USGS Water-Year Summary 2024

05481650 Des Moines River near Saylorville, IA

LOCATION - Lat 41°40'49.2", long 93°40'03.4" referenced to North American Datum of 1983, in SW 1/4 NE 1/4 NE 1/4 sec.05, T.79 N., R.24 W., Polk County, IA, Hydrologic Unit 07100004, on left bank 5 ft upstream from Fisher Bridge on County Highway R6F, 2.0 mi west of Saylorville, 2.1 mi downstream from Rock Creek, 2.3 mi downstream from Saylorville Dam, 2.2 mi upstream from Beaver Creek, and 203.0 mi upstream from mouth.

DRAINAGE AREA - 5,841 mi².

REVISIONS HISTORY - Revisions: Gage datum was updated to 787.17 ft NAVD88 on July 12, 2022, as determined by a GNSS Level II survey. Gage datum was previously published as 787.42 ft NGVD29 from levels.

SURFACE-WATER RECORDS

PERIOD OF RECORD - Discharge records from October 1961 to current year.

GAGE -
Water-stage recorder. Datum of gage is 787.17 ft above North American Vertical Datum of 1988. Prior to August 6, 1970, non-recording gage at same site and datum.

REMARKS - Accuracy of records is discussed in the annual Station Analysis archived at the USGS IA Water Science Center. Flow regulated by Saylorville Lake (station 05481630), 2.3 mi upstream, since April 12, 1977.

EXTREMES OUTSIDE PERIOD OF RECORD - Since at least 1893, no flood outside the period of record exceeded the June 24, 1954, stage of 24.50 ft, from high-water mark, discharge 60,000 ft³/s.

WATER-QUALITY RECORDS

PERIOD OF RECORD - Water years 1962-2004.

PERIOD OF DAILY RECORD -
SPECIFIC CONDUCTANCE: Daily instantaneous values collected in conjunction with suspended-sediment samples, December 1967 to September 2004, records fragmentary.
WATER TEMPERATURE: Daily instantaneous values collected in conjunction with suspended-sediment samples, October 1961 to September 2004, records fragmentary.
SUSPENDED-SEDIMENT CONCENTRATION AND DISCHARGE: October 1961 to September 2004.