51,135.43 ft, Aug 24, 20160
EldoradoIA13.021.46 ft, Jun 9, 20086
Elgin (IFC)IA766.0775.60 ft, Aug 26, 20161

Other gauges in Clayton County

Flood gauges in Clayton County
Marquette7.012.38 ft, May 23, 20044
Clayton620.0627.28 ft, Apr 24, 19650
McGregor16.025.38 ft, Apr 24, 19653
Lock and Dam 10 - Guttenberg15.023.65 ft, Apr 24, 19652
Elkader (IFC)754.5755.15 ft, Sep 23, 20160
Elkader12.027.77 ft, Jun 10, 20086
Elgin (IFC)766.0775.60 ft, Aug 26, 20161
Littleport12.025.36 ft, May 17, 19999
Volga (IFC)784.5790.79 ft, Jul 23, 20170

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge GRBI4, 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.