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Des Moines River (Iowa), Pella (05488110)

State	Iowa	Latest	Unknown (11900 cfs)
River	Des Moines River	Rating	Observed	Estimated
Updated	2026-04-21 10:15 (47 minutes ago)	Flood - The river is flooding. Obstacles can be treacherous or deadly. The river should be avoided at this stage for casual trips and definitely for the inexperienced. Trips should be attempted only with protective gear and equipment.Flood	(none)	(none)
Discharge	11900 cfs (median: 7770 cfs)	High - The river is high and potentially dangerous, especially for the young and / or inexperienced. Normal stream obstacles are sometimes difficult to navigate. Extended distances can be attempted, but canoe travel may not be advisable.High	(none)	(none)
Height	89.57 feet	Good - Conditions are ideal for a canoe or kayak. Boats typically will drag on fewer than one-quarter of riffles, if at all, and portages are unnecessary or rare. Normal float lengths can be attempted without a problem.Good	(none)	(none)
Trend	Falling (falling over 24 hours)	Low - River is low but can still be floated. Some riffles are okay but most come with significant dragging and might need a portage. Float lengths should be reduced to accommodate low flow, dragging, and portages.Low	(none)	(none)
USGS	USGS Site ( Duck Duck Go Maps)	Poor - River is too low to float comfortably. Most or all riffles will drag or must be portaged and some obstacles (such as slick shelf rock) cause undue problems. Avoid the river at this stage for casual paddling trips.Poor	(none)	(none)

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Trips for Des Moines River (Iowa), Pella (05488110)

	Date	Start	End	Distance	Condition	Discharge	Height	Fishing	Details
	2022-01-29	Howell Station	Howell Station	Total trip distance: 4.0 miles4.0	Good	940	83.51	None	None Turner, Skip Solo downstream and back. Mileage listed is one way. Easy paddle both ways. No poling, no walking, no scraping. USGS Gauge Data: Pella (05488110) Discharge: 940 Height: 83.51 Source: Turner
	2022-02-19	Howell Station	Howell Station	Total trip distance: 3.5 miles3.5	Good	911	83.53	None	None Turner, Skip Solo downstream and back. Mileage listed is one-way. Easy paddle both ways. No poling, no walking, no scraping. Paddled in the afternoon after the Lake Red Rock outflow was reduced. USGS Gauge Data: Pella (05488110) Discharge: 911 Height: 83.53 Source: Turner
	2022-01-30	Howell Station	Howell Station	Total trip distance: 5.0 miles5.0	Good	892	83.45	None	None Turner, Skip Solo downstream and back. Mileage listed is one way. Swift water above T17 bridge required strenuous poling on the return leg. No walking, no scraping. USGS Gauge Data: Pella (05488110) Discharge: 892 Height: 83.45 Source: Turner

A total of 3 rows are displayed.

Trip Summary for Des Moines River (Iowa), Pella (05488110)

Condition Descriptions

Fishing Conditions

Fish Species

Notes

Classic Trip List

Gauge Data Table