USGS Water-Year Summary 2024

06428500 BELLE FOURCHE RIVER AT WYOMING-SOUTH DAKOTA STATE LINE

LOCATION - Lat 44°44'56", long 104°03'04" referenced to North American Datum of 1927, in NE 1/4 NW 1/4 NW 1/4 sec.18, T.9 N., R.1 E., Butte County, SD, Hydrologic Unit 10120202, on left bank 0.3 mi downstream from State line, 3.7 mi downstream from Oak Creek, and 11 mi northwest of Belle Fourche, SD.

DRAINAGE AREA - 3,233 mi² of which 7 mi² probably is noncontributing.

REVISIONS HISTORY - WDR SD-10-1: Drainage area.

SURFACE-WATER RECORDS

PERIOD OF RECORD - December 1946 to current year. Records for water year 1947 incomplete, yearly estimate published in WSP 1729.

GAGE - Water-stage recorder and crest-stage gage. Datum of gage is 3,096.51ft above North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88).

REMARKS -

Accuracy of records for water years prior to 2014 are noted in the individual Annual Data Reports for those water years. For years 2014 onward, records good except for estimated discharges, which are poor, unless otherwise noted. Record quality ratings may not be included in the water-year summary for approved records newer than 09/30/2018. Record quality is still being rated internally. For questions about record quality ratings, please send email to gs-w-sd_NWISWeb_Data_Inquiries@usgs.gov. Diversions upstream from station for irrigation of about 5,400 acres. Flow regulated by Keyhole Dam, usable capacity, 191,600 acre-ft, 143 mi upstream since Oct. 25, 1952. Satellite data-collection platform at station.

EXTREMES FOR PERIOD OF RECORD - Maximum discharge, 6,320 ft³/s, from rating curve extended above 3,400 ft³/s, on basis of slope-area measurement of peak flow, May 10, 1995, gage height, 16.33 ft; minimum daily discharge, 0.00 ft³/s, July 30, 1954, no flow at times in some years.

EXTREMES FOR PERIOD PRIOR TO REGULATION - Maximum discharge, 3,620 ft³/s, June 23, 1947, gage height, 12.51 ft; maximum gage height, 14.33 ft, Mar. 22, 1949, backwater from ice.