East Fork Des Moines River at Dakota City, IA
River level and flood forecast · Humboldt County
Normal8.6 ftas of Mon 2 PM
The river is 11.4 ft below flood stage (20 ft).
Flow: 408 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Sun, Dec 31, 6 PM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 28 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 24 ft |
| Flood stage | 20 ft |
| Action stage | 18 ft |
| Record crest (April 1, 1993) | 23.35 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 28 ftWater affects the Humboldt County Museum just northeast of the Dakota City bridge.
- 24 ftWater affects the Dakota City bridge as well as 20650 acres of agriculural land north and south of town.
- 22 ftWater affects the Dakota City bridge just south of town.
- 21.7 ftWater affects all lower camp sites at, the parking lot at and the entrance to the city park. Water also floods agricultural land on the east side of the river just south of IA 3 bridge.
- 20 ftWater affects the lower camp sites at the city park on the west side of the river just north of the 1st Ave N bridge. The City of Dakota City is situated on locally high ground and is generally not affected by flooding at this stage.
- 18 ftWater affects the riverside parking area at the city park just north of the 1st Ave N bridge. Water also completely floods agricultural land on both sides of 170th St.
- 16.1 ftWater affects portions of 170th St east of the Foster bridge.
- 16 ftWater affects the Martin/Marietta gravel pit.
Highest crests on record
- 23.35 ft — April 1, 1993
- 23.13 ft — April 9, 1965
- 21.71 ft — August 25, 1979
- 21.65 ft — June 24, 2024
- 21.16 ft — May 18, 1991
Recent crests: 16.12 ft (August 1, 2025) · 21.65 ft (June 24, 2024) · 14.69 ft (February 28, 2023) · 10.77 ft (May 5, 2022) · 9.53 ft (March 28, 2021)
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (DAKI4); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.