Des Moines River in Iowa
Around here
Around Des Moines River
Data Source: Recreation.gov · Public land: USGS PAD-US
About this river
Des Moines River is a 48.1 mile river. Streamflow is measured at the USGS gauge Des Moines River near Stratford, IA (site 05481300). The National Hydrography Dataset places it at stream order 6. Reach geometry comes from the USGS National Hydrography Dataset.
Typical flow by month
1968 to 2026
Des Moines River typically runs highest in June, at a median 4,965 cfs, and lowest in January, at 510 cfs. The highest flow on record for any single day is 57,300 cfs, in 2010.
Show the numbers
| Month | Typical (cfs) | Usual range (cfs) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 510 | 205 to 1,090 |
| February | 580 | 206 to 1,140 |
| March | 3,060 | 1,220 to 5,900 |
| April | 4,765 | 2,145 to 9,175 |
| May | 4,930 | 2,700 to 9,380 |
| June | 4,965 | 2,510 to 8,865 |
| July | 2,630 | 1,300 to 6,080 |
| August | 829 | 500 to 1,970 |
| September | 569 | 289 to 1,725 |
| October | 697 | 248 to 2,880 |
| November | 1,055 | 290 to 2,540 |
| December | 810 | 260 to 1,600 |
Typical is the median of each month’s daily median values, and the usual range runs from the median 25th to the median 75th percentile, across about 59 years of record. Statistics published by the US Geological Survey for Des Moines River near Stratford, IA (site 05481300). Conditions on any given day can fall well outside the usual range. Check the current reading before you go.
Boat access nearby
7 mapped launches sit in the mapped area of Des Moines River, all of them public access. Ramp data comes from the USGS national boat-ramp inventory.
Embed this gauge on your site
Paste this snippet anywhere, an outfitter page, a club site, a trip report, to show Des Moines River's live streamflow, water level and 7-day trend. It reads the USGS gauge directly, updates itself, and links back here.
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