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Bad River (SD) near Fort Pierre

Highest listed crest 32.90 ftFlood stage 21.0 ft97 crests since 1905

The Bad River (SD) near Fort Pierre crested at major flood stage 8 times among the 97 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1905 to 2022. The highest, 32.90 ft on July 3, 1905, was major flooding, 11.90 feet above flood stage.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
32.90 ft
July 3, 1905; 70,000 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
21.0 ft
Major flooding from 27.0 ft
Crests at major
8
9th of 155 gauges in South Dakota
Most recent flood crest
March 25, 2019
23.42 ft, minor flooding
Location
Stanley County
Near Pierre (4.6 mi)

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Bad River (SD) near Fort Pierre
Action stage19.011Jun 22, 2015The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)21.017Mar 25, 2019Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage25.03May 27, 1996Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage27.08Jun 21, 2011Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

97 crests from 1905 to 2022. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Bad River (SD) near Fort Pierre, 1905 to 2022 010203040ft Flood stage 21.0 ftMajor 27.0 ft Jul 3, 1905: 32.90 ft, major flooding; 70,000 cubic feet per secondAug 1, 1915: 29.60 ft, major floodingJun 15, 1920: 27.40 ft, major floodingApr 1, 1927: 30.89 ft, major flooding; 55,000 cubic feet per secondApr 25, 1929: 21.18 ft, minor flooding; 11,800 cubic feet per secondAug 19, 1930: 20.20 ft, action stage; 10,200 cubic feet per secondJan 30, 1931: 8.40 ft, below flood stage; 2,300 cubic feet per secondMay 7, 1932: 17.24 ft, below flood stage; 7,350 cubic feet per secondJul 26, 1934: 9.98 ft, below flood stage; 3,100 cubic feet per secondApr 26, 1935: 12.60 ft, below flood stage; 4,480 cubic feet per secondMar 11, 1936: 5.11 ft, below flood stage; 844 cubic feet per secondJun 13, 1937: 21.85 ft, minor flooding; 12,400 cubic feet per secondSep 8, 1938: 17.60 ft, below flood stage; 8,700 cubic feet per secondMar 20, 1939: 9.80 ft, below flood stageApr 1, 1940: 5.83 ft, below flood stage; 1,070 cubic feet per secondJun 11, 1941: 11.22 ft, below flood stage; 4,100 cubic feet per secondMay 1, 1942: 27.80 ft, major flooding; 34,200 cubic feet per secondMar 23, 1943: 16.04 ft, below flood stage; 6,930 cubic feet per secondApr 1, 1944: 10.75 ft, below flood stage; 3,930 cubic feet per secondMar 2, 1945: 10.72 ft, below flood stageJul 2, 1946: 12.53 ft, below flood stage; 4,600 cubic feet per secondMar 21, 1947: 11.40 ft, below flood stageAug 9, 1948: 15.96 ft, below flood stage; 7,180 cubic feet per secondMar 27, 1949: 10.81 ft, below flood stage; 3,350 cubic feet per secondApr 2, 1950: 23.40 ft, minor flooding; 16,700 cubic feet per secondJun 8, 1951: 19.50 ft, action stage; 10,500 cubic feet per secondApr 7, 1952: 27.03 ft, major flooding; 28,100 cubic feet per secondMay 3, 1953: 19.80 ft, action stage; 11,700 cubic feet per secondJun 11, 1954: 23.35 ft, minor flooding; 16,600 cubic feet per secondJun 1, 1955: 13.68 ft, below flood stage; 5,120 cubic feet per secondMar 20, 1956: 10.41 ft, below flood stage; 3,050 cubic feet per secondJun 11, 1957: 15.26 ft, below flood stage; 6,390 cubic feet per secondApr 5, 1958: 10.41 ft, below flood stage; 3,050 cubic feet per secondMay 30, 1959: 8.06 ft, below flood stage; 1,640 cubic feet per secondMar 27, 1960: 23.36 ft, minor flooding; 16,600 cubic feet per secondMay 17, 1961: 21.93 ft, minor flooding; 12,800 cubic feet per secondMay 21, 1962: 19.70 ft, action stage; 10,500 cubic feet per secondSep 4, 1963: 11.88 ft, below flood stage; 3,800 cubic feet per secondJun 22, 1964: 22.12 ft, minor flooding; 12,200 cubic feet per secondJul 19, 1965: 11.71 ft, below flood stage; 3,480 cubic feet per secondMar 18, 1966: 20.51 ft, action stage; 10,700 cubic feet per secondJun 18, 1967: 29.55 ft, major flooding; 43,800 cubic feet per secondJun 9, 1968: 16.64 ft, below flood stage; 6,500 cubic feet per secondJul 17, 1969: 17.11 ft, below flood stage; 7,140 cubic feet per secondApr 27, 1970: 12.30 ft, below flood stage; 3,800 cubic feet per secondApr 20, 1971: 20.88 ft, action stage; 10,300 cubic feet per secondMay 2, 1972: 19.40 ft, action stage; 9,120 cubic feet per secondMay 31, 1973: 8.52 ft, below flood stage; 1,850 cubic feet per secondApr 20, 1974: 10.18 ft, below flood stage; 2,560 cubic feet per secondApr 9, 1975: 12.20 ft, below flood stage; 3,770 cubic feet per secondFeb 10, 1976: 8.23 ft, below flood stage; 1,560 cubic feet per secondJun 22, 1977: 17.94 ft, below flood stage; 6,740 cubic feet per secondMar 20, 1978: 25.52 ft, moderate flooding; 19,200 cubic feet per secondJul 24, 1979: 13.45 ft, below flood stage; 3,570 cubic feet per secondJul 5, 1980: 9.26 ft, below flood stage; 2,150 cubic feet per secondOct 16, 1980: 7.25 ft, below flood stage; 1,140 cubic feet per secondMay 14, 1982: 24.05 ft, minor flooding; 15,600 cubic feet per secondMay 2, 1983: 19.41 ft, action stage; 9,130 cubic feet per secondJun 4, 1984: 25.47 ft, moderate flooding; 13,500 cubic feet per secondMar 16, 1985: 9.54 ft, below flood stage; 2,480 cubic feet per secondMay 9, 1986: 24.64 ft, minor flooding; 16,300 cubic feet per secondMar 21, 1987: 24.38 ft, minor flooding; 13,600 cubic feet per secondJul 3, 1988: 6.20 ft, below flood stage; 578 cubic feet per secondMar 12, 1989: 8.39 ft, below flood stage; 1,210 cubic feet per secondJun 2, 1990: 9.49 ft, below flood stage; 1,990 cubic feet per secondMay 31, 1991: 19.71 ft, action stage; 8,050 cubic feet per secondJul 14, 1992: 8.99 ft, below flood stage; 1,890 cubic feet per secondJul 12, 1993: 17.87 ft, below flood stage; 6,160 cubic feet per secondMar 4, 1994: 22.58 ft, minor flooding; 11,000 cubic feet per secondMay 9, 1995: 23.61 ft, minor flooding; 14,500 cubic feet per secondMay 27, 1996: 26.10 ft, moderate flooding; 18,100 cubic feet per secondMay 2, 1997: 21.74 ft, minor flooding; 14,700 cubic feet per secondJul 26, 1998: 11.76 ft, below flood stage; 4,250 cubic feet per secondSep 3, 1999: 22.44 ft, minor flooding; 14,700 cubic feet per secondApr 19, 2000: 21.34 ft, minor flooding; 13,200 cubic feet per secondMar 14, 2001: 21.95 ft, minor flooding; 7,500 cubic feet per secondMar 28, 2002: 6.41 ft, below flood stage; 1,220 cubic feet per secondMay 9, 2003: 13.17 ft, below flood stage; 5,460 cubic feet per secondSep 23, 2004: 12.04 ft, below flood stage; 4,320 cubic feet per secondMay 12, 2005: 11.89 ft, below flood stage; 4,870 cubic feet per secondAug 20, 2006: 7.23 ft, below flood stage; 1,500 cubic feet per secondJun 16, 2007: 9.22 ft, below flood stage; 2,630 cubic feet per secondJun 6, 2008: 17.16 ft, below flood stage; 8,780 cubic feet per secondFeb 10, 2009: 18.96 ft, below flood stage; 10,600 cubic feet per secondMar 10, 2010: 20.76 ft, action stage; 12,700 cubic feet per secondJun 21, 2011: 27.53 ft, major flooding; 23,300 cubic feet per secondOct 7, 2011: 6.86 ft, below flood stage; 981 cubic feet per secondMay 31, 2013: 9.83 ft, below flood stage; 2,640 cubic feet per secondOct 15, 2013: 15.86 ft, below flood stage; 7,610 cubic feet per secondJun 22, 2015: 20.10 ft, action stage; 11,600 cubic feet per secondApr 28, 2016: 13.59 ft, below flood stage; 5,730 cubic feet per secondAug 21, 2017: 8.62 ft, below flood stage; 1,920 cubic feet per secondJun 18, 2018: 8.32 ft, below flood stage; 1,830 cubic feet per secondMar 25, 2019: 23.42 ft, minor flooding; 18,400 cubic feet per secondMay 26, 2020: 11.09 ft, below flood stage; 4,590 cubic feet per secondMar 24, 2021: 2.06 ft, below flood stage; 132 cubic feet per secondJun 13, 2022: 11.68 ft, below flood stage; 5,490 cubic feet per second Highest, 32.90 ft, Jul 3, 1905 192019401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Bad River (SD) near Fort Pierre 1900s: 1 1910s: 1 1920s: 3 1930s: 1 1940s: 1 1950s: 3 1960s: 4 1970s: 1 1980s: 4 1990s: 5 5 2000s: 2 2010s: 2 2020s: 0 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 97 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Bad River (SD) near Fort Pierre
1Jul 3, 190532.90+11.90Major70,000
2Apr 1, 192730.89+9.89Major55,000
3Aug 1, 191529.60+8.60Major—
4Jun 18, 196729.55+8.55Major43,800
5May 1, 194227.80+6.80Major34,200
6Jun 21, 201127.53+6.53Major23,300
7Jun 15, 192027.40+6.40Major—
8Apr 7, 195227.03+6.03Major28,100
9May 27, 199626.10+5.10Moderate18,100
10Mar 20, 197825.52+4.52Moderate19,200
11Jun 4, 198425.47+4.47Moderate13,500
12May 9, 198624.64+3.64Minor16,300
13Mar 21, 198724.38+3.38Minor13,600
14May 14, 198224.05+3.05Minor15,600
15May 9, 199523.61+2.61Minor14,500
16Mar 25, 201923.42+2.42Minor18,400
17Apr 2, 195023.40+2.40Minor16,700
18Mar 27, 196023.36+2.36Minor16,600
19Jun 11, 195423.35+2.35Minor16,600
20Mar 4, 199422.58+1.58Minor11,000
21Sep 3, 199922.44+1.44Minor14,700
22Jun 22, 196422.12+1.12Minor12,200
23Mar 14, 200121.95+0.95Minor7,500
24May 17, 196121.93+0.93Minor12,800
25Jun 13, 193721.85+0.85Minor12,400
26May 2, 199721.74+0.74Minor14,700
27Apr 19, 200021.34+0.34Minor13,200
28Apr 25, 192921.18+0.18Minor11,800
29Apr 20, 197120.88−0.12Action10,300
30Mar 10, 201020.76−0.24Action12,700
31Mar 18, 196620.51−0.49Action10,700
32Aug 19, 193020.20−0.80Action10,200
33Jun 22, 201520.10−0.90Action11,600
34May 3, 195319.80−1.20Action11,700
35May 31, 199119.71−1.29Action8,050
36May 21, 196219.70−1.30Action10,500
37Jun 8, 195119.50−1.50Action10,500
38May 2, 198319.41−1.59Action9,130
39May 2, 197219.40−1.60Action9,120
40Feb 10, 200918.96−2.04Below flood stage10,600
41Jun 22, 197717.94−3.06Below flood stage6,740
42Jul 12, 199317.87−3.13Below flood stage6,160
43Sep 8, 193817.60−3.40Below flood stage8,700
44May 7, 193217.24−3.76Below flood stage7,350
45Jun 6, 200817.16−3.84Below flood stage8,780
46Jul 17, 196917.11−3.89Below flood stage7,140
47Jun 9, 196816.64−4.36Below flood stage6,500
48Mar 23, 194316.04−4.96Below flood stage6,930
49Aug 9, 194815.96−5.04Below flood stage7,180
50Oct 15, 201315.86−5.14Below flood stage7,610

The worst floods along the Bad River (SD)

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

June 18, 1967: 29.55 ft here, major flooding

  • MidlandSD · Jun 15, 1967 · 24.44 ft · Moderate · its highest

Gauges on the Bad River (SD)

In USGS station-number order, which runs downstream within a river basin.

Flood gauges on the Bad River (SD)
MidlandSD21.024.44 ft, Jun 15, 19670
Fort Pierre this gaugeSD21.032.90 ft, Jul 3, 19058

Stanley County: every hazard · River floods across the country · South Dakota

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge FTPS2, 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.