Floods in North-Central and Eastern

South Dakota, Spring 1997

INTRODUCTION

Heavy precipitation between 

September 1996 and February 1997 

caused record-breaking spring flooding in 

north-central and eastern South Dakota. 

Most of the winter precipitation came 

during severe snowstorms driven by 

strong winds that created blizzard conditions over much of the area. The potential 

for extensive flooding was widely recognized and emergency action plans were 

put into effect in many communities. A 

relatively slow warming period during 

March probably kept the severe flooding 

from reaching more catastrophic proportions.

The 1997 flooding equaled or 

exceeded the 500-year recurrence interval 

at two streamflow-gaging stations and the 

100-year recurrence interval at five other 

gaging stations. This followed 1993 and 

1995 flooding, when several streamflowgaging stations had peaks exceeding the 

100-year recurrence interval. Peak-flow 

data for the spring of 1997 at selected 

gaging stations located on South Dakota 

streams are shown in table 1. The listed 

recurrence intervals are estimates based 

on a limited period of record.

The U.S. Geological Survey 

(USGS), one of the principal Federal 

agencies responsible for the collection 

and interpretation of water-resources data, 

works with other Federal, State, and local 

agencies to ensure that accurate and 

timely data are available for flood 

warning, damage assessment, and making 

decisions regarding the public’s welfare.

WINTER OF 1996-97

Precipitation in South Dakota during 

the winter of 1996-97 was more than 

double the normal and was the highest on 

record, according to the State Climatologist (A.R. Bender, written commun., 

January 1998). During September 1996 

through February 1997, Statewide precipitation averaged 10.8 inches, compared 

to a long-term average of 5.0 inches for 

September-February. Total snowfall for 

November 1996 through March 1997 

ranged from near 20 inches at several 

locations in the southwestern part of the 

State to nearly 100 inches in areas of the 

east-central part of the State. The heavy 

snows were accompanied by persistent 

strong winds and cold temperatures creating blizzard conditions that closed roads, 

schools, and businesses many times 

throughout the winter. Livestock and 

agricultural losses were extensive. The 

winter storms killed more than 296,000 

head of livestock (U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, Farm Service Agency, 

written commun., December 1997).

Due to severe winter storms, the 

Governor declared a State of Emergency 

on January 10, 1997. The President 

approved a Disaster Declaration for all 

counties of South Dakota the same day. 

As of September 30, 1997, the State had 

received slightly more than $314 million 

in Federal disaster-relief funds (Federal 

Emergency Management Agency, written 

commun., 1997).

In mid-March, estimated snow water 

content exceeded 4 inches in most of 

northeastern South Dakota. Areas in the 

northeastern and east-central parts of the 

State had snow water content greater than 

5 inches (fig. 1). 

Adapted from data furnished by National Weather Service

and based on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' snow survey

Figure 1. Water content of snow as of

March 15-19, 1997.

Less than 1 inch

1 - 2 inches

2 - 3 inches

3 - 4 inches

4 - 5 inches

5 - 6 inches

FLOODS OF 1997

Ice jams on the White River and 

some nearby streams caused some 

flooding in late February in the central 

part of the State. Flooding began in midMarch in the north-central part of the 

State when runoff from melting snow 

Flooding on the James River at the Huron streamflowgaging station on April 8, 1997.

Discharge measurement on the James River near Scotland

on April 3, 1997.
Table 1. Comparison of peak stage and streamflow data for February through May 1997, to previous maximums for period of record 

at selected gaging stations

[mi2, square miles; ft, feet; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; --, no data, not computed, or not determined; <, less than; >, greater than; BW, backwater; (- ), reverse flow;

e, estimated]

Station 

number Station name

Period

of

record

(water

years)

Contributing

drainage

area,

(mi2)

Flood of February-May 1997 Previous maximum

Peak 

stage 

(ft)

Peak

flow

(ft3/s)

Date

Recurrence

interval 

range1

(years)

Peak 

stage

(ft)

Peak

flow

(ft3/s)

Date

05051650 La Belle Creek near Veblen 1988-97 8.74 12.57

10.60

BW

2100

4/1

4/4

-- 8.58

7.34

BW

664

3/26/89

5/18/96

05289985 Big Coulee Creek near Peever 1988-97 12.1 9.43

7.72

BW

358

3/27

4/5

-- 9.08

8.21

BW

456

3/11/95

6/21/91

05292704 North Fork Yellow Bank River 

near Odessa, MN

1992-97 208 18.02

15.94

BW

4,760

3/29

3/31

-- 14.62 2,580 7/8/94

05299700 Cobb Creek near Gary 1993-97 70.3 13.99 22,100 3/31 -- 12.09 860 6/17/92

06354860 Spring Creek near Herreid 1963-86,

1989-96

220 12.64 2,680 4/1 10-25 12.56

12.18

1,570

1,630

7/27/93

3/15/95

06354882 Oak Creek near Wakpala 1985-97 356 19.62 27,500 3/27 50-100 18.62

17.73

BW

3,780

3/14/95

3/4/86

06357800 Grand River at Little Eagle 1959-97 5,370 19.58

16.96

BW

20,900

3/24

3/27

25-50 21.76

19.16

BW

31,000

3/18/66

3/23/87

06360500 Moreau River near Whitehorse 1955-97 4,880 27.68

26.93

BW

29,700

3/21

3/23

25-50 26.20

26.00

BW

27,700

3/14/72

5/24/82

06442000 Medicine Knoll near Blunt 1950-97 317 13.15 e4,000 3/28 25-50 12.98 -- 6/5/91

06442718 Campbell Creek near Lee’s 

Corner

1988-97 54.1 14.40 2800 3/21 -- 15.01 3,260 7/24/93

06452000 White River near Oacoma 1929-97 9,940 23.84

--

BW

229,100

2/20

2/21

10-25 24.70

315.40

BW

51,900

3/4/94

3/30/52

06452320 Platte Creek near Platte 1989-97 741 12.67

9.13

BW

1,680

5/8

2/20

-- 11.29 2,600 5/11/95

06471000 James River at Columbia 1946-97 2,481 19.08

18.63

19.02

BW

24,130

(-2,430

4/19

4/30

3/30)

25-50 18.50

16.15

15.66

BW

2,340

(-1,320

5/13/95

5/3/79

3/16/95)

06471200 Maple River at North DakotaSouth Dakota State line1957-97 384 16.19 25,300 3/29 25-50 16.05 25,930 4/11/69

06471500 Elm River at Westport 1946-97 1,049 21.56 29,380 3/30 10-25 22.11 12,600 4/10/69

06472000 James River near Stratford 1950-72,

1977,

1995,

1997

4,860 19.48 8,400 4/6 50-100 19.86

--

--

5,580

5/18/95

5/14/50

06473000 James River at Ashton 1946-97 5,673 26.64

25.03

BW

29,150

(-8,400

4/6

4/23

3/31)

>100

22.39

20.63

--

BW

25,680

(-2,100

5/18/95

4/24/69

4/9/69)

06473700 Snake Creek near Ashton 1956-72,

1977-79,

1985-89,

1997

2,609 20.74 15,000 4/1 >100 317.21 6,980 4/10/69

06474000 Turtle Creek near Tulare 1954-56,

1966-81,

1985-97

1,124 19.32

18.80

BW

13,500

3/26

3/28

25-50 18.51 26,000 4/5/69

06474500 Turtle Creek at Redfield 1946-72 1,481 18.32 13,500 3/29 50-100 15.94 7,660 4/7/69

06475000 James River near Redfield 1950-97 9,793 31.10

29.92

BW

17,000

4/6

4/3

>100 26.26 9,800 5/15/95

06476000 James River at Huron 1929-32,

1944-97

11,721 21.28 23,400 4/6 >500 16.86 10,000 5/19/95

06476500 Sand Creek near Alpena 1950-97 261 13.45 22,000 3/23 10-25 14.10

13.35

BW

2,240

3/28/50

3/28/60
Table 1. Comparison of peak stage and streamflow data for February through May 1997, to previous maximums for period of record 

at selected gaging stations—Continued

Station 

number Station name

Period

of

record

(water

years)

Contributing

drainage

area,

(mi2)

Flood of February-May 1997 Previous maximum

Peak 

stage 

(ft)

Peak

flow

(ft3/s)

Date

Recurrence

interval 

range1

(years)

Peak 

stage

(ft)

Peak

flow

(ft3/s)

Date

06477000 James River near Forestburg 1950-97 13,442 20.61 25,600 4/6 >100 17.26

17.08

BW

13,000

4/22/95

5/18/95

06477150 Rock Creek near Fulton 1967-79,

1989-97

240 13.74 3,120 3/29 10-25 310.21 2,040 4/7/69

06478000 James River near Mitchell 1954-58,

1966-72,

1995,

1997

14,916 23.14 28,000 4/7 50-100 20.43 16,200 4/23/95

06478500 James River near Scotland 1929-97 16,505 19.87 28,000 4/9 50-100 20.45 29,400 6/23/84

06478513 James River near Yankton 1982-97 16,794 22.94 28,800 4/9 10-25 24.34 26,400 6/23/84

06478535 East Fork Vermillion River 

near Ramona

1987-89,

1996-97

508 8.50 1,600 4/30 -- 8.39

7.87

BW

350

2/12/96

11/4/95

06478540 Little Vermillion River near 

Salem

1967-97 78.6 10.01 1,560 3/28 10-25 11.95 3,300 7/4/93

06478600 East Fork Vermillion River 

near Parker

1996-97 973 12.75

12.73

BW

4,210

3/22

3/29

-- 8.13 1,380 6/3/96

06479000 Vermillion River near 

Wakonda

1946-97 1,676 16.93 6,150 3/30 10-25 17.62 17,000 6/23/84

06479010 Vermillion River near 

Vermillion

1984-97 1,808 22.10 6,070 4/2 5-10 31.77 21,400 6/23/84

06479215 Big Sioux River near Florence 1984-97 68 9.52

9.32

BW

2,000

4/2

4/4

10-25 9.18

9.08

1,280

1,810

7/25/93

3/29/86

06479430 Still Lake Outflow near 

Florence

1996-97 -- 7.43

46.67

BW

4408

4/7

4/19

-- Seasonal gage

06479438 Big Sioux River near 

Watertown

1973-97 228 12.09 7,820 4/5 25-50 11.13

11.08

BW

4,970

6/21/91

3/30/86

06479450 Lake Kampeska inlet/outlet 

near Watertown

1994-97 28.8 25.78

424.87

5,890

41,410

4/6 into lake

4/10 out of lake --

-- -- --

06479500 Big Sioux River at Watertown 1946-72,

1997

350 12.49 5,800 4/6 >500 11.40

10.30

BW

2,220

4/8/69

4/9/52

06479515 Willow Creek near Watertown 1972-86,

1997

110 10.93 3,650 4/5 10-25 9.12

7.50

BW

4,040

3/28/78

6/15/84

06479520 Big Sioux River below 

Watertown

1995-97 511 13.13

12.99

BW

6,300

4/2

4/11

-- 11.78

11.74

BW

2

1,600

3/13/96

3/12/95

06479525 Big Sioux River near 

Castlewood

1977-97 570 13.19

12.87

BW

2

4,300

4/7

4/11

>100 11.73 2,250 3/30/86

06479980 Medary Creek near Brookings 1981-97 200 13.02 23,500 3/28 10-25 11.78 3,710 7/4/93

06480000 Big Sioux River near 

Brookings

1954-97 2,419 13.29

13.02

BW

11,100

4/8

4/2

10-25 14.77 33,900 4/9/69

06481000 Big Sioux River near Dell 

Rapids

1949-97 3,004 15.54 16,500 4/7 10-25 16.47 41,300 4/9/69

06482020 Big Sioux River at North Cliff 

Avenue at Sioux Falls

1972-97 3,729 23.11 17,700 4/7 25-50 25.40 21,600 6/22/84

06485500 Big Sioux River at Akron, IA 1929-97 6,937 22.63 31,300 4/9 5-10 23.05

22.99

66,700

80,800

5/10/93

4/9/69

1Recurrence intervals given for stations with 10 or more years of record through 1996. 2

Stage-flow relation affected by backwater.

3

Site and datum then in use.

4Mean daily.
February 1998 Fact Sheet FS-021-98

filled ice-covered river channels. The 

Grand and Moreau Rivers experienced 

lowland flooding from high flows and 

backwater from ice jams. The Moreau 

River near Whitehorse had a record flow 

of 29,700 ft3

/s (cubic feet per second) and 

record stage of 27.68 ft (feet), as shown in 

table 1. Another record occurred on Oak 

Creek, which peaked at 19.62 ft, inundating most of the community of Wakpala.

When snowmelt began in late March 

in the eastern part of the State, ice thickness on rivers exceeded 3 ft. At the city 

of Westport in the James River Basin, 

heavy accumulations of ice created jams 

causing backwater on the Elm River that 

forced evacuation of several neighborhoods and caused the river to spill into the 

Moccasin Creek Basin, which then 

affected the city of Aberdeen. Snake 

Creek near Ashton had a recorded peak 

flow with a recurrence interval greater 

than 100 years. Tributary flows entering 

the main stem of the James River caused 

extreme backwater from Columbia to 

near Redfield. Record reverse flows were 

measured on the James River at Columbia 

(-2,430 ft3/s on March 30) and at Ashton 

(-8,400 ft3/s on March 31), when excessive tributary inflows flowed upstream in 

the river. Accumulating downstream 

inflows caused evacuation of James 

Valley Christian School when dikes failed 

on April 6 and the school was inundated 

with 5-7 ft of flood water. The James 

River at Huron rose to a record stage of 

21.28 ft with a corresponding peak flow 

of 23,400 ft3/s on April 6, exceeding the 

500-year recurrence interval. Peak-flow 

recurrence intervals downstream on the 

James River ranged from greater than 

100 years at Forestburg to greater than 

50 years at Scotland.

Additional severe flooding occurred 

in April as the heavy snowpack began to 

melt in the northeastern part of the State. 

The most adversely affected area was the 

upper Big Sioux River Basin near Watertown and the surrounding glacial-lakes 

area. The record levels reached by the 

Big Sioux River exceeded the 500-year 

recurrence interval at Watertown and 

forced the evacuation of many low-lying 

neighborhoods. Lake Kampeska residents suffered extensive damage to shoreline properties from record-high lake 

levels, which were caused by inflows 

from the Big Sioux River. 

Residual soil moisture and high base 

flows during 1993-96, coupled with the 

large winter 1996-97 snow accumulations, resulted in record total flows 

throughout eastern South Dakota for 

water year 1997. The total flow for water 

year 1997 was 17 times the long-term 

median streamflow at the James River 

near Scotland gaging station (fig. 2). 

Columbia

Ashton

Huron

Forestburg

Scotland

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

ANNUAL STREAMFLOW,

IN THOUSAND ACRE-FEET

Figure 2. Comparison of 1997 streamflow

to long-term median annual streamflow at

selected James River gaging stations.

LONG-TERM MEDIAN

1997

MONITORING OF

STREAMFLOW

The USGS operates a network of 

123 continuous-record streamflowgaging stations and 23 high-flow partialrecord gages in South Dakota. Miscellaneous annual streamflow measurements 

also are made at several additional sites 

throughout the State. 

The data for about 50 of the 

continuous-record stations are relayed by 

satellite telemetry to computers in Rapid 

City, Huron, and Pierre. Data are transmitted every 4 hours, and within 15 minutes these data generally are available to 

decision makers in the agencies involved 

in flood management. In addition, data 

from selected stations within various river 

basins are displayed via the South Dakota 

District Homepage on the World Wide 

Web at: http://wwwsd.cr.usgs.gov. The 

flood-tracking page that was maintained 

during the extreme 1997 flooding for the 

James River Basin is shown in figure 3. 

This flood-tracking page, and similar ones 

for the Vermillion and Big Sioux Basins, 

made timely data readily accessible to the 

public, media, and cooperating agencies. 

The USGS and cooperating agencies also 

operate a network of telephone-accessible 

gages where critical stage data are available on a real-time basis.

James

River

06471000

James River at Columbia

06473000

James River at Ashton

06475000

James River near Redfield

06476000

James River at Huron

06477000

James River near

Forestburg

06478500

James River

near Scotland

06471500

Elm River

at Westport

06470875

James River at Dakota

Lake Dam near

Ludden, ND

NORTH DAKOTA

SOUTH DAKOTA

Figure 3. Flood-tracking page.

SPRING 1997

FLOOD TRACKING FOR THE JAMES RIVER BASIN

Rainfall and streamflow data in 

this report are provisional and subject 

to revision upon further review by personnel of the National Weather Service 

and the USGS.

—R.W. Teller and M.J.Burr

For More Information:

For water information:

District Chief

1608 Mt. View Road

Rapid City, SD 57702

(605) 355-4560

Fax: (605) 355-4523

Email: dc_sd@usgs.gov

Additional earth science information can 

be found by accessing the USGS Home 

Page on the World Wide Web a

http://www.usgs.gov

For more information on all USGS reports 

and products (including maps, images, 

and computerized data), call

1-800-USA-MAPS