River stage
Des Moines River
- River level
- Normal
- Status
- Below flood stage
Latest readings 2026-10-13 | NWS · USGS
- Gauges reporting
- 18 of 18
- Above flood stage
- 0
- Above action stage
- 0
- Overall
- Below flood stage
- Publisher
- NWS · USGS
In brief
On Oct 13, 2026, 18 of 18 gauges on the Des Moines River reported, and none was above flood stage.
Source: National Weather Service and USGS gauges
Des Moines River levels, gauge by gauge
The Des Moines River is measured at 18 gauges across Iowa, Missouri. Flood stages are set per gauge, so the same river is "high" at one town and normal at the next.
| Location | Level | Status |
|---|---|---|
| NWS gauge BODI4 | 865.96 ft | no flood stage set |
| NWS gauge CHII4 | 649.07 ft | no flood stage set |
| NWS gauge FDDI4 | 991.54 ft | no flood stage set |
| NWS gauge FRAI4 | 883.87 ft | no flood stage set |
| Des Moines 2nd Ave | 16.86 ft | below flood stage |
| Des Moines SE 6th St | 16.86 ft | below flood stage |
| Eddyville | 58.64 ft | normal, falling |
| Fort Dodge | 4.65 ft | normal, falling |
| Keosauqua | 17.11 ft | normal, falling |
| Ottumwa | 8.88 ft | normal, steady |
| Red Rock Reservoir | 752.37 ft | below flood stage |
| Red Rock Tail | 693.77 ft | no flood stage set |
| Saylorville Reservoir | 837.06 ft | below flood stage |
| Saylorville Tail | 6.27 ft | no flood stage set |
| Stratford | 7.63 ft | normal, falling |
| Swan | 53.26 ft | no flood stage set |
| Tracy | 9.82 ft | normal, steady |
| St. Francisville | 15.62 ft | normal, falling |
Recent levels on the Des Moines River
The gauge with the fullest recent record on this river is Eddyville, IA, with 122 days of readings.
Other rivers nearby
- Walnut Creek (IA) 7 gauges
- Raccoon River 5 gauges
- Indian Creek (Marion, IA) 2 gauges
- Cedar Creek (IA) 3 gauges
- Salt Creek (IA) 1 gauge
- Iowa River 15 gauges
- Beaver Creek (IA) 10 gauges
- Clear Creek (IA) 2 gauges
Frequently asked questions
Is the Des Moines River flooding right now?
No. Every one of the 18 reporting gauges on the Des Moines River is below flood stage as of 2026-10-13.
How high is the Des Moines River?
The river is measured at several points and each reads a different height. Eddyville is at 58.64 ft; Fort Dodge is at 4.65 ft; Keosauqua is at 17.11 ft; Ottumwa is at 8.88 ft.
Where is the Des Moines River measured?
The National Weather Service and USGS operate 18 gauges on the Des Moines River across Iowa, Missouri.
What does flood stage mean?
Flood stage is the height at which a river begins to cause problems at that specific location. It is set per gauge, so the same river can be above flood stage in one town and normal a few miles downstream. Action stage is the lower level at which forecasters start watching closely.
River stages and flood categories from the NOAA National Weather Service; daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.