• An explosion of light as the sun strikes the waters of the Missouri National Recreational River

    Missouri

    National Recreational River SD,NE

River Conditions

Near Running Water, South Dakota

A view of the 39 mile reach of the park near Running Water, South Dakota

NPS Photo

39 Mile Reach - Fort Randall Dam to Running Water, SD
The 39-mile reach begins immediately downstream from Fort Randall Dam at Pickstown, South Dakota, and continues to Running Water, South Dakota. Flows on this reach are influenced by controlled releases from Fort Randall Dam. The water discharge rate can change hourly. The normal rate of flow is 3 to 5 mph.

For current flows out of Fort Randall Dam click here...

 
Goat Island Looking West

A view of the 59 mile reach of the park from Goat Island looking west

NPS Photo

59-Mile Reach - Gavins Point Dam to Ponca State Park
The 59-mile reach stretches from about one mile below Gavins Point Dam to Nebraska's Ponca State Park. Gavins Point Dam regulates water flow on this reach of the river. The river channel follows a winding course. There are many snags and sandbars.

For current flows out of Gavins Point Dam click here...

Note: 16,000 CFS indicates low water, over 40,000 indicates very high water.

 
Sunrise on the Missouri National Recreational River

Sunrise on the Missouri National Recreational River

NPS Photo

For daily river gauge readings along the MNRR from the US Geological Survey click here...
(At this link you can check river reading for: Maskell, NE; Gayville, SD; Niobrara, NE; Verdel, NE; Greenwood, SD)

For current and predicted river conditions in the Middle Missouri River Basin from the National Weather Service click here.

Did You Know?

Missouri River Delta at Lewis & Clark Lake

Before the 1950s, the Missouri River carried an average of roughly 140 million tons of sediment per year past Yankton. After closure of the dams in the 1960s, an average of roughly 4 million tons per year moved past the same location.