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USGS IN YOUR STATE
USGS Water Science Centers are located in each state.
Water Resources of South Dakota
Welcome to the USGS Web page for water resources in South Dakota. Here, you will find information on South Dakota's rivers and streams. You will also find information
on groundwater, water quality, and many other topics. The USGS operates the most extensive satellite network of streamgages in South Dakota, many of which form
the backbone of flood-warning systems.
Groundwater and Drought: Groundwater is among the Nation's most important natural resources. It provides half our drinking water and is essential to the vitality of agriculture and industry, as well as to the health of rivers, wetlands, and estuaries throughout the country. Droughts can significantly impact the Nation's groundwater resources while the drought is occurring and for some time afterward. Understanding groundwater, surface water, and the integrated nature of the hydrologic system enables resource managers and policy makers to better prepare for and respond to drought. The USGS provides groundwater data and information that resource managers and policy makers can use to prepare for and respond to drought.
StreamStats for South Dakota: StreamStats is a Web-based Geographic Information System (GIS) that provides users with access to an assortment of analytical tools that are useful for water-resources planning and management, and for engineering design applications, such as the design of bridges. StreamStats allows users to easily obtain streamflow statistics, drainage-basin characteristics, and other information for user-selected sites on streams. StreamStats users can choose locations of interest from an interactive map and obtain information for these locations. Separate applications have been established for each State that has implemented StreamStats, such as South Dakota.
NWIS Mapper: Are you looking for a new way to access water data? This interface provides a map view of the locations of sites with USGS water data. Google Maps are used to provide speed and versatility in a format that is familiar to many users. Simply zoom into your area of interest, select your site types using the checkboxes provided, and click on your site. For more information on how to use NWIS Mapper visit wdr.water.usgs.gov/nwisgmap/instructions.
Realtime Streamflow
Current Activities
Project Highlights
Black Hills Area Floods Since 1877
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), National Weather Service, and the South Dakota Department of Transportation have cooperated on compiling a chronology of flood events in the Black Hills area that have occurred since 1877. The Black Hills area of western South Dakota has a history of damaging flash floods that have resulted primarily from exceptionally strong rain-producing thunderstorms, such as the 1972 flood that claimed the lives of 238 people and the more recent 2007 flood in the Hermosa area. Many other notable floods have occurred in the Black Hills area since settlement of the Black Hills in the late 1800s. These notable floods include the 1883 flood in Deadwood, the 1907 flood in the Piedmont area, the 1924 flood in the Belle Fourche area, and the 1937 flood in the Hot Springs area. The project Web site provides the chronology of flood events that are documented in some way since 1877 in newspapers, books, photographs, and technical reports.
The purpose of the flood compilation is to provide documentation and a context for the frequency and relative magnitude of historical large floods in the Black Hills area. The improved knowledge of flooding in the Black Hills area will be used to aid in the application of paleoflood survey techniques that is being performed by the USGS in cooperation with the South Dakota Department of Transportation.
Other highlights are:
Missouri River Water Information Portal
Download real-time flow KML
2014 Western South Dakota Hydrology Meeting - April 9, 2014 - SAVE THE DATE
2013 Eastern South Dakota Water Conference - October 30, 2013 - SAVE THE DATE
Pennington County Ground-Water Levels
Cooperative Water Program
Water Alert - Receive daily or hourly updates about current conditions in rivers, lakes and groundwater when they match conditions of concern.
Featured Publication
The report "Conceptual and Numerical Models of Groundwater Flow in the Ogallala Aquifer in Gregory and Tripp Counties, South Dakota, Water Years 1985-2009" was completed in cooperation with the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. This report documents conceptual and numerical models of groundwater flow in the Ogallala aquifer in Gregory and Tripp Counties in south-central South Dakota. The report is available at pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2013/5069/.
USGS in the News
James River board hears river flow complaints (July 12, 2013)
Report shows stream flows increasing in South Dakota (July 11, 2013)
Trouble on the Jim? (July 10, 2013)
Mark Anderson named geologist of the year (May 17, 2013)
2013 J.P. Gries Geologist of the Year award announced (May 10, 2013)
Energy professionals discuss future of energy independence (April 18, 2013)
Fracking takes the stage at conference (April 18, 2013)
Ancient signs warn Black Hills flooding (March 26, 2013)
Scientists brave icy water for river research (March 11, 2013)
Residents battle high water in South Dakota town (November 29, 2012)
Drones across America (August 13, 2012)
UAV drones over South Dakota (August 10, 2012)
Unmanned aircraft flights to monitor erosion on Missouri River (August 9, 2012)
Unmanned flights watch river erosion (August 8, 2012)
James River seeing higher water flows (July 24, 2012)
Flood memorabilia on display (June 11, 2012)
40 Years after killer flood, a reshaped city reflects (June 8, 2012)
Plaque dedication kicks off flood commemoration in Rapid City (June 7, 2012)
USGS dedicates '72 flood markers (June 6, 2012)
USGS dedicate 1972 flood marker (June 6, 2012)
City leaders work with USGS to dedicate new flood markers (June 6, 2012)
Current, former Rapid City mayors dedicating USGS marker to commemorate 1972 flood (June 6, 2012)
Signs point to greenway preservation (June 6, 2012)
Rapid City officials dedicating flood marker (June 6, 2012)
Exhibit looks at history of Black Hills flooding (June 5, 2012)
Flood markers get put in place to remind the public of the RC 1972 flood (June 5, 2012)
Rapid City's 1972 flood could happen again, experts say (June 5, 2012)
Remembering the 1972 flood (June 4, 2012)
Markers being placed to commemorate deadly 1972 flood (June 4, 2012)
A flood of memories (June 4, 2012)
Featured Videos
Streamgages: The Silent Superhero
Whether you drink water from your tap, use electricity or canoe down your local river, chances are you benefit from USGS streamgage information. So what is a streamgage and what does it do for you? This CoreCast episode gives you the inside scoop on your silent superhero.
2011: The Year of the Flood
Devastating floods across much of the United States were severe and unrelenting during the spring and summer of 2011. When floods happen, USGS crews are among the first-responders. Often working in dangerous conditions, USGS scientists measure streamflow and river levels, repair and install streamgages, measure water quality and changes in sediment flow, and assess river changes. From flood forecasts to difficult decisions about flood management, science is critical for flood preparations and response.
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