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Turkey River near Eldorado

Highest listed crest 21.46 ftFlood stage 13.0 ft20 crests since 1991

The Turkey River near Eldorado crested at major flood stage 6 times among the 20 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1991 to 2026. The highest, 21.46 ft on June 9, 2008, was major flooding, 8.46 feet above flood stage. 2 other gauges on the Turkey River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 1 at its own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
21.46 ft
June 9, 2008; 50,100 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
13.0 ft
Major flooding from 17.0 ft
Crests at major
6
41st of 203 gauges in Iowa
Most recent flood crest
April 4, 2026
13.95 ft, minor flooding
Location
Fayette 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 near Eldorado
Action stage10.02Jun 24, 2015The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)13.07Apr 4, 2026Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage15.05Aug 20, 2025Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage17.06Aug 25, 2016Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

20 crests from 1991 to 2026. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Turkey River near Eldorado, 1991 to 2026 10121416182022ft Flood stage 13.0 ftMajor 17.0 ft Jun 15, 1991: 18.78 ft, major flooding; 17,600 cubic feet per secondApr 12, 2001: 13.93 ft, minor flooding; 7,520 cubic feet per secondMay 23, 2004: 19.61 ft, major flooding; 19,700 cubic feet per secondMar 23, 2007: 14.20 ft, minor flooding; 8,530 cubic feet per secondAug 24, 2007: 13.03 ft, minor flooding; 6,542 cubic feet per secondApr 25, 2008: 18.07 ft, major flooding; 16,092 cubic feet per secondJun 9, 2008: 21.46 ft, major flooding; 50,100 cubic feet per secondFeb 5, 2009: 15.01 ft, moderate flooding; 9,000 cubic feet per secondMar 12, 2010: 13.60 ft, minor flooding; 7,470 cubic feet per secondMar 21, 2011: 11.67 ft, action stage; 4,820 cubic feet per secondMay 30, 2013: 16.18 ft, moderate flooding; 14,700 cubic feet per secondJun 20, 2014: 18.92 ft, major flooding; 28,800 cubic feet per secondJun 24, 2015: 10.64 ft, action stage; 4,440 cubic feet per secondAug 25, 2016: 21.34 ft, major flooding; 35,700 cubic feet per secondJun 29, 2017: 13.35 ft, minor flooding; 8,414 cubic feet per secondMar 13, 2019: 15.99 ft, moderate flooding; 14,059 cubic feet per secondJun 29, 2019: 16.41 ft, moderate flooding; 15,178 cubic feet per secondMay 22, 2024: 13.48 ft, minor floodingAug 20, 2025: 15.67 ft, moderate flooding; 13,361 cubic feet per secondApr 4, 2026: 13.95 ft, minor flooding; 9,918 cubic feet per second Highest, 21.46 ft, Jun 9, 2008 200020102020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Turkey River near Eldorado 1990s: 1 2000s: 7 7 2010s: 7 2020s: 3 1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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

Highest listed crests, Turkey River near Eldorado
1Jun 9, 200821.46+8.46Major50,100
2Aug 25, 201621.34+8.34Major35,700
3May 23, 200419.61+6.61Major19,700
4Jun 20, 201418.92+5.92Major28,800
5Jun 15, 199118.78+5.78Major17,600
6Apr 25, 200818.07+5.07Major16,092
7Jun 29, 201916.41+3.41Moderate15,178
8May 30, 201316.18+3.18Moderate14,700
9Mar 13, 201915.99+2.99Moderate14,059
10Aug 20, 202515.67+2.67Moderate13,361
11Feb 5, 200915.01+2.01Moderate9,000
12Mar 23, 200714.20+1.20Minor8,530
13Apr 4, 202613.95+0.95Minor9,918
14Apr 12, 200113.93+0.93Minor7,520
15Mar 12, 201013.60+0.60Minor7,470
16May 22, 202413.48+0.48Minor—
17Jun 29, 201713.35+0.35Minor8,414
18Aug 24, 200713.03+0.03Minor6,542
19Mar 21, 201111.67−1.33Action4,820
20Jun 24, 201510.64−2.36Action4,440

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.

June 9, 2008: 21.46 ft here, major flooding

  • GarberIA · Jun 10, 2008 · 29.13 ft · Major
  • ElkaderIA · Jun 10, 2008 · 27.77 ft · Major · its highest

August 25, 2016: 21.34 ft here, major flooding

  • Elgin (IFC)IA · Aug 26, 2016 · 775.60 ft · Major · its highest
  • GarberIA · Aug 27, 2016 · 23.60 ft · Major
  • ElkaderIA · Aug 26, 2016 · 22.57 ft · Major
  • SpillvilleIA · Aug 24, 2016 · 20.25 ft · Major · its highest
  • Cresco (IFC)IA · Aug 24, 2016 · 1,135.43 ft · Moderate · its highest

May 23, 2004: 19.61 ft here, major flooding

  • GarberIA · May 23, 2004 · 32.80 ft · Major · its highest
  • ElkaderIA · May 23, 2004 · 25.57 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
GarberIA17.032.80 ft, May 23, 200428
SpillvilleIA9.020.25 ft, Aug 24, 201612
Cresco (IFC)IA1,128.51,135.43 ft, Aug 24, 20160
Eldorado this gaugeIA13.021.46 ft, Jun 9, 20086
Elgin (IFC)IA766.0775.60 ft, Aug 26, 20161

Other gauges in Fayette County

Flood gauges in Fayette County
Alpha (IFC)992.5997.76 ft, Jun 19, 20142
Oran89.094.49 ft, Jul 22, 20172
Brainard (IFC)890.0892.37 ft, Jun 29, 20170
Elgin (IFC)799.5805.79 ft, Aug 26, 20160
West Union (IFC)1,088.01,089.57 ft, Sep 22, 20160
West Union (IFC)983.0984.96 ft, Sep 22, 20160
Wadena (IFC)852.0861.00 ft, Jul 22, 20170
Randalia (IFC)1,090.51,092.75 ft, Jun 29, 20170

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge EDRI4, 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.