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Big Sioux River at Lake Kampeska

Highest listed crest 22.40 ftFlood stage 21.0 ft11 crests since 2010

The Big Sioux River at Lake Kampeska crested above flood stage 4 times among the 11 crests the National Weather Service lists from 2010 to 2025. The highest, 22.40 ft on March 15, 2010, was moderate flooding, 1.40 feet above flood stage. 6 other gauges on the Big Sioux River crested above flood stage within a week of it.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
22.40 ft
March 15, 2010
Flood stage
21.0 ft
Major flooding from 24.0 ft
Crests at major
0
4 above flood stage
Most recent flood crest
April 13, 2023
21.97 ft, minor flooding
Location
Codington County
Near Watertown (2.8 mi)

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Big Sioux River at Lake Kampeska
Action stage20.04Aug 7, 2025The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)21.03Apr 13, 2023Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage22.01Mar 15, 2010Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage24.00—Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

11 crests from 2010 to 2025. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Big Sioux River at Lake Kampeska, 2010 to 2025 18202224ft Flood stage 21.0 ftMajor 24.0 ft Mar 15, 2010: 22.40 ft, moderate floodingApr 8, 2011: 21.60 ft, minor floodingApr 28, 2013: 19.90 ft, below flood stageJun 20, 2014: 20.17 ft, action stageAug 18, 2015: 18.64 ft, below flood stageSep 23, 2017: 18.70 ft, below flood stageApr 22, 2018: 20.77 ft, action stageMar 28, 2019: 21.82 ft, minor floodingOct 23, 2019: 20.22 ft, action stageApr 13, 2023: 21.97 ft, minor floodingAug 7, 2025: 20.63 ft, action stage Highest, 22.40 ft, Mar 15, 2010 2010201520202025

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Big Sioux River at Lake Kampeska 2010s: 3 3 2020s: 1 2010s2020s
  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, Big Sioux River at Lake Kampeska
1Mar 15, 201022.40+1.40Moderate—
2Apr 13, 202321.97+0.97Minor—
3Mar 28, 201921.82+0.82Minor—
4Apr 8, 201121.60+0.60Minor—
5Apr 22, 201820.77−0.23Action—
6Aug 7, 202520.63−0.37Action—
7Oct 23, 201920.22−0.78Action—
8Jun 20, 201420.17−0.83Action—
9Apr 28, 201319.90−1.10Below flood stage—
10Sep 23, 201718.70−2.30Below flood stage—
11Aug 18, 201518.64−2.36Below flood stage—

The worst floods along the Big Sioux River

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

March 15, 2010: 22.40 ft here, moderate flooding

April 13, 2023: 21.97 ft here, minor flooding

March 28, 2019: 21.82 ft here, minor flooding

Gauges on the Big Sioux River

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

Flood gauges on the Big Sioux River
CantonSD1,235.01,248.35 ft, Jun 22, 20243
Dell RapidsSD1,481.01,490.00 ft, Sep 13, 20192
FlandreauSD1,540.01,545.29 ft, Sep 13, 20191
HawardenSD20.539.92 ft, Jun 22, 20244
AkronIA16.027.35 ft, Jun 22, 202424
FairviewSD1,202.01,213.14 ft, Sep 14, 20190
Lake Kampeska this gaugeSD21.022.40 ft, Mar 15, 20100
Lake Poinsett Inlet/OutletSD1,654.01,657.60 ft, Apr 5, 20112
Sioux CitySD32.044.90 ft, Jun 23, 20241
Sioux Falls I-90SD12.018.91 ft, Sep 14, 20191
Sioux Falls N. Cliff AvenueSD16.026.08 ft, Sep 14, 20190
Sioux Falls Western AvenueSD8.016.90 ft, Mar 14, 20194
TrentSD1,495.01,501.42 ft, Sep 13, 20192
Watertown Broadway AvenueSD10.513.67 ft, Apr 6, 19971
Watertown Sioux Conifer RoadSD9.011.18 ft, Apr 13, 20230
WatertownSD11.013.13 ft, Apr 2, 19975
BrandonSD1,304.01,313.53 ft, Sep 14, 20192
BrookingsSD9.014.77 ft, Apr 9, 19690
BruceSD8.012.16 ft, Mar 28, 20110
CastlewoodSD9.013.19 ft, Apr 7, 19970
Dell RapidsSD12.016.70 ft, Sep 13, 201910
EganSD1,516.51,524.20 ft, Sep 12, 20192
EstellineSD1,644.01,647.03 ft, Jun 30, 20250
FlorenceSD8.09.70 ft, Apr 13, 20236
JeffersonIA31.044.50 ft, Jun 24, 20242
RichlandIA1,117.01,128.70 ft, Jun 23, 20245
WatertownSD10.012.33 ft, Apr 7, 20012

Other gauges in Codington County

Flood gauges in Codington County
Watertown Broadway Avenue10.513.67 ft, Apr 6, 19971
Watertown Sioux Conifer Road9.011.18 ft, Apr 13, 20230
Watertown11.013.13 ft, Apr 2, 19975
Watertown10.012.33 ft, Apr 7, 20012
Lake Kampeska at Watertown Water Plant21.023.71 ft, Apr 6, 19972
Rauville9.010.70 ft, Apr 11, 20230
Rauville4.05.75 ft, Mar 23, 20190
Watertown10.013.55 ft, Apr 11, 20230

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge KAMS2, 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.