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West Branch Lac Qui Parle River at Dawson

Highest listed crest 41.12 ftFlood stage 39.0 ft14 crests since 2001

The West Branch Lac Qui Parle River at Dawson crested above flood stage 5 times among the 14 crests the National Weather Service lists from 2001 to 2024. The highest, 41.12 ft on March 24, 2011, was moderate flooding, 2.12 feet above flood stage.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
41.12 ft
March 24, 2011; 6,416 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
39.0 ft
Major flooding from 42.0 ft
Crests at major
0
5 above flood stage
Most recent flood crest
April 11, 2023
39.35 ft, minor flooding
Location
Lac qui Parle County
Minnesota

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, West Branch Lac Qui Parle River at Dawson
Action stage36.01Apr 25, 2018The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)39.01Apr 11, 2023Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage40.04Mar 25, 2019Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage42.00—Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

14 crests from 2001 to 2024. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the West Branch Lac Qui Parle River at Dawson, 2001 to 2024 323436384042ft Flood stage 39.0 ftMajor 42.0 ft Apr 9, 2001: 40.20 ft, moderate floodingApr 13, 2001: 41.00 ft, moderate flooding; 5,050 cubic feet per secondMar 24, 2011: 41.12 ft, moderate flooding; 6,416 cubic feet per secondJun 25, 2014: 35.18 ft, below flood stage; 1,309 cubic feet per secondAug 22, 2015: 33.87 ft, below flood stage; 707 cubic feet per secondAug 21, 2016: 33.38 ft, below flood stage; 368 cubic feet per secondMay 23, 2017: 34.24 ft, below flood stage; 975 cubic feet per secondApr 25, 2018: 38.17 ft, action stage; 3,200 cubic feet per secondMar 25, 2019: 41.05 ft, moderate floodingMar 15, 2020: 34.90 ft, below flood stage; 1,500 cubic feet per secondApr 10, 2021: 33.60 ft, below flood stage; 483 cubic feet per secondMay 15, 2022: 35.22 ft, below flood stage; 1,820 cubic feet per secondApr 11, 2023: 39.35 ft, minor flooding; 3,805 cubic feet per secondJun 24, 2024: 34.03 ft, below flood stage; 828 cubic feet per second Highest, 41.12 ft, Mar 24, 2011 20052010201520202025

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, West Branch Lac Qui Parle River at Dawson 2000s: 2 2 2010s: 2 2020s: 1 2000s2010s2020s
  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, West Branch Lac Qui Parle River at Dawson
1Mar 24, 201141.12+2.12Moderate6,416
2Mar 25, 201941.05+2.05Moderate—
3Apr 13, 200141.00+2.00Moderate5,050
4Apr 9, 200140.20+1.20Moderate—
5Apr 11, 202339.35+0.35Minor3,805
6Apr 25, 201838.17−0.83Action3,200
7May 15, 202235.22−3.78Below flood stage1,820
8Jun 25, 201435.18−3.82Below flood stage1,309
9Mar 15, 202034.90−4.10Below flood stage1,500
10May 23, 201734.24−4.76Below flood stage975
11Jun 24, 202434.03−4.97Below flood stage828
12Aug 22, 201533.87−5.13Below flood stage707
13Apr 10, 202133.60−5.40Below flood stage483
14Aug 21, 201633.38−5.62Below flood stage368

Lac qui Parle County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Minnesota

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge DAWM5, 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.