River stage
Keosauqua, Des Moines River
- River level
- 17.11 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- -0.16 ft
- Recent high
- 17.77 ft
- Recent low
- 10.09 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS KEQI4
- 30-day change
- +1.87 ft
- Average
- 13.73 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 32.66 ft
In brief
The Des Moines River at Keosauqua, IA read 17.11 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 3.89 ft below action stage. That is 1.87 ft higher than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge KEQI4
Water 68 °F (20 °C)
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 32.66 ft | 1993-07-13 |
| 2 | 30.49 ft | 2008-06-16 |
| 3 | 28.18 ft | 2010-08-12 |
| 4 | 28.02 ft | 1973-04-21 |
| 5 | 27.88 ft | 2019-05-29 |
| 6 | 27.85 ft | 1903-06-01 |
| 7 | 27.23 ft | 1976-04-24 |
| 8 | 27.14 ft | 1982-07-17 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 22.00 ft
Water affects low-lying agricultural areas.
- 25.00 ft
Flooding occurs in Keosauqua, Selma, Bonaparte, and Farmington. Water affects streets near the nursery on the east end of Keosauqua.
- 27.00 ft
Water is over the river banks in Selma, Keosauqua, Bentonsport, Bonaparte, and Farmington.
- 28.00 ft
Water affects streets in Keosauqua and affects the approach to the Highway 1 bridge. Water also affects residential areas in Farmington and Bentonsport.
- 29.00 ft
Water affects residential and commercial areas in Bonaparte.
- 30.00 ft
Water affects downtown sections of Keosauqua as well as First Street and the County Road J40 bridge approach in Bonaparte.
- 30.50 ft
Water is at the base of the Hotel Manning in Keosauqua.
- 32.50 ft
Water is 1 to 2 feet deep in areas of downtown Keosauqua.
- 33.00 ft
Water reaches a critical level for levees 30 to 50 miles downstream of Keosauqua.
- 33.50 ft
Water reaches the bottom of the County Rd J40 bridge deck at Bonaparte.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Des Moines River flooding at Keosauqua?
No. The Des Moines River at Keosauqua is at 17.11 ft, 3.89 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Keosauqua?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 21 ft, minor flooding 22 ft, moderate flooding 25 ft and major flooding 27 ft.
What is the highest the Des Moines River has been at Keosauqua?
The highest crest on record is 32.66 ft, on 1993-07-13.
Is the Des Moines River high or low right now at Keosauqua?
At 17.11 ft it is higher than 90% of readings over the last 122 days.
How warm is the water at Keosauqua, Des Moines River?
The water temperature at Keosauqua, Des Moines River is 68 °F (19.9 °C), measured 7:15 pm by USGS. It has held steady over the last 24 hours.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge KEQI4); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 05490500). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.